Washington – ipl Stately Knowledge: Facts about the United States

Washington

Map of US with Washington highlighted

Javascript not enabled.
Return to Stately Knowledge Home
to navigate to other states.

  • Just the Facts
  • Encyclopedias & Almanacs
  • State Links
  • Did You Know
  • State’s Famous People

AbbreviationWA
Source: United States Postal Service – Abbreviations
CapitalOlympia
Population6,724,540
Source: Resident Population Data – 2010 Census
GovernorJay Inslee (Democrat, to January 2017)
Entered the UnionNovember 11, 1889
as the 42nd state
MottoAl-Ki (Native American word meaning by and by)
NicknameThe Evergreen State, The Chinook State
FlowerCoast Rhododendron
BirdWillow Goldfinch
SongWashington, My Home
Professional Sports TeamsSeattle Mariners (Baseball); Seattle Seahawks (Football); Seattle Storm (Women’s Basketball); Seattle Sounders (Soccer)
(sports listing policy)
Origin of NameIn honor of George Washington
Historical SitesWhitman Mission and Fort Vancouver National Historic Sites
Points of InterestMt. Rainier and the Cascade mountains; Mount St. Helens (a semi-active volcano); and the Pacific Science Center and Space Needle in Seattle
Bordering StatesWashington borders Idaho and Oregon.
FlagWashington's flag

Follow these links to read articles about Washington from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

Official State Links

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.