The Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844, by a factory worker named George Williams in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in the big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution (roughly 1750 to 1850). In 1851, Thomas V. Sullivan, a retired American sea captain, gathered together young men in Boston and established the first YMCA in the United States. In the years that followed, the YMCA spread rapidly across the country.

The Tacoma YMCA was organized on March 6, 1883. The first effort on behalf of a YMCA in Tacoma was made at a meeting held in Pincus & Packsher Hall on Pacific Avenue near 12th Street. The Reverend H.S. Bonnell was chairman of the meeting and Charlies Aitkin was secretary.

The first permanent location was 747 St. Helens. In 1907, the YMCA was moved to 714 Market Street, and in September 1977 to 1002 South Pearl Street. In the fall of 1907, the Y held a retreat at Balch's Cove. This cove, now called Glen Cove, is now the site of Camp Seymour. The Tacoma Center Branch was opened in September 1983. After the Puyallup Valley Family YMCA was dissolved, the Puyallup Family Branch became part of the Tacoma-Pierce County Association on July 1, 1989. The Lakewood Family Branch was opened on January 1, 1992. The new Mel Korum Family Branch replaced the Puyallup Family Branch on February 14, 2000. The newest addition to the Tacoma-Pierce County Association is the Gig Harbor Family Branch, which opened August 21, 2007.