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Washington

Capital	Olympia
Population	5,894,121 Source: U.S. Census Bureau GCT-PH1-R. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density (geographies ranked by total population): 2000 Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
Governor	Christine Gregoire (D, to January 2009)
Entered the Union	November 11, 1889 as the 42nd state
Motto	Al-Ki (Native American word meaning by and by)
Nickname	Evergreen State, Chinook state
Flower	Coast Rhododendron
Bird	Willow Goldfinch
Song	Washington, My Home
Professional Sports Teams (sports listing policy)	Seattle Mariners (baseball); Seattle Supersonics (basketball); Seattle Seahawks (football)
Origin of Name	In honor of George Washington
Major Industries	Aerospace, Software Development, Lumber, Agriculture, Hydroelectric Energy
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.
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Follow these links to read articles about Washington from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

• Encarta Concise Encyclopedia
• Columbia Encyclopedia
• Information Please Almanac

• 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.experiencewashington.com/
  Here is the official state tourism website for Washington.

• 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.

• 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.