Washington
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| Abbreviation | WA Source: United States Postal Service – Abbreviations |
|---|---|
| Capital | Olympia |
| Population | 6,724,540 Source: Resident Population Data – 2010 Census |
| Governor | Jay Inslee (Democrat, to January 2017) |
| Entered the Union | November 11, 1889 as the 42nd state |
| Motto | Al-Ki (Native American word meaning by and by) |
| Nickname | The Evergreen State, The Chinook State |
| Flower | Coast Rhododendron |
| Bird | Willow Goldfinch |
| Song | Washington, My Home |
| Professional Sports Teams | Seattle Mariners (Baseball); Seattle Seahawks (Football); Seattle Storm (Women’s Basketball); Seattle Sounders (Soccer) (sports listing policy) |
| Origin of Name | In honor of George Washington |
| Historical Sites | Whitman Mission and Fort Vancouver National Historic Sites |
| Points of Interest | Mt. Rainier and the Cascade mountains; Mount St. Helens (a semi-active volcano); and the Pacific Science Center and Space Needle in Seattle |
| Bordering States | Washington borders Idaho and Oregon. |
| Flag |  |
Follow these links to read articles about Washington from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:
Official State Links
- Access Washington: State Government Information & Services
http://access.wa.gov/
This is the official website for the State of Washington. - Washington State Library
http://www.statelib.wa.gov/
Here is the homepage for the Washington State Library Agency. - Washington State Historical Society
http://www.washingtonhistory.org/wshs/
Here is the homepage for the Washington State Historical Society. - Washington State History Museum
http://www.wshs.org/
Here is the homepage for the Washington State Historical Society Museum. - Washington State Archives
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/
Here is the homepage for the Washington State Archives. - Washington State Parks
http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/
Here is the homepage for Washington State Parks. - Experience Washington: the Official Site of Washington State Tourism.
http://www.experiencewa.com/home.aspx
Here is the official state tourism website for Washington.
Other State Links
- 50states.com: Washington
http://www.50states.com/washingt.htm
The site provides a wealth of information about Washington. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate. - Things To Do in Washington
http://www.thingstodo.com/states/WA/index.htm
ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Washington’s entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state’s interesting facts, famous people, and special events. - Roadside America: Washington Attractions
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/wa.html
Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of “weird sites along the highway” in Washington. - The Cascade Loop: Washington State’s Scenic Loop Highway
http://www.cascadeloop.com/
Experience this 400 mile self-guided tour which circles the heart of the state: from the waters of Puget Sound, through the Cascade Mountains, and into the high desert climate of the Columbia River Valley. - FedStats: MapStat: United States: Washington
http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/53000.html
Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on “economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more” in Washington.
- Former Washington Governor Gary Locke (1997-2005) was the first Chinese-American governor in U.S. history.
- In addition to its state song, Washington also has an official state folk song:Roll on Columbia, Roll On.
- Washington is number one in the country in the production of these fruits and vegetables: apples, lentils, dry edible peas, hops, pears, red raspberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries.
- Washington is home to Boeing, the world’s largest aircraft maker.
- Washington has over 1,000 dams.
- Lewis and Clark explored the Columbia River area of what is now Washington in 1805-06.
Some Famous People from this State
- Bing Crosby, singer and actor.
- Jimi Hendrix, rock & roll guitarist.
- Adam West, actor who played the original Batman.
- William Boeing, aircraft manufacturer who founded the Boeing Aircraft company.