Washington

Washington

Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States located north of Oregon, west of Idaho and south of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. It was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. Washington is the 18th most extensive and the 13th most populous of the 50 United States. Approximately 60 percent of Washington's residents live in the Seattle...
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quick facts
Founded:November 11, 1889
Capital:Olympia
Current governorChristine Gregoire
Population:6,549,224
Area:71,362.1 sq. mi.
GDP:$311,270,000,000
Also known as:WA, Washington, Madras, Wash
Time zone:Pacific Time Zone, UTC-8

Capital city of Washington

Olympia
Olympia
Population:34,359
County:Thurston County

Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census. Olympia is a major cultural center of the Puget Sound region. The site of Olympia was home to Lushootseed-speaking peoples for thousands of years, including Squaxin, Nisqually, Puyallup, Chehalis, Suquamish, and Duwamish. The first recorded visit by Europeans...
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Famous landmarks of Washington

Smith Tower
Smith Tower

Smith Tower is a skyscraper in Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. Completed in 1914, the 38 storey, 149 m tower is the oldest skyscraper in...
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Space Needle
Space Needle

The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of...
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Tatoosh Island
Tatoosh Island

Tatoosh Island is a small island and small group of islands about 0.5 miles offshore of Cape Flattery, which is on the northwestern tip of the...
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Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre
Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre

The Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre at American University is located in Tenleytown, Washington, DC. It opened in March 2003 with the mission of...
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Seattle Tower
Seattle Tower

The Seattle Tower, originally known as the Northern Life Tower, is a 27-story skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington. The building is located on...
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Major cities in Washington

CityCountyPopulationYear Founded
Seattle King County 598,541 1851
Spokane Spokane County 202,319
Tacoma Pierce County 197,181
Vancouver Clark County 163,186 1857
Bellevue King County 123,771 1953
Everett Snohomish County 98,212
Spokane Valley Spokane County 86,144
Federal Way King County 84,309
Yakima Yakima County 84,074
Kent King County 83,978
Bellingham Whatcom County 78,905
Kennewick Benton County 63,216
Renton King County 62,266
Lakewood Pierce County 56,983
Auburn King County 55,426
Pasco Franklin County 55,246
Shoreline King County 52,005
Redmond King County 49,548
Kirkland King County 47,303
Richland Benton County 46,155
Olympia Thurston County 45,322
Lacey Thurston County 40,702
Sammamish King County 40,179
Edmonds Snohomish County 40,158
Puyallup Pierce County 36,330
Bremerton Kitsap County 36,006
Marysville Snohomish County 34,482
Lynnwood Snohomish County 33,572
Bothell King County 32,307 1909
Mount Vernon Skagit County 31,513
Burien King County 31,316
Walla Walla Walla Walla County 30,643
University Place Pierce County 30,345
Wenatchee Chelan County 29,898
Des Moines King County 28,755
Pullman Whitman County 26,920
SeaTac King County 25,840
Opportunity Spokane County 25,065
Mercer Island King County 24,163
Issaquah King County 24,057
Oak Harbor Island County 22,744
Bainbridge Island Kitsap County 21,890
Mukilteo Snohomish County 20,742
Kenmore King County 20,374
Maple Valley King County 19,929
Mountlake Terrace Snohomish County 19,912
Port Angeles Clallam County 18,982
Moses Lake Grant County 18,800
Covington King County 18,115
Camas Clark County 17,950
Ellensburg Kittitas County 17,141
Tukwila King County 17,092
Monroe Snohomish County 17,059
Mill Creek Snohomish County 16,907
Battle Ground Clark County 16,812
Arlington Snohomish County 16,810
Bonney Lake Pierce County 16,809
Anacortes Skagit County 16,798
Aberdeen Grays Harbor County 16,042
Centralia Lewis County 15,710
Sunnyside Yakima County 14,949
Tumwater Thurston County 14,100
East Wenatchee Bench Douglas County 13,658
Lake Stevens Snohomish County 13,599
Washougal Clark County 13,509 1852
Lake Forest Park King County 12,438
East Wenatchee Douglas County 12,286
Kelso Cowlitz County 12,188
Lynden Whatcom County 11,737
Ferndale Whatcom County 11,359
Woodinville King County 11,240
Lea Hill King County 10,871
Sedro-Woolley Skagit County 10,871
West Richland Benton County 10,857
Enumclaw King County 10,684
West Valley Yakima County 10,433
Cheney Spokane County 10,385
Dishman Spokane County 10,031
Newcastle King County 9,885
Edgewood Pierce County 9,711
Sumner Pierce County 9,704
Grandview Yakima County 9,392
Veradale Spokane County 9,387
Shelton Mason County 9,276
Toppenish Yakima County 9,166
Port Townsend Jefferson County 9,133
College Place Walla Walla County 8,978
Hoquiam Grays Harbor County 8,848
Burlington Skagit County 8,697
Snoqualmie King County 8,161
Poulsbo Kitsap County 8,149
Fife Pierce County 8,114
Port Orchard Kitsap County 7,953
Chehalis Lewis County 7,361
Ephrata Grant County 7,344
Clarkston Asotin County 7,207
Selah Yakima County 7,126
Liberty Lake Spokane County 7,018
Gig Harbor Pierce County 7,008
DuPont Pierce County 6,944
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Population history of Washington

YearEstimated Population
2011 6,830,038
2009 6,664,195
2008 6,549,224
2007 6,449,511
2006 6,360,529
2005 6,254,579
2004 6,179,645
2003 6,110,202
2002 6,055,613
2001 5,987,181
2000 5,911,104
1999 5,842,564
1998 5,769,562
1997 5,674,747
1996 5,569,753
1995 5,481,027
1994 5,375,161
1993 5,278,842
1992 5,160,757
1991 5,025,624
1990 4,903,043
1989 4,746,315
1988 4,639,894
1987 4,531,903
1986 4,452,724
1985 4,400,096
1984 4,343,657
1983 4,300,269
1982 4,276,551
1981 4,235,728
1980 4,132,353
1970 3,409,169
1960 2,853,214
1950 2,378,963
1940 1,736,191
1930 1,563,396
1920 1,356,621
1910 1,141,990
1900 518,103
1890 357,232
1880 75,116
1870 23,955
1860 11,594
1850 1,201
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State symbols for Washington

Western Hemlock
Western Hemlock
State tree
Pacific Tree Frog
Pacific Tree Frog
State Amphibian
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
State bird
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
State Fish
Rhododendron macrophyllum
Rhododendron macrophyllum
State flower
Al-ki
Al-ki
Motto

Governor of Washington

Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Age:64
Birthplace:Auburn
Term began:January 12, 2005

Christine O'Grady Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington. She was the National Governors Association chairwoman for the 2010-11 term. Christine O'Grady was raised in Auburn, Washington, by her mother, who worked as a short-order cook to support the...
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Government officials from Washington

OfficialOfficeStart of Term
Patty Murray United States Senator 1993
Maria Cantwell United States Senator 2001
Sam Reed Secretary of State of Washington 2001
Rob McKenna Washington Attorney General 2005
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Professional sports teams in Washington

Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
Baseball
Venue:Safeco Field, Kingdome
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
American football
Venue:Qwest Field, Kingdome
Seattle Supersonics
Seattle Supersonics
Basketball
Venue:KeyArena, Kingdome
Derby Liberation Front
Derby Liberation Front
Roller derby
Grave Danger
Grave Danger
Roller derby
Sockit Wenches
Sockit Wenches
Roller derby

Colleges and universities in Washington

Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Founded:1891
Enrollment:3,894 (2007)
Fairhaven College
Fairhaven College
Founded:1967
University of Washington
University of Washington
Founded:1861
Enrollment:39,524 (2006)
Seattle University
Seattle University
Founded:1891
Bastyr University
Bastyr University
Founded:1978
Enrollment:1,018 (2011)

Famous residents of Washington

Greg Bear
Greg Bear
Author, TV Actor

Gregory Dale Bear is an American science fiction and mainstream author. His work has covered themes of galactic conflict , artificial universes , consciousness and cultural practices , and accelerated evolution . His most current work is the Forerunner Trilogy, written in the Halo universe. Bear...
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Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler
Author, Film Actor

Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction writer, one of the best-known among the few African-American women in the field. She won both Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. Butler was born and...
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Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Musical Artist, Author, TV Actor, Film Actor

Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Vanetta Lynn, Jr. , nicknamed "Doo". Their...
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Anna Faris
Anna Faris
Film Actor, TV Actor

Anna Kay Faris is an American actress, singer and comedienne. She is known for her starring role in the Scary Movie film series, as well as roles in The Hot Chick , Lost in Translation , Just Friends , My Super Ex-Girlfriend , Smiley Face , The House Bunny , Take Me Home Tonight and What's Your...
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John Elway
John Elway
Football Player, TV Actor, Film Actor

John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos. Elway...
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Movies filmed in Washington

Motherland
Motherland
Release date:July 11, 2009
Directed by:Owen 'Alik Shahadah
Genre:Documentary

Motherland is a 2010 independent documentary film directed and written by Owen 'Alik Shahadah. Motherland is the sequel to the multiaward winning film 500 Years Later. Motherland is an epic documentary about the African continent from Ancient Egypt to the present. It is an overview of African history and contemporary issues but with the African people at the centre of the story. It is one of the first Pan-African features to be made. The cast...
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States adjoining Washington

Oregon
Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California...
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Idaho
Idaho

Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. Idaho is the 14th most extensive, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least...
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q:
    What time zone is Washington in?
  • A:
    Washington is in the Pacific Time Zone.
  • Q:
    What are some well- known places to go in Washington?
  • A:
    Popular destinations include:
    - Adams County
    - Asotin County
    - Benton County
    - Chelan County
    - Clallam County
    - Clark County
  • Q:
    What is Washington's state capital?
  • A:
    Olympia is the state's capital city.
  • Q:
    Who are some famous people born in Washington?
  • A:
    Famous people born here include:
    - John Kitzhaber
    - Cait London
    - Miguel Sandoval
    - James Sethian
    - Linda Lael Miller
    - Scott Mosier
    - Jasmine Ann Allen

Lists

Map of Washington

Map of Washington
Washington
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