Washington (state)

Washington
State
State of Washington
Flag Seal
Nickname: "The Evergreen State" (unofficial) [1]
Motto(s): Al-ki or Alki, "by and by" in Chinook Jargon
Anthem:"Washington, My Home"
Map of the United States with Washington highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Washington Territory
Admitted to the Union	November 11, 1889 (42nd)
Capital	Olympia
Largest city	Seattle
Largest county or equivalent	King
Largest metroandurbanareas	Seattle
Government
•Governor	Jay Inslee(D)
•Lieutenant Governor	Denny Heck(D)
Legislature	State Legislature
•Upper house	State Senate
•Lower house	House of Representatives
Judiciary	Washington Supreme Court
U.S. senators	Patty Murray(D) Maria Cantwell(D)
U.S. House delegation	8Democrats 2Republicans(list)
Area
• Total	71,362 sq mi (184,827 km2)
• Land	66,544 sq mi (172,587 km2)
• Water	4,757 sq mi (12,237 km2) 6.6%
• Rank	18th
Dimensions
• Length	240 mi (400 km)
• Width	360 mi (580 km)
Elevation	1,700 ft (520 m)
Highest elevation ( Mount Rainier)	14,411 ft (4,392 m)
Lowest elevation (Pacific Ocean)	0 ft (0 m)
Population (2023)
• Total	7,812,880
• Rank	13th
• Density	103/sq mi (39.6/km2)
• Rank	25th
•Median household income	$70,979 (2,017)[2]
• Income rank	7th[2]
Demonym	Washingtonian
Language
•Official language	None(de jure) English(de facto)
Time zone	UTC–08:00(Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC–07:00(PDT)
USPS abbreviation	WA
ISO 3166 code	US-WA
Traditional abbreviation	Wash.
Latitude	45°33′ N to49° N
Longitude	116°55′ W to 124°46′ W
Website	wa.gov
ASN	4193

Washington, officially theState of Washington,^[3]is the westernmoststatein thePacific Northwestregion of theUnited States. It is often referred to asWashington state^[a]to distinguish it fromthe national capital,^[4]bothnamed forGeorge Washington(the firstU.S. president). Washington borders thePacific Oceanto the west,Oregonto the south,Idahoto the east, and theCanadian provinceofBritish Columbiato the north. The state was formed from the western part of theWashington Territory, which was ceded by theBritish Empirein theOregon Treatyof 1846. It was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889.Olympiais thestate capital, and the most populous city isSeattle.

Washington is the18th-largest state, with an area of 71,362 square miles (184,830 km²), and the13th-most populousstate, with more than 7.8 million people.^[5]The majority of Washington's residents live in theSeattle metropolitan area, the center of transportation, business, and industry onPuget Sound,^[6][7]an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands, deepfjordsand bays carved out by glaciers. The remainder of the state consists of deeptemperate rainforestsin the west;mountain rangesin the west, center, northeast, and far southeast; and a semi-arid basin region in the east, center, and south, given over to intensive agriculture. Washington is the second most populous state on theWest Coastand in the Western United States, afterCalifornia.Mount Rainier, an activestratovolcano, is the state's highest elevation at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), and is the mosttopographically prominentmountain in thecontiguous U.S.

Washington is a leadinglumberproducer; its rugged surface is rich in stands ofDouglas fir,hemlock,ponderosa pine,white pine,spruce,larch, andcedar. The state is the largest producer of apples, hops, pears, blueberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries in the U.S., and ranks high in the production of apricots, asparagus, dry edible peas, grapes, lentils, peppermint oil, and potatoes.^[8][9]Livestock, livestock products, and commercial fishing—particularly of salmon, halibut, andbottomfish—are also significant contributors to the state's economy.^[10]Washington ranks second only to California inwineproduction.

Manufacturing industries in Washington include aircraft, missiles, shipbuilding, and other transportation equipment, food processing, metals, and metal products, chemicals, and machinery.^[11]Washington has more than a thousand dams, including theGrand Coulee Dam, built for a variety of purposes including irrigation, electricity generation, flood control, and water storage.

One of thewealthiestand mostsocially liberalstates in the country,^[12]Washington consistently ranks among the top states for highestlife expectancyand employment rates.^[13]It was one of the first states (alongsideColorado) tolegalize medicinal and recreational cannabis,^[14]was among the first states to introducesame-sex marriage,^[15]and was one of only four states to have providedlegal abortions on requestbeforeRoe v. Wadein 1973.^[16]Washington voters also approved a2008 referendumon the legalization ofphysician-assisted suicide,^[17]making it one of 10 states to have legalized the practice.^[18]

Washington was named afterPresidentGeorge Washingtonby an act of theUnited States Congressduring the creation ofWashington Territoryin 1853; the territory was to be named "Columbia", for theColumbia Riverand theColumbia District, but Kentucky representativeRichard H. Stantonfound the name too similar to theDistrict of Columbia(the national capital, itself containing the city of Washington), and proposed naming the new territory after President Washington.^[19][20][21]Washington is the only U.S. state named after a president.^[22]

Confusion between the state of Washington and the city of Washington, D.C., led to renaming proposals during the statehood process for Washington in 1889, includingDavid Dudley Field II's suggestion to name the new state "Tacoma"; these proposals failed to garner support.^[23]Washington, D.C.'s, ownstatehood movementin the 21st century has included a proposal to use the name "State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth", which would conflict with the current state of Washington.^[3]Residents of Washington (known as "Washingtonians") and thePacific Northwestsimply refer to the state as "Washington", and the nation's capital "Washington, D.C.", "the other Washington",^[24]or simply "D.C."

The 9,300-year-old skeletal remains ofKennewick Man, one of the oldest and most complete human remains found in North America, were discovered in Washington in the 1990s.^[25]The region has been home to many established tribes of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. They are notable for their ornately carved welcome figures, canoes, long houses and masks. Prominent among their industries weresalmonfishing and, notably among theMakah, whale hunting.^[26][27]The peoples of the Interior had a different subsistence-based culture based on hunting, food-gathering and some forms of agriculture, as well as a dependency on salmon from the Columbia and its tributaries.

The area has been known to hostmegathrust earthquakesin the past, the last being theCascadia earthquake of 1700.^[28]

The first recorded European landing on the Washington coast was by Spanish Captain DonBruno de Hecetain 1775,^[29]on board theSantiago, part of a two-shipflotillawith theSonora. He claimed the coastal lands up toPrince William Soundfor Spain as part of their claimed rights under theTreaty of Tordesillas, which they maintained made the Pacific a "Spanish lake" and all its shores part of the Spanish Empire. Soon thereafter, Thesmallpoxepidemic of the 1770s devastated the Native American population.^[30]

In 1778,Britishexplorer CaptainJames CooksightedCape Flattery, at the entrance to theStrait of Juan de Fuca, but Cook did not realize the strait existed.^[31]It was not discovered untilCharles William Barkley, captain of theImperial Eagle, sighted it in 1787.^[32]The straits were further explored bySpanish explorersManuel Quimperin 1790 and Francisco de Eliza in 1791,^[33][34]and British explorerGeorge Vancouverin 1792.^[35]

The British–SpanishNootka Conventionof 1790 ended Spanish claims of exclusivity and opened the Northwest Coast to explorers and traders from other nations, most notably Britain and Russia as well as the fledgling United States.^[36][37]American captainRobert Gray(for whomGrays Harbor Countyis named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. He named the river after his ship, theColumbia.^[38]Beginning in 1792, Gray established trade insea otterpelts. TheLewis and Clark Expeditionentered the state on October 10, 1805.^[39]

ExplorerDavid Thompson, on his voyage down the Columbia River, camped at the confluence with the Snake River on July 9, 1811,^[40]and erected a pole and a notice claiming the territory for Great Britain and stating the intention of theNorth West Companyto build a trading post at the site.

Britain and the United States agreed to what has since been described as "joint occupancy" of lands west of theContinental Divideto the Pacific Ocean as part of theAnglo–American Convention of 1818, which established the 49th Parallel as the international boundary west fromLake of the Woodsto theRocky Mountains.^[41]Resolution of the territorial and treaty issues west to the Pacific was deferred until a later time. In 1819, Spain ceded its rights north of the 42nd Parallel to the United States.^[42]

Negotiations with Great Britain over the next few decades failed to settle upon a compromise boundary and theOregon boundary disputewas highly contested between Britain and the United States. Disputed joint occupancy by Britain and the U.S. lasted for several decades. With American settlers pouring intoOregon Country,Hudson's Bay Company, which had previously discouraged settlement because it conflicted with the fur trade, reversed its position in an attempt to maintain British control of theColumbia District.^[43]

Fur trapperJames Sinclair, on orders fromSir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, led some 200 settlers from theRed River Colonywest in 1841 to settle on Hudson Bay Company farms nearFort Vancouver.^[44]The party crossed the Rockies into theColumbia Valley, near present-dayRadium Hot Springs, British Columbia, then traveled south-west down theKootenai Riverand Columbia River. Despite such efforts, Britain eventually ceded all claims to land south of the 49th parallel to the United States in theOregon Treatyon June 15, 1846.^[45]

In 1836, a group of missionaries, includingMarcus Whitman, established several missions and Whitman's own settlement Waiilatpu, in what is now southeastern Washington state, near present-dayWalla Walla County, in the territory of both theCayuseand theNez PerceIndian tribes.^[46]Whitman's settlement would in 1843 help theOregon Trail, the overland emigration route to the west, get established for thousands of emigrants in the following decades. Whitman provided medical care for the Native Americans, but when Indian patients—lacking immunity to new, "European" diseases—died in striking numbers, while at the same time many white patients recovered, they held "medicine man" Marcus Whitman personally responsible, and executed Whitman and twelve other white settlers. This was called theWhitman massacrein 1847.^[47]This event triggered theCayuse Warbetween settlers and Indians.

Fort Nisqually, a farm and trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company and the first European settlement in thePuget Soundarea, was founded in 1833.^[48]Black pioneerGeorge Washington Bushand his Caucasian wife, Isabella James Bush, fromMissouriandTennessee, respectively, led four white families into the territory and founded New Market, nowTumwater, in 1846.^[49]They settled in Washington to avoidOregon'sblack exclusion law, which prohibitedAfrican Americansfrom entering the territory while simultaneously prohibitingslavery.^[50][51]After them, many more settlers, migrating overland along the Oregon Trail, wandered north to settle in the Puget Sound area.

Spanish and Russian claims to the region were ceded in the early 19th century through a series of treaties. The Spanish signed theAdams–Onís Treatyof 1819, and the Russians theRusso-American Treaty of 1824and1825.

TheOregon Questionremained contested between the United Kingdom and the United States until the 1846Oregon Treatyestablished the border betweenBritish North Americaand the United States along the 49th parallel until theStrait of Georgia.^[45]Vague wording in the treaty left the ownership of theSan Juan Islandsin doubt; during the so-calledPig War, both nations agreed to a joint military occupation of the islands.^[52]KaiserWilhelm Iof theGerman Empirewas selected as an arbitrator to end the dispute, with a three-man commission ruling in favor of the United States in 1872. The border established by the Oregon Treaty and finalized by the arbitration in 1872 remains the boundary between Washington andBritish Columbia.

The growing population of Oregon Territory north of the Columbia River formally requested a new territory. As a result of theMonticello Convention, held in present-dayCowlitz County, theU.S. Congresspassed legislation to createWashington Territory. It was signed into law byPresidentMillard Fillmoreon March 2, 1853.^[53][21]The boundary of Washington Territory initially extended farther east than the present state, including what is now theIdaho Panhandleand parts of western Montana, and picked up more land to the southeast that was left behind when Oregon was admitted as a state; the creation ofIdaho Territoryin 1863 established the final eastern border. AWashington state constitutionwas drafted and ratified in 1878, but it was never officially adopted.^[54]Although never approved by the United States Congress, the 1878 constitution is an important historical document that shows the political thinking of the time; it was used extensively during the drafting of Washington state's 1889 constitution, the one and only official Constitution of the State of Washington. Washington became the42ndstate of the United States on November 11, 1889.^[55]

Early prominent industries in the new state included agriculture and lumber. In Eastern Washington, theYakima RiverValley became known for its apple orchards,^[56]while the growth of wheat usingdry farmingtechniques became particularly productive. Heavy rainfall to the west of the Cascade Range produced dense forests, and the ports along Puget Sound prospered from the manufacturing and shipping of lumber products, particularly theDouglas fir. Other industries that developed in the state included fishing, salmon canning and mining.^[10][57]

For a long period,Tacomahad large smelters where gold, silver, copper, and lead ores were treated.^[58]Seattlewas the primary port for trade with Alaska and the rest of the country, and for a time, it possessed a large shipbuilding industry. The region around eastern Puget Sound developed heavy industry during the period includingWorld War IandWorld War II, and theBoeingcompany became an established icon in the area.^[59]

During theGreat Depression, a series ofhydroelectric damswere constructed along the Columbia River as part of a project to increase the production of electricity. This culminated in 1941 with the completion of theGrand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in the United States and the largest dam in the world at its construction.^[60]

During World War II, the state became a focus for war industries. While the Boeing Company produced manyheavy bombers, ports in Seattle,Bremerton,Vancouver, and Tacoma were available for the manufacture of warships. Seattle was the point of departure for many soldiers in the Pacific, several of whom were quartered at Fort Lawton, which later becameDiscovery Park.^[61]In Eastern Washington, theHanford Worksatomic energyplant was opened in 1943 and played a major role in the construction ofatomic bombs.^[62]

After the end of World War II, and with the beginning of thecivil rights movement, the state's growingBlack or African Americanpopulation's wages were 53% above the national average. The early diversification of Washington through theGreat Migrationled to successful efforts at reducing discrimination in the workplace.^[63][64]In 1950, Seattle's first black representative for thestate's legislaturewas elected. At the1970 U.S. census, the black population grew to 7.13% of the total population.^[65]

In 1970, the state was one of only four U.S. states to have been providing legal abortions before the 1973Supreme Courtdecision inRoe v. Wadewhich loosened abortion laws nationwide.^[16][66]

On May 18, 1980, following a period of heavy tremors and small eruptions, the north face ofMount St. Helensslid off in the largest landslide in recorded history before erupting violently, destroying a large part of the top of the volcano. The eruption flattened the forestup to 20 km north of the volcano, killed 57 people, flooded the Columbia River and its tributaries with ash and mud, and blanketed large parts of Washington eastward and other surrounding states in ash, making day look like night.^[67][68]

Major cities in Washington

Bellingham Everett Kennewick Tacoma Seattle Spokane Vancouver Yakima Olympia class=notpageimage| A physical map of Washington with the cities of Bellingham, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, Spokane, Yakima, and Kennewick pinned.

Washington is the northwesternmost state of thecontiguous United States. It bordersIdahoto the east, bounded mostly by the meridian running north from the confluence of theSnake RiverandClearwater River(about 117°02'23" west), except for the southernmost section where the border follows the Snake River. Oregon is to the south, with the Columbia River forming the western part and the 46th parallel forming the eastern part of the Oregon–Washington border. During Washington's partition from Oregon, the original plan for the border followed the Columbia River east until the confluence with the Snake, and then would have followed the Snake River east; this was changed to keepWalla Walla's fertile farmland in Washington.

To the west of Washington lies the Pacific Ocean.^[69]Its northern border lies mostly along the49th parallel, and then via marine boundaries through theStrait of Georgia,Haro Strait, andStrait of Juan de Fuca, with theCanadian provinceofBritish Columbiato the north.^[70]

Washington is part of a region known as thePacific Northwest, a term which always refers to at least Washington and Oregon, and may or may not include some or all the following, depending on the user's intent: Idaho, westernMontana,northern California, British Columbia, andAlaska.

The high mountains of theCascade Rangerun north-south, bisecting the state. In addition toWestern WashingtonandEastern Washington, residents call the two parts of the state the "Westside" and the "Eastside", "Wet side" and "Dry side", or "Timberland" and "Wheatland", the latter pair more commonly in the names of region-specific businesses and institutions. These terms reflect the geography, climate, and industry of the land on both sides of the Cascades.

Major volcanoes in Washington

Mount Baker Glacier Peak Mount Rainier Mount St. Helens Mount Adams class=notpageimage| A physical map of Washington with the volcanic peaks Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St Helens pinned.

From theCascade Mountainswestward,Western Washingtonhas a mostlyMediterranean climate, with mild temperatures and wet winters, autumns and springs, and relatively dry summers. The Cascade Range has severalvolcanoes, which reach altitudes significantly higher than the rest of the mountains. From north to south, these major volcanoes areMount Baker,Glacier Peak,Mount Rainier,Mount St. Helens, andMount Adams. All are active volcanoes.^[71]

Mount Rainier—the tallest mountain in the state—^[72]is 50 miles (80 km) south of the city of Seattle, from which it is prominently visible. TheU.S. Geological Surveyconsiders 14,411-foot-tall (4,392 m) Mount Rainier the most dangerous volcano in the Cascade Range, due to its proximity to theSeattle metropolitan area, and most dangerous in the continental U.S. according to theDecade Volcanoeslist.^[73]It is also covered with moreglacial icethan any other peak in the contiguous 48 states.^[74]

Western Washington also is home of theOlympic Mountains, far west on theOlympic Peninsula, which support dense forests of conifers and areas oftemperate rainforest. These deep forests, such as theHoh Rainforest, are among the only rainforests in the continental United States.^[75]While Western Washington does not always experience a high amount of rainfall as measured in total inches of rain per year, it does consistently have more rainy days per year than most other places in the country.^[76]

Eastern Washington—the part of the state east of the Cascades—has a relatively dry climate, in distinct contrast to the west side. It includes large areas of semiaridsteppeand a few truly ariddesertsin therain shadowof the Cascades; the Hanford reservation receives an average annual precipitation of 6 to 7 inches (150 to 180 mm). Despite the limited amount of rainfall,agricultureis an extremely important business throughout much of Eastern Washington, as the soil is highly productive andirrigation, aided by dams along the Columbia River, is fairly widespread.^[77]The spread of population in Eastern Washington is dominated by access to water, especially rivers. The main cities are all located alongside rivers or lakes; most of them are named after the river or lake they adjoin.

Farther east, the climate becomes less arid, with annual rainfall increasing as one goes east to 21.2 inches (540 mm) in Pullman, near the Washington–Idaho border.^[78]TheOkanogan Highlandsand the ruggedKettle River RangeandSelkirk Mountainscover much of the state's northeastern quadrant. ThePalousesoutheast region of Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland, and extends to theBlue Mountains.^[79]

The state of Washington has a temperate climate. The eastern half of Washington has asemi-aridtowarm-summer mediterranean climate, while the western side of Washington as well as the coastal areas of the state have a cooloceanic climateor warm-summer mediterranean climate. Major factors determining Washington's climate include the large semi-permanentlow pressureandhigh pressuresystems of the north Pacific Ocean, the continental air masses of North America, and the Olympic and Cascade mountains. In the spring and summer, a high-pressureanticyclonesystem dominates the north Pacific Ocean, causing air to spiral out in a clockwise fashion. For Washington, this meansprevailing windsfrom the northwest bring relatively cool air and a predictablydry season.^{[81][failed verification]}

In the autumn and winter, a low-pressurecyclonesystem takes over in the north Pacific Ocean. The air spiraling inward in a counter-clockwise fashion causes Washington's prevailing winds to come from the southwest, and bring cool and overcast weather and a predictablywet season. The term "Pineapple Express" is used colloquially to describeatmospheric riverevents, where repeated storm systems are directed by this persistent cyclone from the tropical Pacific regions a great distance into the Pacific Northwest. Western Washington is very cloudy during much of fall, winter, and early spring.Seattleaverages the least sunshine hours of any major city in the United States.^[82]

Despite Western Washington's marine climate similar to many coastal cities of Europe, there are exceptions such as the "Big Snow" events of 1880, 1881, 1893, and 1916,^[83][84]and the "deep freeze" winters of 1883–1884, 1915–1916, 1949–1950, and 1955–1956, among others.^[85]During these events, Western Washington experienced up to 6 feet (1.8 m) of snow, sub-zero (−18 °C) temperatures, three months with snow on the ground, and lakes and rivers frozen over for weeks.^[84]Seattle's lowest officially recorded temperature is 0 °F (−18 °C) set on January 31, 1950, but low-altitude areas approximately three hours away from Seattle have recorded lows as cold as −48 °F (−44 °C).^[86]

The Southern Oscillation greatly influences weather during the cold season. During the El Niño phase, the jet stream enters the U.S. farther south through California, therefore late fall and winter are drier than normal with less snowpack. The La Niña phase reinforces the jet stream through the Pacific Northwest, causing Washington to have more rain and snow than average.^[87]

In 2006, the Climate Impacts Group at theUniversity of WashingtonpublishedThe Impacts of Climate change in Washington's Economy, a preliminary assessment of the risks and opportunities presented given the possibility of a rise in global temperatures and their effects on Washington state.^[88]

Rainfall in Washington varies dramatically going from east to west. The Olympic Peninsula's western side receives as much as 160 inches (4,100 mm) of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of the 48 conterminous states and atemperate rainforest. Weeks may pass without a clear day. The western slopes of the Cascade Range receive some of the heaviest annual snowfall (in some places more than 200 inches or 5,100 millimeters water equivalent) in the country. In the rain shadow area east of the Cascades, the annual precipitation is only 6 inches (150 mm). Precipitation then increases again eastward toward the Rocky Mountains (about 120 miles (190 km) east of the Idaho border).

The Olympic mountains and Cascades compound this climatic pattern by causingorographic liftof the air masses blown inland from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the windward side of the mountains receiving high levels of precipitation and the leeward side receiving low levels. This occurs most dramatically around the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range. In both cases, the windward slopes facing southwest receive high precipitation and mild, cool temperatures. While the Puget Sound lowlands are known for clouds and rain in the winter, the western slopes of the Cascades receive larger amounts of precipitation, often falling as snow at higher elevations.^[89]Mount Baker, near the state's northern border, is one of the snowiest places in the world. In 1999, it set the world record for snowfall in a single season—1,140 inches (95 ft; 29 m).^[90]

East of the Cascades, a large region experiences strong rain shadow effects. Semi-arid conditions occur in much of Eastern Washington with the strongest rain shadow effects at the relatively low elevations of the centralColumbia Plateau—especially the region just east of the Columbia River from about the Snake River to theOkanagan Highland. Thus, instead of rain forests, much of Eastern Washington is covered with drygrassland,shrub-steppe, anddunes.

The average annual temperature ranges from 51 °F (11 °C) on the Pacific coast to 40 °F (4 °C) in the northeast. The lowest temperature recorded in the state was −48 °F (−44 °C) inWinthropandMazama. The highest recorded temperature in the state was 120 °F (49 °C) atHanfordon June 29, 2021.^[91][92]Both records were set east of the Cascades. Western Washington is known for its mild climate, considerable fog, frequent cloud cover, long-lasting drizzles in the winter and warm, temperate summers. The eastern region, which does not benefit from the general moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, occasionally experiences extreme climate. Arctic cold fronts in the winter and heat waves in the summer are not uncommon. In the Western region, temperatures have reached as high as 118 °F (48 °C) inMaple Valley^[93]during theJune 2021 heat wave, and as low as −6 °F (−21 °C) inLongview,^[94]and even -8 F (-22 C) inSammamish.^[95]

Average daily high and low temperatures in °F (°C)
in cities and other locations in Washington
colored and sortable by average temperature

Place	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bellingham[96]	48 / 36 (9 / 2)	50 / 36 (10 / 2)	54 / 39 (12 / 4)	59 / 42 (15 / 6)	64 / 47 (18 / 8)	69 / 51 (21 / 11)	73 / 54 (23 / 12)	74 / 54 (23 / 12)	68 / 50 (20 / 10)	59 / 45 (15 / 7)	51 / 39 (11 / 4)	46 / 35 (8 / 2)
Ephrata[97]	35 / 22 (2 / −6)	43 / 26 (6 / −3)	54 / 32 (12 / 0)	63 / 38 (17 / 3)	72 / 46 (22 / 8)	80 / 54 (27 / 12)	88 / 60 (31 / 16)	87 / 59 (31 / 15)	78 / 50 (26 / 10)	62 / 39 (17 / 4)	45 / 29 (7 / −2)	34 / 21 (1 / −6)
Forks[98]	47 / 36 (8 / 2)	49 / 35 (9 / 2)	51 / 37 (11 / 3)	55 / 39 (13 / 4)	60 / 43 (16 / 6)	63 / 48 (17 / 9)	67 / 51 (19 / 11)	69 / 51 (21 / 11)	66 / 47 (19 / 8)	58 / 42 (14 / 6)	50 / 38 (10 / 3)	46 / 35 (8 / 2)
Paradise[99]	35 / 23 (2 / −5)	36 / 22 (2 / −6)	38 / 24 (3 / −4)	42 / 26 (6 / −3)	49 / 32 (9 / 0)	55 / 36 (13 / 2)	63 / 43 (17 / 6)	65 / 44 (18 / 7)	58 / 40 (14 / 4)	48 / 33 (9 / 1)	37 / 25 (3 / −4)	34 / 21 (1 / −6)
Richland[100]	41 / 29 (5 / −2)	47 / 30 (8 / −1)	58 / 35 (14 / 2)	65 / 41 (18 / 5)	73 / 48 (23 / 9)	80 / 54 (27 / 12)	88 / 59 (31 / 15)	88 / 58 (31 / 14)	78 / 50 (26 / 10)	64 / 40 (18 / 4)	49 / 34 (9 / 1)	38 / 27 (3 / −3)
Seattle[101]	47 / 37 (8 / 3)	50 / 37 (10 / 3)	54 / 39 (12 / 4)	59 / 42 (15 / 6)	65 / 47 (18 / 8)	70 / 52 (21 / 11)	76 / 56 (24 / 13)	76 / 56 (24 / 13)	71 / 52 (22 / 11)	60 / 46 (16 / 8)	51 / 40 (11 / 4)	46 / 36 (8 / 2)
Spokane[102]	35 / 24 (2 / −4)	40 / 25 (4 / −4)	49 / 31 (9 / −1)	57 / 36 (14 / 2)	67 / 43 (19 / 6)	74 / 50 (23 / 10)	83 / 55 (28 / 13)	83 / 55 (28 / 13)	73 / 46 (23 / 8)	58 / 36 (14 / 2)	42 / 29 (6 / −2)	32 / 22 (0 / −6)
Vancouver[103]	47 / 33 (8 / 1)	51 / 33 (11 / 1)	56 / 37 (13 / 3)	60 / 40 (16 / 4)	67 / 45 (19 / 7)	72 / 50 (22 / 10)	78 / 54 (26 / 12)	79 / 53 (26 / 12)	75 / 48 (24 / 9)	63 / 41 (17 / 5)	52 / 37 (11 / 3)	46 / 32 (8 / 0)
Winthrop[104]	31 / 15 (−1 / −9)	39 / 18 (4 / −8)	51 / 26 (11 / −3)	62 / 32 (17 / 0)	71 / 40 (22 / 4)	78 / 46 (26 / 8)	86 / 50 (30 / 10)	86 / 49 (30 / 9)	78 / 41 (26 / 5)	62 / 32 (17 / 0)	42 / 25 (6 / −4)	29 / 14 (−2 / −10)
Yakima[105]	39 / 23 (4 / −5)	46 / 26 (8 / −3)	56 / 30 (13 / −1)	64 / 34 (18 / 1)	72 / 42 (22 / 6)	80 / 48 (27 / 9)	88 / 53 (31 / 12)	87 / 52 (31 / 11)	78 / 44 (26 / 7)	64 / 34 (18 / 1)	48 / 27 (9 / −3)	36 / 21 (2 / −6)

Forests cover about half the state's land area, mostly west of the northern Cascades. Approximately two-thirds of Washington's forested area is publicly owned, including 64 percent of federal land.^[106]Common trees and plants in the region arecamassia, Douglas fir, hemlock,penstemon, ponderosa pine,western red cedar, and many species of ferns.^[107]The state's various areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with substantially large populations of shorebirds and marine mammals. The Pacific shore surrounding theSan Juan Islandsis heavily inhabited bykiller, gray, and humpback whales.^[108]

In Eastern Washington, the flora is vastly different.Tumbleweedsandsagebrushdominate the landscape throughout large parts of the countryside.Russian olivesand other trees are common alongside riverbanks; however, apart from the riversides, large swaths of Eastern Washington have no naturally existing trees at all (though many trees have been planted and are irrigated by people, of course). A wider variety of flora can be found in both theBlue Mountainsand the eastern sides of the Cascades.

Mammals native to the state include thebat,black bear,bobcat,cougar,coyote,deer,elk,gray wolf,hare,moose,mountain beaver,muskrat,opossum,pocket gopher,rabbit,raccoon,river otter,skunk, andtree squirrel.^[109]Because of the wide range of geography, the state of Washington is home to several different ecoregions, which allow for a varied range of bird species. This range includes raptors, shorebirds, woodland birds, grassland birds, ducks, and others.^[110]There have also been a large number of species introduced to Washington, dating back to the early 18th century, including horses and burros.^[111]Thechannel catfish,lamprey, andsturgeonare among the 400 knownfreshwater fishes.^[112][113]Along with the Cascades frog, there are several forms of snakes that define the most prominentreptilesand amphibians.^[114][115]Coastal bays and islands are often inhabited by plentiful amounts of shellfish and whales. There are five species ofsalmonthat ascend the Western Washington area, from streams to spawn.^[108]

Washington has a variety ofNational Park Serviceunits. Among these are theAlta Lake State Park,Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area,San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, as well as three national parks—theOlympic National Park,North Cascades National Park, andMount Rainier National Park.^[116]The three national parks were established between 1899 and 1968. Almost 95 percent (876,517 acres, 354,714 hectares, 3,547.14 square kilometers) of Olympic National Park's area has been designated as wilderness under theNational Wilderness Preservation System.^[117]Additionally, there are 143state parksand9national forests, run by theWashington State Park Systemand theUnited States Forest Service.^[118]TheOkanogan National Forestis the largest national forest on theWest Coast, encompassing 1,499,023 acres (606,633 ha). It is managed together as the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest, encompassing a considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres (1,310,940 ha).^[119]

There are 39 counties within the state, and 281 incorporated municipalities which are divided into cities and towns.^[120]The majority of the state's population lives within Western Washington, in the Seattle metropolitan area; the city of Seattle is the principal city of the metropolitan area, and Western Washington, with a 2020 census population of 737,015.^[121]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	1,201		—
1860	11,594		865.4%
1870	23,955		106.6%
1880	75,116		213.6%
1890	357,232		375.6%
1900	518,103		45.0%
1910	1,141,990		120.4%
1920	1,356,621		18.8%
1930	1,563,396		15.2%
1940	1,736,191		11.1%
1950	2,378,963		37.0%
1960	2,853,214		19.9%
1970	3,409,169		19.5%
1980	4,132,156		21.2%
1990	4,866,692		17.8%
2000	5,894,121		21.1%
2010	6,724,540		14.1%
2020	7,705,281		14.6%
2023 (est.)	7,951,150		3.2%
Source: 1910–2020[123][124][125][126][127]

Washington's population was 7,705,281 in the2020 census,^[127]a 14.6% increase since the2010 census.^[128]In 2020, the state ranked 13th overall in population, and was the third most populous, after California and Texas, west of the Mississippi River.^[129]Washington has the largest population among states in the Pacific Northwest, followed by Oregon and Idaho. The Washington State Office of Financial Management estimated the state population to be 7,951,150 as of April 1, 2023.^[130]

TheSeattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metropolitan area'spopulation was 4,018,762 in the 2020 census, more than half the state total.^[131]Thecenter of populationof Washington in 2010 was at47°20′N121°37′W / 47.33°N 121.62°W /47.33; -121.62, in an unpopulated part of theCascade Mountainsin rural easternKing County, southeast ofNorth Bend, northeast ofEnumclaw, and west ofSnoqualmie Pass.^[132]

In 2020, Washington's proportion of residents under the age of five was 5.7%, 21.8% under 18, and 16.3% 65 or older.^[133]

Four-fifths of the states's population identifies as White or European American. Washington has one of the largest Native American and Asian populations among states in the U.S.; the state also has a small proportion ofAfrican Americans. Washington's Hispanic community began growing rapidly in the late 20th century.^[134]In 2018, The top countries of origin for Washington's immigrants wereMexico,India,China, thePhilippinesandVietnam.^[135]There are 29federally recognizedNative American tribes in the state, mostly in Western Washington, and other unrecognized groups.^[136]

According toHUD's 2022Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 25,211homelesspeople in Washington.^[137][138]

The racial composition of Washington's population as of the 2020 census was:

Ethnic composition as of the 2020 census

Race and Ethnicity[140]	Alone		Total
White (non-Hispanic)	63.8%	63.8	70.0%	70
Hispanic or Latino[b]	—		13.7%	13.7
Asian	9.4%	9.4	11.8%	11.8
African American (non-Hispanic)	3.8%	3.8	5.3%	5.3
Native American	1.2%	1.2	3.2%	3.2
Pacific Islander	0.8%	0.8	1.4%	1.4
Other	0.6%	0.6	1.7%	1.7

Washington Historical Racial Composition

Racial composition	1990[141]	2000[142]	2010[143]	2020[133]
White	88.5%	81.8%	77.3%	66.6%
Black or African American	3.1%	3.2%	3.6%	4.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native	1.7%	1.6%	1.5%	1.6%
Asian	4.3%	5.5%	7.2%	9.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	–	0.4%	0.6%	0.8%
Other race	2.4%	3.9%	5.2%	6.7%
Two or more races	–	3.6%	4.7%	10.9%

According to the 2016American Community Survey, 12.1% of Washington's population were ofHispanic or Latinoorigin (of any race):Mexican(9.7%),Puerto Rican(0.4%),Cuban(0.1%), and other Hispanic or Latino origin (1.8%).^[144]The five largest ancestry groups were:German(17.8%),Irish(10.8%),English(10.4%),Norwegian(5.4%), andAmerican(4.6%).^[145]

Birth data

In 2011, 44.3 percent of Washington's population younger than age1 were minorities.^[146]

Note: Births in table do not add up because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

Live births by single race or ethnicity of the mother

Race	2013[147]	2014[148]	2015[149]	2016[150]	2017[151]	2018[152]	2019[153]	2020[154]	2021[155]	2022[156]
White	69,376 (80.1%)	70,966 (80.1%)	71,041 (78.9%)	...	...	...	...	...	...	...
Non-Hispanic White	54,779 (63.2%)	55,872 (63.1%)	55,352 (62.2%)	53,320 (58.9%)	50,679 (57.9%)	49,019 (56.9%)	47,435 (55.9%)	46,199 (55.6%)	46,187 (55.0%)	44,084 (52.9%)
Asian	9,820 (11.3%)	10,306 (11.6%)	10,611 (11.9%)	8,875 (9.8%)	8,836 (10.1%)	8,729 (10.1%)	8,856 (10.4%)	8,429 (10.1%)	8,817 (10.5%)	9,159 (11.0%)
Black	5,241 (6.0%)	5,254 (5.9%)	5,302 (6.0%)	3,862 (4.3%)	3,944 (4.5%)	3,922 (4.6%)	3,813 (4.5%)	3,841 (4.6%)	3,698 (4.4%)	3,797 (4.6%)
Pacific Islander	...	...	...	1,183 (1.3%)	1,164 (1.3%)	1,159 (1.3%)	1,204 (1.4%)	1,231 (1.5%)	1,181 (1.4%)	1,284 (1.5%)
American Indian	2,140 (2.5%)	2,059 (2.3%)	2,036 (2.3%)	1,309 (1.4%)	1,112 (1.3%)	1,166 (1.4%)	1,018 (1.2%)	1,002 (1.2%)	928 (1.1%)	861 (1.0%)
Hispanic(of any race)	15,575(18.0%)	15,779(17.8%)	16,073(18.1%)	16,533(18.3%)	15,973(18.2%)	16,073(18.7%)	16,161(19.0%)	16,020(19.3%)	16,260(19.4%)	17,190(20.6%)
Total Washington	86,577(100%)	88,585(100%)	88,990(100%)	90,505(100%)	87,562(100%)	86,085(100%)	84,895(100%)	83,086(100%)	83,911(100%)	83,333(100%)

• Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanicorigin are not collected, but included in oneHispanicgroup; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

While the population of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest is relatively scarce overall, they are mostly concentrated in theSouth EndandCentral Districtareas of Seattle, and in inner Tacoma.^[157]The black community of Seattle consisted of one individual in 1858,Manuel Lopes, and grew to a population of 406 by 1900.^[158]It developed substantially during and after World War II when wartime industries and theU.S. Armed Forcesemployed and recruited tens of thousands of African Americans from theSoutheastern United States. They moved west in the second wave of theGreat Migration, leaving a high influence on West Coastrock musicandR&Bandsoulin the 1960s, including Seattle nativeJimi Hendrix, a pioneer in hard rock, who was of African American and allegedCherokeedescent.

Native Americanslived on Indian reservations or jurisdiction lands such as theColville Indian Reservation,Makah,Muckleshoot Indian Reservation,Quinault,Salish people,Spokane Indian Reservation, andYakama Indian Reservation. The westernmost and Pacific coasts have primarily American Indian communities, such as theChinook,Lummi, andSalish.Urban Indiancommunities formed by the U.S.Bureau of Indian Affairsrelocation programs in Seattle since the end of World War II brought a variety of Native American peoples to this diverse metropolis. The city was named forChief Seattlein the very early 1850s when European Americans settled the sound.

Asian Americans are mostly concentrated in the Seattle−Tacoma metropolitan area of the state. Seattle,Bellevue, andRedmond, which are all within King County, have sizable Chinese communities (includingTaiwanese), as well as significantIndianandJapanesecommunities. TheChinatown-International Districtin Seattle has a historical Chinese population dating back to the 1860s, who mainly emigrated fromGuangdongProvince in southern China, and is home to a diverse East and Southeast Asian community.Koreansare heavily concentrated in the suburban cities ofFederal WayandAuburnto the south, and inLynnwoodto the north. Tacoma is home to thousands ofCambodians, and has one of the largest Cambodian-American communities in the United States, along withLong Beach, California, andLowell, Massachusetts.^[159]TheVietnameseandFilipinopopulations of Washington are mostly concentrated within the Seattle metropolitan area.^[160]

Washington state has the second highest percentage of Pacific Islander people in the mainland U.S. (behindUtah); the Seattle-Tacoma area is home to more than 15,000 people ofSamoanancestry, who mainly reside in southeast Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, and inSeaTac.^[161][162]

The most numerous (ethnic, not racial, group) are Latinos at 11%, asMexican Americansformed a large ethnic group in theChehalis Valley,Skagit Valley, farming areas ofYakima Valley, andEastern Washington. They were reported to at least date as far back as the 1800s.^[163]But it was in the late 20th century, that large-scale Mexican immigration and other Latinos settled in the southern suburbs of Seattle, with limited concentrations in King,Pierce, andSnohomish Countiesduring the region's real estate construction booms in the 1980s and 1990s.

Additionally, Washington has a largeEthiopiancommunity, with manyEritreanresidents as well.^[164]Both emerged in the late 1960s, and developed since 1980.^[165]An estimated 30,000Somaliimmigrants reside in the Seattle area.^[166]

Top 10 non-English languages spoken in Washington

Language	Percentage of population (as of 2010)[167]
Spanish	7.79%
Chinese[c]	1.19%
Vietnamese	0.94%
Tagalog	0.84%
Korean	0.83%
Russian	0.80%
German	0.55%
Japanese	0.39%
French	0.33%
Ukrainian	0.27%

In 2010, 82.51% (5,060,313) of Washington residents age5 and older spoke English at home as aprimary language, while 7.79% (477,566) spoke Spanish, 1.19% (72,552) Chinese (which includesCantoneseandStandard Chinese), 0.94% (57,895) Vietnamese, 0.84% (51,301)Tagalog, 0.83% (50,757) Korean, 0.80% (49,282) Russian, and 0.55% (33,744) German. In total, 17.49% (1,073,002) of Washington's population age5 and older spoke amother languageother than English.^[167]

Major religious affiliations of the people of Washington are:^[169]

• Christian: 50%
  • Protestantism: 33%
  • Catholicism: 17%
  • Latter-day Saint: 3%
  • Jehovah's Witness: 1%
• Unaffiliated/Other: 42%
• New Age: 3%
• Buddhism: 2%
• Judaism: 1%
• Hinduism: 1%

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2010 were theRoman Catholic Church, with 784,332;The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with 282,356;^[170]and theAssemblies of God, with 125,005.^[171]

Aquarian Tabernacle Churchis the largestWiccanchurch in the country.^[172]

Like other West Coast states, the percentage of Washington's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average.

Washington has a relatively strong economy, with a totalgross state productof $801.5 billion in 2023, placing it eleventh in the nation and growing by 8.6 percent per year—among the fastest rates in the United States.^[173]In the late 2010s, the state had the fastest-growing economy in the United States and was tenth-largest in the nation.^[174]Theminimum wagewas set at $11 in 2017 and has increased annually based on acost-of-living index; since January 1, 2024, it has been $16.28 an hour, the highest of any state.^[175]Several cities have higher minimum wages as of 2024^[update], such as Seattle at $19.97 for large employers andTukwilaat $20.29 for large employers.^[176][177]As of September 2023^[update], the state's unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, ranked 36th among states.^[178]

Significant business within the state include the design and manufacture of aircraft (Boeing),automotive(Paccar), computer software development (Microsoft,Bungie,Amazon,Nintendo of America,Valve,ArenaNet,Cyan Worlds),telecom(T-Mobile US),electronics,biotechnology,aluminumproduction, lumber and wood products (Weyerhaeuser), mining, beverages (Starbucks,Jones Soda), real estate (John L. Scott,Colliers International,Windermere Real Estate, Kidder Mathews), retail (Nordstrom,Eddie Bauer,Car Toys,Costco,R.E.I.), and tourism (Alaska Airlines,Expedia, Inc.). AFortunemagazine survey of the top 20 Most Admired Companies in the U.S. has four Washington-based companies: Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Costco.^[179]At over 80 percent the state has significant amounts of hydroelectric power generation. Also, significant amounts of trade with Asia pass through the ports of the Puget Sound, leading to a number six ranking of U.S. ports (ranking combines twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) moved and infrastructure index).^[180]

With the passage of Initiative 1183, theWashington State Liquor Control Board(WSLCB) ended its monopoly of all-state liquor store and liquor distribution operations on June 1, 2012. The board transitioned into licensing and regulating the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and latercannabisafter the passage ofInitiative 502.^[181][182]

The state is home to several of thewealthiest peoplein the United States and the world by net worth. Microsoft co-founderBill Gatesand Amazon founderJeff Bezosboth held the title ofworld's richest person, as determined byForbes, while living in Washington.^[183]

The state of Washington is one of seven states that do not levy a personalincome tax. The state does not collect acorporate income taxorfranchise taxeither. Washington businesses are responsible for various other state levies, including thebusiness and occupation tax(B & O), agross receipts taxwhich charges varying rates for different types of businesses.

Washington's state basesales taxis 6.5%, which is combined with a local sales tax that varies by locality. The combined state and local retail sales tax rates increase the taxes paid by consumers, depending on the variable local sales tax rates, generally between 7.5% and 10%.^[184]As of 2024^[update], the combined sales tax rate in Seattle was 10.25%. The Snohomish County cities ofLynnwood,Mill Creek,Mukilteoare tied for the highest sales tax rate in the state at 10.6%.^[185]These taxes apply to services as well as products, but not most foods due to a 1977 ballot measure.^[186][187]However, prepared foods,dietary supplements, andsoft drinksremain taxable.^[188]

Anexcise taxapplies to certain products such as gasoline, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages.Property taxwas the first tax levied in the state of Washington, and its collection accounts for about 30% of Washington's total state and local revenue. It continues to be the most important revenue source forpublic schools, fire protection,libraries, parks and recreation, and other special-purpose districts.

Allreal propertyandpersonal propertyare subject to tax unless specifically exempted by law. Most personal property owned by individuals is exempt from tax.Personal property taxapplies to personal property used when conducting business, or to other personal property not exempt by law. All property taxes are paid to the county treasurer's office where the property is located. Neither does the state assess any tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Washington does not collectinheritance taxes. However, theestate taxis de-coupled from the federal estate tax laws, and therefore, the state imposes its estate tax.

Washington state has the 18th highest per capitaeffective tax rate in the United States, as of 2017.^{[citation needed]}As of June 2023^[update], Washington has the highest gasoline prices in the United States, at an average of $4.97, in part due to the third-highest gasoline tax in the country.^[189]Their tax policy differs from neighboring Oregon's, which levies no sales tax, but does levy a personal income tax. This leads toborder economic anomaliesin thePortland–Vancouver metropolitan area.^[190]Additional border economies with tax disparities exist with neighboring Idaho, which has a lower sales tax rate;^[191]and British Columbia, which has higher costs for goods and has residents who commute into Washington for shopping.^[192]These include remote mailbox and courier services for American online retailers, which became ubiquitous in border communities in the 21st century.^[193]

Washington is a leading agricultural state. For 2018, the total value of Washington's agricultural products was $10.6 billion.^[194]In 2014, Washington ranked first in the nation in production of redraspberries(90.5 percent of total U.S. production),hops(79.3 percent),spearmintoil (75 percent), wrinkled seedpeas(70.4 percent),apples(71.1 percent), sweetcherries(62.3 percent),pears(45.6 percent),Concord grapes(55.1 percent),carrotsfor processing (30.6 percent), and green peas for processing (32.4 percent).^[195]

Washington also ranked second in the nation in the production of fall potatoes (a quarter of the nation's production),nectarines,apricots, asparagus, all raspberries, grapes (all varieties taken together), sweet corn for processing (a quarter of the nation's production), and summer onions (a fifth of the nation's production). Washington also ranked third in the nation in the production of dried peas, lentils, onions, and peppermint oil.^[194]

The apple industry is of particular importance to Washington. Because of the favorable climate of dry, warm summers and cold winters of central Washington, the state has led the U.S. in apple production since the 1920s.^[196]Two areas account for the vast majority of the state's apple crop: the Wenatchee–Okanogan region (comprisingChelan,Okanogan,Douglas, andGrantcounties), and the Yakima region (comprisingYakima,Benton, andKittitascounties).^[197]Washington produces seven principal varieties of apples which are exported to more than sixty countries.^[198]

Washington ranks secondin the United Statesin the production of wine, behind onlyCalifornia.^[199]By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (130 km²) ofvineyards, aharvestof 120,000 short tons (109,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to more than forty countries around the world from the state's 600wineries. By 2021, that number had grown to 1,050 wineries. While there are someviticulturalactivities in the cooler, wetterwestern halfof the state, almost all (99%) of wine grape production takes place in the desert-likeeastern half.^[200]Therain shadowof the Cascade Range leaves theColumbia River Basinwith around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, makingirrigationandwater rightsof paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours (on average, two more hours a day than in California during thegrowing season) and consistent temperatures.^[201]

As of 2022^[update], Washington has 108,542 totalU.S. Department of Defensepersonnel, including active duty members of the military and civilian workers atUnited States Armed Forcesbases.^[202]It ranks seventh among states for most active duty personnel, at over 60,000, and seventeenth forreserve members.^[203]TheU.S. NavyandMarinescomprise the largest branch in Washington with 45 percent of personnel, followed by theArmyat 40 percent and theAir Forceat 11 percent.^[202]The state is also home to the 11th-largest population of retirees and veterans at over 560,000 as of 2019^[update].^[204]

The state's largest military installations are centered around the Puget Sound region and includeJoint Base Lewis–McChordin Pierce County, the largest military base on the West Coast with over 25,000 active duty soldiers;^[205]Naval Station Everettin Snohomish County; andNaval Air Station Whidbey Islandin Island County.^[202][206]The Kitsap Peninsula is home toNaval Base Kitsap, which includes thePuget Sound Naval Shipyardin Bremerton andNaval Submarine Base Bangor,^[206]site of the third-largest arsenal ofnuclear weaponsin the world with more than 1,100 warheads for submarines.^[207]Fairchild Air Force Baseis a major air force installation near Spokane that has the largestaerial refuelingfleet in the world.^[208]Washington also has several major companies that serve asdefense contractorsfor the U.S. military who were awarded $6.9 billion infiscal year2022. The largest contractors in the state include Boeing,PacMed, and Microsoft.^[202][209]

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From 2009 to 2014, the Washington State Broadband Project was awarded $7.3 million in federal grants, but the program was discontinued in 2014.^[210]For infrastructure, another $166 million has been awarded since 2011 for broadband infrastructure projects in Washington state.^[211]

U.S. News & World Reportranked Washington second nationally for household internet access, and sixth for online download speed, based on data from 2014 and 2015.^[212]

In 2019, Washington State Legislature established the Washington State Broadband Office with two key mandates: high-speed internet access for 100% of WA residents by 2024 and an increase to 150/150 Mbit/s by 2028.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2021, the Washington State Department of Commerce issued their first biennial report on the progress of these key mandates throughout 2020.^[213]

The report includes five sections: public survey results, digital adoption disparities as they relate to federal census data, a Partner-Plan-Fund-Build-Adopt model for continued progress, success stories, and a policy discussion conclusion.

According to the report, "...over 42,000 survey responses from nearly 32,000 unique locations, showing that 6.4 percent of respondents reported having no broadband service, and 57 percent reported service at download speeds under 25 Mbps..."

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Washington's state transportation system comprises several modes that are maintained by various government entities. Thestate highwaysystem, calledState Routes, includes over 7,000 miles (11,000 km) of roads and theWashington State Ferriessystem, the largest of its kind in the nation^[214]and the third largest in the world. There are also 57,200 miles (92,100 km) of local roads maintained by cities and counties, as well as several ferries operated by local governments.^[215]There are 140public airfields in Washington, including 16state airportsowned by theWashington State Department of Transportation.Seattle-Tacoma International Airport(Sea-Tac) is the major commercial airport of greater Seattle.^[216]Boeing Fieldin Seattle is one of the busiest primary non-hub airports in the U.S.^[217]

There are extensive waterways around Washington's largest cities, including Seattle,Bellevue, Tacoma, andOlympia. The state highways incorporate an extensive network of bridges and the largest ferry system in the United States to serve transportation needs in the Puget Sound area. Washington's marine highway constitutes a fleet of twenty-eight ferries that navigatePuget Soundand its inland waterways to 20 different ports of call, completing close to 147,000 sailings each year. Washington is home to four of the five longestfloating bridgesin the world: theEvergreen Point Floating Bridge,Lacey V. Murrow Memorial BridgeandHomer M. Hadley Memorial BridgeoverLake Washington, and theHood Canal Bridgewhich connects the Olympic Peninsula andKitsap Peninsula. Among its most famous bridges is theTacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed in 1940 and was rebuilt. Washington has 75 port districts,^[215]including several majorseaports on the Pacific Ocean. Among these are ports inSeattle,Tacoma,Kalama,Anacortes,Vancouver,Everett,Longview, Grays Harbor, Olympia, andPort Angeles.^{[citation needed]}The Columbia and Snake rivers also provide 465 miles (748 km) of inland waterways that are navigable by barges as far east asLewiston, Idaho.^[215][218]

The Cascade Mountain Range also impedes transportation. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven^[vague]majormountain passesand eight minor passes. During the winter months, some of these passes are plowed, sanded, and kept safe with avalanche control. Not all stay open through the winter. The North Cascades Highway,State Route 20, closes every year due to snowfall and avalanches in the area ofWashington Pass. TheCayuseandChinookpasses east of Mount Rainier also close in winter.^[219]

Washington passenger rail stations
Legend
Cascades toVancouver, British Columbia Bellingham Mount Vernon Stanwood Leavenworth Everett Mukilteo Wenatchee Edmonds Seattle Ephrata Tukwila Kent Spokane Auburn Empire BuildertoChicago Sumner Puyallup Pasco(Tri-Cities) Tacoma Dome South Tacoma Wishram Lakewood Olympia–Lacey Bingen–White Salmon Centralia Kelso–Longview Vancouver, Washington Empire BuildertoPortland CascadestoEugene Coast StarlighttoLos Angeles
Key
Amtrakonly Sounder commuter railonly both
This diagram: view talk edit

Washington is crossed byseveral freight railroads, and Amtrak's passengerCascade routebetween Eugene, Oregon, and Vancouver, BC is the eighth busiest Amtrak service in the U.S. Seattle'sKing Street Station, the busiest station in Washington, and the 15th busiest in the U.S.,^[220]serves as the terminus for the two long-distance Amtrak routes in Washington, theEmpire Builderto Chicago and theCoast Starlightto Los Angeles. TheSounder commuter railservice operates in Seattle and its surrounding cities, betweenEverettandLakewood. The intercity network includes theCascade Tunnel, the longest railroad tunnel in the United States, which is part of theStevens Passroute on the BNSF Northern Transcom.^[221]

Sound TransitLink light railcurrently operates in the Seattle area at a length of 24 miles (39 km), and inTacomaat a length of 4 miles (6.4 km). The entire system has a funded expansion plan that will expand light rail to a total of 116 miles by 2041. Seattle also has a 3.8-mile (6.1 km)streetcar networkwith two lines and plans to expand further by 2025. 32 local bus transit systems exist across the state,^[215]the busiest beingKing County Metro, located in Seattle and King County, with just above 122 million riders in 2017.^[222]Clark County has historically resisted proposals to extend Portland'sMAX Light Railinto Vancouver, including the rejection of two ballot measures, but light rail is slated to be included in a future replacement of theInterstate Bridge.^[223]

Some tribal governments offerfree bus serviceon their respective reservations, including on theMuckleshoot,^[224]Spokane,^[225]andYakama Indian Reservations.^[226]

Hanford Nuclear Reservationis currently the mostcontaminatednuclear site in the United States^[227]and is the focus of the nation's largestenvironmental cleanup.^[228]The radioactive materials are known to be leaking from Hanford into the environment.^[229]Another major cleanup site is theDuwamish Riverbasin in Seattle, among the most contaminated bodies of water in the United States due to industrial runoff.^[230]

In 2007, Washington became the first state in the nation to target all forms of highly toxicbrominatedflame retardantsknown asPBDEsfor elimination from the many common household products in which they are being used. A 2004 study of 40 mothers from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Montana found PBDEs in the breast milk of every woman tested.

Three recent studies by theWashington State Department of Ecologyshowed toxic chemicals banned decades ago linger in the environment and concentrate in the food chain. In one of the studies, state government scientists found unacceptable levels of toxic substances in 93 samples of freshwater fish from 45 sites. The toxic substances includedPCBs,dioxins, two chlorinated pesticides,DDE,dieldrinand PBDEs. As a result of the study, the department will investigate the sources of PCBs in the Wenatchee River, where unhealthy levels of PCBs were found in mountain whitefish. Based on the 2007 information and a previous 2004 Ecology study, theWashington State Department of Healthadvises the public not to eatmountain whitefishfrom theWenatchee RiverfromLeavenworthdownstream to where the river joins the Columbia, due to unhealthy levels of PCBs. Study results also showed high levels of contaminants in fish tissue that scientists collected from Lake Washington and the Spokane River, where fish consumption advisories are already in effect.^[231]

On March 27, 2006, GovernorChristine Gregoiresigned into law the recently approved House Bill 2322. This bill would limitphosphoruscontent in dishwashing detergents statewide to 0.5 percent over the next six years. Though the ban would be effective statewide in 2010, it would take place inWhatcom County,Spokane County, andClark Countyin 2008.^[232]A recent discovery had linked high contents of phosphorus in water to a boom inalgaepopulation. An invasive amount of algae in bodies of water would lead to a variety of excess ecological and technological issues.^[233]

In 2020, the electricity sold by public and private suppliers for use in Washington was primarily sourced fromhydroelectric dams(55%), followed bynatural gas(12%), coal (8.5%),wind(6%), and nuclear (4%). A total of 86.7 millionMegawatt-hoursof electricity was generated statewide in 2020.^[234]Washington has the second-highest rate ofrenewable energygeneration among U.S. states, behind Texas, and accounted for 31 percent of national hydroelectric generation.^[235]

Washington'sexecutive branchis headed by a governor elected for a four-year term. The current statewide elected officials are:

• Jay Inslee,Governor(D)
• Denny Heck,Lieutenant Governor(D)
• Steve Hobbs,Secretary of State(D)
• Mike Pellicciotti,State Treasurer(D)
• Patrice McCarthy,State Auditor(D)
• Bob Ferguson,Attorney General(D)
• Chris Reykdal,Superintendent of Public Instruction(NP/D)^[d]
• Hilary Franz,Commissioner of Public Lands(D)
• Mike Kreidler,Insurance Commissioner(D)

ThebicameralWashington State Legislatureis the state'slegislative branch. Thestate legislatureis composed of alowerHouse of Representativesand anupperState Senate. The state is divided into 49 legislative districts of equal population, each of which elects two representatives and one senator. Representatives serve two-year terms, while senators serve for four years. There are noterm limits. TheDemocratic Partyhas a majority in the House and Senate.

TheWashington Supreme Courtis the highest court in the state and meets in Olympia. Nine justices serve on the bench and are elected statewide or appointed by the governor to fill vacancies.^[236]There are 30 judicial districts, each with asuperior court; these districts roughly correspond to counties, with some districts that combine rural or closely-related counties.^[237]

The two currentUnited States senators from WashingtonarePatty MurrayandMaria Cantwell, both Democrats. Murray has represented the state since 1993, while Cantwell assumed office in 2001. The state is one of four with two female senators.^[238]

Washington's ten representatives in the United States House of Representatives (see map of districts) as of the 2022 election areSuzan DelBene(D-1),Rick Larsen(D-2),Marie Gluesenkamp Perez(D-3),Dan Newhouse(R-4),Cathy McMorris Rodgers(R-5),Derek Kilmer(D-6),Pramila Jayapal(D-7),Kim Schrier(D-8),Adam Smith(D-9), andMarilyn Strickland(D-10).

Due toCongressional redistrictingas a result of the2010 Census, Washington gained one seat in theUnited States House of Representatives. With the extra seat, Washington also gained one electoral vote, raising its total to 12.

United States presidential election results for Washington ^[239]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,584,651	38.77%	2,369,612	57.97%	133,368	3.26%
2016	1,221,747	36.83%	1,742,718	52.54%	352,531	10.63%
2012	1,290,670	41.03%	1,755,396	55.80%	99,892	3.18%
2008	1,229,216	40.26%	1,750,848	57.34%	73,197	2.40%
2004	1,304,894	45.60%	1,510,201	52.77%	46,618	1.63%
2000	1,108,864	44.56%	1,247,652	50.13%	132,229	5.31%
1996	840,712	37.30%	1,123,323	49.84%	289,802	12.86%
1992	731,234	31.96%	993,037	43.40%	563,959	24.65%
1988	903,835	48.46%	933,516	50.05%	27,902	1.50%
1984	1,051,670	55.82%	807,352	42.86%	24,888	1.32%
1980	865,244	49.66%	650,193	37.32%	226,957	13.03%
1976	777,732	50.00%	717,323	46.11%	60,479	3.89%
1972	837,135	56.92%	568,334	38.64%	65,378	4.44%
1968	588,510	45.12%	616,037	47.23%	99,734	7.65%
1964	470,366	37.37%	779,881	61.97%	8,309	0.66%
1960	629,273	50.68%	599,298	48.27%	13,001	1.05%
1956	620,430	53.91%	523,002	45.44%	7,457	0.65%
1952	599,107	54.33%	492,845	44.69%	10,756	0.98%
1948	386,315	42.68%	476,165	52.61%	42,579	4.70%
1944	361,689	42.24%	486,774	56.84%	7,865	0.92%
1940	322,123	40.58%	462,145	58.22%	9,565	1.20%
1936	206,892	29.88%	459,579	66.38%	25,867	3.74%
1932	208,645	33.94%	353,260	57.46%	52,909	8.61%
1928	335,844	67.06%	156,772	31.30%	8,224	1.64%
1924	220,224	52.24%	42,842	10.16%	158,483	37.60%
1920	223,137	55.96%	84,298	21.14%	91,280	22.89%
1916	167,208	43.89%	183,388	48.13%	30,398	7.98%
1912	70,445	21.82%	86,840	26.90%	165,514	51.27%
1908	106,062	57.68%	58,691	31.92%	19,126	10.40%
1904	101,540	69.95%	28,098	19.36%	15,513	10.69%
1900	57,456	53.44%	44,833	41.70%	5,235	4.87%
1896	39,153	41.84%	53,314	56.97%	1,116	1.19%
1892	36,460	41.45%	29,802	33.88%	21,707	24.68%

The state is typically thought of as politically divided by the Cascade Mountains, with Western Washington beingliberal(particularly theI-5Corridor) and Eastern Washington beingconservative.

Although the eastern half of the state votes heavilyRepublican, the overwhelmingDemocraticdominance in theSeattle metropolitan areahas turned Washington into a reliablyblue state. It is considered part of theBlue wallof states that have voted Democratic in every presidential election since1992. This voting streak began with DemocratMichael Dukakisnarrowly capturing Washington in1988. The state has since turned much more solidly blue, beginning with Obama's landslide victory in2008, and Democrats winning the state by double digits in every subsequent presidential election.

Washington was considered a key swing state in 1968, and it was the only western state to give its electoral votes to Democratic nomineeHubert Humphreyover his Republican opponentRichard Nixon. Washington was considered a part of the 1994Republican Revolution, and had the biggest pick-up in the house for Republicans, who picked up seven of Washington's nine House seats.^[240]However, this dominance did not last for long, as Democrats picked up one seat in the 1996 election,^[241]and two more in 1998, giving the Democrats a 5–4 majority.^[242]

Thegovernorshipis held by DemocratJay Inslee, who was elected to his first term in the2012 gubernatorial electionand, after the 2020 election, became the first incumbent in more than 40 years to be elected for a third term. In 2013 and 2014, both houses of theWashington State Legislature(theWashington Senateand theWashington House of Representatives) were controlled by Democrats. The state senate was under Republican control, due to two Democrats' joining Republicans to form theMajority Coalition Caucus. After the 2014 elections, the Democrats retained control of the House, while Republicans took a majority in the Senate without the need for a coalition. In November 2017, a special election gave Democrats a one-seat majority in the Senate and complete control over state government. Since then, in the 2018 election, the Democrats have only expanded their majorities.

No state has gone longer without a Republican governor thanWashington. Democrats have controlled theWashington Governor's Mansionfor39 years; the last Republican governor wasJohn Spellman, who left office in 1985. Washington has not voted for a Republican senator, governor, or presidential candidate since 1994, tying with Delaware for the longest streak in the country.^[243]

Washington uses thenon-partisan blanket primarysystem after the approval ofInitiative 872in 2004.^[244]All candidates run on the same ballot during primary elections and the top two candidates advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation. This has resulted in several same-party general election match-ups. In a 2020 study, Washington was ranked as the second easiest state for citizens to vote in.^[245]

The 2023American Values AtlasbyPublic Religion Research Institutefound thatsame-sex marriageis supported near-universally in Washington.^[246]

Washington is one of the ten states to have legalizedassisted suicide. In 2008, theWashington Death with Dignity Actballot initiative passed and became law.

In November 2009, Washington voters approved full domestic partnerships viaReferendum 71, marking the first time voters in any state expanded recognition of same-sex relationships at the ballot box. Three years later, in November 2012,same-sex marriagewas affirmed viaReferendum 74, making Washington one of only three states to have approved same-sex marriage by popular vote.

Also in November 2012, Washington was one of the first two states to approve the legal sale and possession ofcannabisfor both recreational and medical use withInitiative 502. Although marijuana is still illegal under U.S. federal law, persons 21 and older in Washington state can possess up to one ounce of marijuana, 16 ounces of marijuana-infused product in solid form, 72 ounces of marijuana-infused product in liquid form, or any combination of all three, and can legally consume marijuana and marijuana-infused products.^[247]

In November 2016, voters approved Initiative 1433, which among other things requires employers to guarantee paidsick leaveto most workers. On January 1, 2018, the law went into effect, with Washington becoming the seventh state with paid sick leave requirements.^[248]

With the passage ofInitiative 1639in the 2018 elections, Washington adopted stricter gun laws.

Washington enacted a measure in May 2019 in favor ofsanctuary cities, similar to California and Oregon laws which are among the strongest statewide mandates in the nation.^[249]

In 2019, the legislature passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act, which requires all electricity sales to be from zero-carbon sources by 2045 and net-zero by 2030.^[250]

As of the 2020–2021 school year, 1,094,330 students were enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Washington, with 67,841 teachers employed to educate them.^[251]As of August 2009, there were 295school districtsin the state, serviced by nineEducational Service Districts.^[252]Washington School Information Processing Cooperative(a non-profit opt-in state agency) provides information management systems for fiscal and human resources and student data. Elementary and secondary schools are under the jurisdiction of theWashington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction(OSPI).^[253]

High schooljuniorsandseniorsin Washington have the option of using the state'sRunning Startprogram. Begun by thestate legislaturein 1990, it allows students to attend institutions of higher education at public expense, simultaneously earning high school and college credit.^[254]The state has 141 schools that offerdual languageprograms in 14 languages, primarily Spanish, beginning in kindergarten.^[255]

The state also has several public arts-focused high schools includingTacoma School of the Arts, theVancouver School of Arts and Academics, andThe Center School. There are also four Science and Math based high schools: one in theTri-Citiesknown as Delta, one in Tacoma known as SAMI, another in Seattle known asRaisbeck Aviation High School, and one in Redmond known asTesla STEM High School.

This section may containexcessiveorirrelevantexamples. Please helpimprove the articleby adding descriptive text and removingless pertinent examples. (September 2022)

There are more than 40 institutions of higher education in Washington. The state has major research universities, technical schools, religious schools, and private career colleges. Colleges and universities include theUniversity of Washington,Seattle University,Washington State University,Western Washington University,Eastern Washington University,Central Washington University,Seattle Pacific University,Saint Martin's University,Pacific Lutheran University,Gonzaga University,University of Puget Sound,Evergreen State College,Whitman College, andWalla Walla University.

As of 2022^[update], Washington has 20 daily newspapers and 96 weekly newspapers that serve local and hyperlocal markets.^[256]The most-circulated newspaper in the state isThe Seattle Times, which is also among the most-circulated newspapers in the United States.^[257]Other major daily newspapers includeThe Spokesman-Reviewin Spokane,The News Tribunein Tacoma,The Columbianin Vancouver,The Daily Heraldin Everett, theTri-City Heraldin Kennewick, and theKitsap Sunin Bremerton.^[256]Several national and regional chains own and operate a number of local weekly newspapers, including theAdams Publishing Group,^[258]Sound Publishing,The Seattle Times Company, and theMcClatchy Company.^[259]Free weekly newspapers includeThe Stranger,Seattle Weekly, and theInlander.^[259]: 18The Seattle area also has a number of publications in English and other languages for ethnic communities, including theSeattle Chinese Post,International Examiner, andNorthwest Asian Weekly.^[260]Since 2004, Washington has lost 37 local newspapers and seen the consolidation of smaller papers, including neighborhood and suburban papers in the Seattle metropolitan area.^[256][261]Several newspapers have also switched to online-only publication, including Seattle's morning dailyPost-Intelligencerin 2009.^[262]

The state is divided into fourDesignated Market AreasbyNielsen Media Research: Seattle–Tacoma, which also extends east to Wenatchee; Portland, which includes most of Southwestern Washington; Spokane, which also includes northern Idaho; and Yakima–Pasco–Richland–Kennewick.^[263]The Seattle–Tacoma market is the largest in the Pacific Northwest and has been the 13th largest in the United States since 2009.^[264]As of 2009^[update], Washington had 39 full-power television stations and an additional 11 from Portland, Oregon; most are affiliated with a national or regional broadcasting network.^[265]The state is home to 383 stations licensed with theFederal Communications Commission(FCC).^[266][267]These radio stations broadcast to local markets as well as online, where Seattle-based music stationKEXP-FMhas found a worldwide following.^[268]

The top two health insurers as of 2017 werePremera Blue Cross, with 24 percent market share, followed byKaiser Permanenteat 21 percent.^[269]For the individual market,Molina Healthcarehad the top share at 23%.^[270]

The state adopted theWashington Healthplanfindersystem in 2014 after the passage of the federalPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act(also known as "ObamaCare").^[271]The system is used by approximately 90 percent of Washington residents who purchase or acquire their health insurance directly rather than through an employer.^[272]The state'sMedicaidprogram, namedWashington Apple Health, provides healthcare coverage to people with disabilities or low incomes.^[273]

The state of Washington reformed its health care system in 1993 through the Washington Health Services Act. The legislation required individuals to obtain health insurance or face penalties, and required employers to provide insurance to employees. In addition, health insurance companies were required to sell policies to all individuals, regardless of pre-existing conditions, and cover basic benefits.^[274]The act was mostly repealed in 1995 before it could go into full effect.

Hospitals exist across the state, but many of Washington's best-known medical facilities are locatedin and around Seattle. The Seattle–Tacoma area has six major hospitals:Harborview Medical Center,University of Washington Medical Center,Seattle Children's,Swedish Medical Center,MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, andSt. Joseph Medical Center.^[275]The Seattle-area hospitals are concentrated onFirst Hill, which is home toVirginia Mason Medical Center(the neighborhood has received the nickname "Pill Hill" owing to the high concentration of healthcare facilities).^[276]As of 2023^[update], the state has over 14,000 totalhospital bedsthat are licensed foracute carein 93 facilities. Several religious healthcare providers, primarilyCatholic organizations, control 49 percent of the state's hospital beds and have acquired and consolidated major systems in Washington.^[277]

State symbols of Washington

List of state symbols
Flag of Washington
Seal of Washington
Living insignia
Amphibian	Pacific chorus frog
Bird	American goldfinch
Fish	Steelhead trout
Flower	Rhododendron
Grass	Bluebunch wheatgrass
Insect	Green Darner
Mammal	Olympic marmot/Orca
Tree	Western Hemlock
Vegetable	Sweet onion
Inanimate insignia
Dance	Square dance
Food	Apple
Gemstone	Petrified wood
Ship	Lady Washington
Soil	Tokul
Tartan	Washington state tartan
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2007
Lists of United States state symbols

Pickleball, a racquet sport invented onBainbridge Islandin 1965, was designated as Washington's officialstate sportin 2022.^[278]For two years in a row, 2021 and 2022, the sport was named the fastest growing sport in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).^[279]

Club	Sport	League	Stadium and city
Seattle Kraken	Ice Hockey	National Hockey League	Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Seattle Mariners	Baseball	Major League Baseball(AL)	T-Mobile Park, Seattle
Seattle Reign FC	Soccer	National Women's Soccer League	Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Seahawks	Football	National Football League(NFC)	Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Sounders FC	Soccer	Major League Soccer(West)	Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Storm	Basketball	Women's National Basketball Association	Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle

Club	Sport	League	Stadium and city
Ballard FC	Soccer	USL League Two	Interbay Stadium, Seattle
Everett AquaSox	Baseball	High-A West(High-A)	Everett Memorial Stadium, Everett
Everett Silvertips	Ice hockey	Western Hockey League	Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
Midlakes United	Soccer	USL League Two	Bellevue College Soccer Field, Bellevue
Oly Town FC	Soccer	USL League Two	The Evergreen State College Pavilion, Olympia
Seattle Sea Dragons	American football	XFL	Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Majestics	American football	Women's Football Alliance	French Field, Kent
Seattle Mist	Indoor football	Legends Football League	ShoWare Center, Kent
Seattle Saracens	Rugby union	Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League	Magnuson Park, Seattle
Seattle Seawolves	Rugby union	Major League Rugby	Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Seattle Thunderbirds	Ice hockey	Western Hockey League	ShoWare Center, Kent
Spokane Chiefs	Ice hockey	Western Hockey League	Spokane Arena, Spokane
Spokane Indians	Baseball	High-A West(High-A)	Avista Stadium, Spokane
Spokane Velocity	Soccer	USL League One	One Spokane Stadium, Spokane
Spokane Zephyr FC	Soccer	USL Super League	One Spokane Stadium, Spokane
Tacoma Defiance	Soccer	MLS Next Pro	Cheney Stadium, Tacoma
Tacoma Rainiers	Baseball	Triple-A West(Triple-A)	Cheney Stadium, Tacoma
Tacoma Stars	Indoor soccerand Soccer	Major Arena Soccer League(indoor) USL League Two(outdoor)	ShoWare Center, Kent (indoor) Bellarmine Preparatory School, Tacoma
Tri-City Americans	Ice hockey	Western Hockey League	Toyota Center, Kennewick
Tri-City Dust Devils	Baseball	High-A West(High-A)	Gesa Stadium, Pasco
Wenatchee Wild	Ice hockey	Western Hockey League	Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee
West Seattle Junction FC	Soccer	USL League Two	TBA

NCAA Division I

• Washington Huskies(Pac-12 Conference;Football Bowl Subdivision)
• Washington State Cougars(Pac-12 Conference;Football Bowl Subdivision)
• Gonzaga Bulldogs(West Coast Conference)
• Seattle Redhawks(Western Athletic Conference)
• Eastern Washington Eagles(Big Sky Conference;Football Championship Subdivision)

NCAA Division II

• Central Washington Wildcats
• Saint Martin's Saints
• Seattle Pacific Falcons
• Western Washington Vikings

NCAA Division III

• Pacific Lutheran Lutes
• Puget Sound Loggers
• Whitman Blues
• Whitworth Pirates

TheSeattle Open Invitationalgolf tournament was part of thePGA Tourfrom the 1930s to the 1960s. TheGTE Northwest Classicwas part of theSenior PGA Tourfrom 1986 to 1995, and theBoeing Classicsince 2005. In addition, the2015 U.S. Openwas held atChambers Bay, and several major tournaments were held atSahalee Country Club.

Pacific Racewaysis a motorsports venue that has hosted the Northwest Nationals of theNHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Seriesand a round of theTrans-Am Series.

TheWTA Seattletennis tournament was part of theWTA Tourfrom 1977 to 1982.

Four ships of theUnited States Navy, including two battleships, have been namedUSSWashingtonin honor of the state. Previous ships had held that name in honor of George Washington.^{[citation needed]}

The state's nickname, "The Evergreen State",^[1][280]was proposed in 1890 by Charles T. Conover of Seattle. The name proved popular as the forests were full ofevergreentrees and the abundance of rain keeps the shrubbery and grasses green throughout the year.^[281]Although the nickname is widely used by the state, appearing onvehicle license platesfor instance, it has not been officially adopted.^[1]A 2023 bill in the state legislature to formally recognize it as thestate nicknamewas passed by the senate but was returned to committee.^[282][283]The Evergreen State College, a state-funded institution in Olympia, also takes its name from this nickname.

Thestate songis "Washington, My Home", thestate birdis theAmerican goldfinch, the state fruit is the apple, and the state vegetable is theWalla Walla sweet onion.^[284]The state dance, adopted in 1979, is thesquare dance. Thestate treeis thewestern hemlock. Thestate floweris thecoast rhododendron. Thestate fishis thesteelhead.^[1]Thestate folk songis "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" byWoody Guthrie. The unofficial, but popularly accepted, state rock song is "Louie Louie".^[285]The state grass isbluebunch wheatgrass. Thestate insectis thegreen darner dragonfly. Thestate gemispetrified wood. Thestate fossilis theColumbian mammoth. Thestate marine mammalis theorca. Thestate soilisTokul soil.^[286]Thestate land mammalis theOlympic marmot.^[1]Thestate seal(featured in the state flag as well) was inspired by the unfinished portrait of President George Washington byGilbert Stuart.^[287]Thestate sportispickleball.^[278]

Washington has relationships with many provinces, states, and other entities worldwide.

• Jalisco, Mexico (1996)^[288]
• Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
• Jeollabuk-do, South Korea

• Sichuan, China
• Pangasinan, Philippines

• Index of Washington (state)-related articles
• Outline of Washington (state)

• Hardina, Nicole.Little Washington: A Nostalgic Look at the Evergreen State's Smallest Towns(2020)ISBN9781591938453
• Johnson, Anna Maria, Steven Otfinoski, and Tea Benduhn.Washington: The Evergreen State(Cavendish Square, 2020),onlinefor middle schools
• Ritter, Harry.Washington's History: The People, Land, and Events of the Far Northwest(2018)
• Sell, Terry M .Wings of Power: Boeing and the Politics of Growth in the Northwest(U of Washington Press, 2015)ISBN9780295996257

• Evans, Elwood; Meany, Edmond S (1893),The State of Washington: A Brief History of the Discovery, Settlement, and Organization of Washington, the "Evergreen State", as well as a Compilation of Official Statistics Showing the Material Development of the State up to Date, Tacoma, WA: World's Fair Commission of the State of Washington.
• Hawthorne, Julian; Brewerton, George Douglas (1893),History of Washington: The Evergreen State, from Early Dawn to Daylight: With Portraits and Biographies, vol. 1, New York: American Historical Publishing|Volume 2.
• Meany, Edmond S.History of the State of Washington, New York: Macmillan, 1909.

• Meany, Edmond S.; Condon, John T. (eds.),Washington's First Constitution, 1878 and Proceedings of the Convention(PDF), archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 13, 2015, retrievedMarch 15,2014. Reprinted from theWashington Historical Quarterly, 1918–1919.

• Official website
• The official tourism site of the State of Washington
• Washington State Databases
• Secretary of State's Washington History website
• Constitution of the State of Washington
• Washington Administrative Code (State Administrative Rules)
• State Code Search Tool
• Energy Profile for Washington
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Washington
• Washington State Facts from USDA
• U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts: Washington
• Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
• Police Scanner Information for Washington state
• CWU Brooks Library Edward W. Nolan Photograph Collection
• Washington (state)atCurlie
• Geographic data related toWashington (state)atOpenStreetMap

Preceded by Montana

List of U.S. states by date of statehood Admitted on November 11, 1889 (42nd)

Succeeded by Idaho

47°N120°W / 47°N 120°W /47; -120 (State of Washington)