|
|
Capital: Olympia
State
abbreviation/Postal code: Wash./WA
Governor: Christine
Gregoire, D (to Jan. 2009)
Lieut. Governor: Brad
Owen, D (to Jan. 2009)
Senators: Patty Murray,
D (to Jan. 2011); Maria Cantwell, D (to Jan. 2013)
U.S. Representatives: 9
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Sam
Reed, R (to Jan. 2009)
Treasurer: Michael J.
Murphy, D (to Jan. 2009)
Atty. General: Rob
McKenna, R (to Jan. 2009)
Auditor: Brian Sonntag,
D (to Jan. 2009)
Organized as territory:
March 2, 1853
Entered Union (rank):
Nov. 11, 1889 (42)
Present constitution
adopted: 1889
Motto: Al-Ki
(Indian word meaning “by and by”)
State symbols:
|
flower |
coast
rhododendron (1892) |
|
tree |
western
hemlock (1947) |
|
bird |
willow
goldfinch (1951) |
|
fish |
steelhead
trout (1969) |
|
gem |
petrified wood
(1975) |
|
colors |
green and gold
(1925) |
|
song |
“Washington,
My Home” (1959) |
|
folk song |
“Roll On
Columbia, Roll On” (1987) |
|
dance |
square dance
(1979) |
|
grass |
bluebunch
wheatgrass (1989) |
|
insect |
blue darner
dragonfly (1997) |
|
fossil |
Columbian
mammoth (1998) |
|
fruit |
apple (1989) |
Nicknames: Evergreen
State
Origin of name: In honor
of George Washington
10 largest cities (2005
est.): Seattle, 573,911; Spokane, 196,818;
Tacoma, 195,898; Vancouver, 157,493; Bellevue,
117,137; Everett, 96,604; Federal Way, 83,088; Kent,
81,800; Spokane Valley, 81,380; Yakima, 81,214
Land area: 66,544 sq mi.
(172,349 sq km)
Geographic center: In
Chelan Co., 10 mi. WSW of Wenatchee
Number of counties: 39
Largest county by population
and area: King, 1,793,583 (2005); Okanogan,
5,268 sq mi.
State forest lands: 2.1
million ac.
State parks: 120
Residents: Washingtonian
2005 resident population est.: 6,287,759
2000 resident census
population (rank): 5,894,121 (15). Male:
2,934,300 (49.8%); Female: 2,959,821 (50.2%).
White: 4,821,823 (81.8%); Black:
190,267 (3.2%); American Indian: 93,301
(1.6%); Asian: 322,335 (5.5%); Other race:
228,923 (3.9%); Two or more races: 213,519
(3.6%); Hispanic/Latino: 441,509 (7.5%).
2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.3; 65
and over: 11.2; median age: 35.3.
State
Index |
Information
|
Fast Facts
|
Geography
|
Government
|
Economy |
History
|
