State of Washington
Flag of Washington Seal Nickname(s): The Evergreen State Motto(s): Alki (Chinook Wawa: "Eventually", or "By and by"[1])
Capital	Olympia
Largest city	Seattle
Area	Ranked 18th
- Total	71,342 sq mi (184,827 km²)
- Width	240 miles (400 km)
- Length	360 miles (580 km)
- % water	6.6
- Latitude	45° 33′ N to 49° N
- Longitude	116° 55′ W to 124° 46′ W
Population	Ranked 14th
- Total (2000)	5,894,121
- Density	88.6/sq mi  34.20/km² (25th)
- Median income	$48,688 (14th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Rainier[2] 14,410 ft  (4,395 m)
- Mean	1,700 ft  (520 m)
- Lowest point	Pacific Ocean[2] 0 ft  (0 m)
Admission to Union	November 11, 1889 (42nd)
Governor	Christine Gregoire (D)
U.S. Senators	Patty Murray (D) Maria Cantwell (D)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Abbreviations	WA US-WA
Web site	www.access.wa.gov

Washington (IPA: /ˈwɑ.ʃɪŋ.tən/) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The state is named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is the only U.S. state named after a president. For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Look up Washington in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Washington. ... Image File history File links Washington_state_seal. ... Categories: Stub | U.S. state flags ... The Washington State Seal contains a portrait of George Washington, painted by Gilbert Stuart. ... This is a list of U.S. state nicknames -- both official and traditional (official state nicknames are in bold). ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Chinook Jargon was a trade language (or pidgin) of the Pacific Northwest, which spread quickly up the West Coast from Oregon, through Washington, British Columbia, and as far as Alaska. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_WA.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Washington ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Coordinates: , County Incorporated January 28, 1859 Government  - Mayor Mark Foutch Area  - City 48. ... “Seattle” redirects here. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... This is a complete list of the states of the United States ordered by total area, land area, and water area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A kilometer (Commonwealth spelling: kilometre), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ... The 49th parallel of north latitude forms part of the International Boundary between Canada and the United States from Manitoba to British Columbia on the Canadian side and from Minnesota to Washington on the U.S. side. ... Map of states populations (2006) This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2006, according to the 2005 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Map of states showing population density This is a list of the 50 U.S. states, ordered by population density. ... For information on the income of individuals, see Personal income in the United States. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... For other uses, see Mount Rainier (disambiguation). ... The order which the original 13 states ratified the constitution, then the order that the others were admitted to the union This is a list of U.S. states by date of statehood, that is, the date when each U.S. state joined the Union. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Christine OGrady Chris Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Washington. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... Patricia Lynn Murray (known as Patty Murray) (born October 11, 1950) is a Democratic United States Senator from Washington. ... Maria E. Cantwell (born October 13, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Washington state and is a member of the Democratic Party. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... These are tables of congressional delegations from Washington to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... Map of U.S. time zones with new CST and EST areas displayed This is a list of United States of America States by time zone. ... PST is UTC-8 The Pacific Standard Time Zone (PST) is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) resulting in UTC-8. ... ... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... The following is a list of abbreviations used by the United States Postal Service. ... U.S. states This is a list of traditional abbreviations for U.S. states and territorries, which were in wide use prior to the U.S. postal abbreviations. ... IPA may refer to: The International Phonetic Alphabet or India Pale Ale ... This chart shows concisely the most common way in which the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is applied to represent the English language. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of...

Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory and admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. In 2006, the Census Bureau estimated the state's population at 6,395,798. Residents are called "Washingtonians" (emphasis on the third syllable, pronounced as tone). Washington is sometimes called Washington state or The state of Washington to distinguish it from Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital. Categories: Historical stubs | Washington history | U.S. historical regions and territories ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ...

Geography

Washington is the northwestern-most state of the contiguous United States. Its northern border lies mainly along the 49th parallel, with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. Washington borders Oregon to the south, with the Columbia River forming most of the boundary and the 46th parallel forming the eastern part of the southern boundary. To the east Washington borders Idaho, bounded mostly by the meridian running north from the confluence of the Snake River and Clearwater River (about 116°57' west), except for the southernmost section where the border follows the Snake River. To the west of Washington lies the Pacific Ocean.^[3] The continental United States is a term referring to the United States situated on the North American continent. ... “49th parallel” redirects here. ... A province is a territorial unit, almost always a country subdivision. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour Without Sunset (diminishment)) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 5th - Total 944,735... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... The Columbia River (French: fleuve Columbia) is a river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. ... Official language(s) English [1] Capital Boise Largest city Boise Largest metro area Boise metropolitan area Area  Ranked 14th  - Total 83,642 sq mi (216,632 km²)  - Width 305 miles (491 km)  - Length 479 miles (771 km)  - % water 0. ... For other uses, see Snake River (disambiguation). ... The Clearwater River is a river in northern Idaho, the North Fork of which flows from the Idaho-Montana border westward to join the Snake River at Lewiston. ...

Washington is in the region known as the Pacific Northwest, a term which often includes part or all of British Columbia in Canada and part of Alaska. Sometimes it refers only to lands within the northwestern United States, including Oregon. The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour Without Sunset (diminishment)) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 5th - Total 944,735... Official language(s) None[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ...

Digitally colored elevation map of Washington.

A photo from a satellite, showing Washington.

The high mountains of the Cascade Range run north-south, bisecting the state. Western Washington, west of the Cascades, has a mostly marine west coast climate with relatively mild temperatures, wet winters, and dry summers. Western Washington also supports dense forests of conifers and areas of temperate rain forest. In contrast, Eastern Washington, east of the Cascades, has a relatively dry climate with large areas of semiarid steppe and a few truly arid deserts lying in the rainshadow of the Cascades; the Hanford reservation receives an average annual precipitation of between six and seven inches. Farther east, the climate becomes less arid. The Palouse region of southeast Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland. Other parts of eastern Washington are forested and mountainous. Download high resolution version (1335x1032, 415 KB) SOURCE: http://wwwflag. ... Download high resolution version (1335x1032, 415 KB) SOURCE: http://wwwflag. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... “Cascades” redirects here. ... Western Washington is a region of the United States defined as that part of Washington west of the Cascade Mountains. ... World map showing the oceanic climate zones. ... A map showing the areas where temperate rainforest can be found Temperate rain forest in the Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, United States. ... For the university, see Eastern Washington University. ... A steppe in Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, a steppe (Russian: - , Ukrainian: - , Kazakh: - ), pronounced in English as , is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being dominated by tall grasses... This article is about arid terrain. ... A Rainshadow is an area which is unusally dry due to nearby geographic features. ... The Palouse is a region of hi peopleEastern Washington, North Central Idaho, and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. ...

The Cascade Range contains several volcanoes, which reach altitudes significantly higher than the rest of the mountains. From the north to the south these volcanoes are Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. Mount St. Helens is currently the only Washington volcano that is actively erupting; however, all of them are considered active volcanoes. Mount Baker (elevation 10,778 feet, 3,285 m) is a glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the Cascades of Washington State in the United States about 30 miles (50km) due east of the city of Bellingham, Whatcom County. ... Glacier Peak is the most remote of the five active volcanoes in Washington. ... For other uses, see Mount Rainier (disambiguation). ... For the mountain in California, see Mount Saint Helena. ... Mt. ... For the mountain in California, see Mount Saint Helena. ...

Washington's position on the Pacific Ocean and the harbors of Puget Sound give the state a leading role in maritime trade with Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Rim. Puget Sound's many islands are served by the largest ferry fleet in the United States. Puget Sound For the university in this region, see University of Puget Sound. ... Official language(s) None[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... The USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group along with ships from Australia, Chile, Japan, Canada, and Korea speed towards Honolulu in RIMPAC 2000. ... Washington state maintains the largest fleet of passenger and auto ferries in the United States and the third largest in the world. ...

Washington is a land of contrasts. The deep forests of the Olympic Peninsula, such as the Hoh Rain Forest, are among the only temperate rainforests in the continental United States, but the semi-desert east of the Cascade Range has few trees. Mount Rainier, the highest mountain in the state,^[2] is covered with more glacial ice than any other peak in the lower 48 states. The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. ... Moss draped Bigleaf Maple near the Hoh River. ... For other uses, see Mount Rainier (disambiguation). ... This article is about the geological formation. ...

Federal land and reservations

There are three national parks in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park. The parks of the United States National Park system are one type of protected area in the United States and are operated by the U.S. National Park Service. ... Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County, Washington. ... Mount Despair, North Cascades National Park North Unit, 1967 map of the North Cascades National Park complex Lower Curtis Glacier in 2003 compared with 1985 Looking toward Magic Mountain from Sahale Arm north of Cascade Pass. ... Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the far northwestern part of the state known as the Olympic Peninsula. ...

National forests in the state include Colville National Forest, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Okanogan National Forest, Olympic National Forest, and Wenatchee National Forest, among others. U.S. National Forests are protected forests and woodland areas in the United States. ... The Colville National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in north eastern Washington state. ... Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a national forest located in southwestern Washington. ... The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington State extends more than 140 miles along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. ... The Okanogan National Forest is a national forest in the North-East corner of Washington. ... The Olympic National Forest is a national forest located in Washingtons Olympic Peninsula. ... Subalpine Larch fall foliage near Sprite Lake Wenatchee National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Washington. ...

Other protected lands of note include Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, among others administered by the National Park Service. The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. ... Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area located near the Canadian border in Chelan County, Washington. ... Mount St. ... Ross Lake from Desolation Peak Ross Lake National Recreation Area is the most accessible part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. ... Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake is the lake created by the Grand Coulee Dam. ... Fort Vancouver Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudsons Bay Company in the Oregon Country. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ...

There are many wilderness designated areas in Washington, including Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Goat Rocks Wilderness, Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, Norse Peak Wilderness, Mount Baker Wilderness, Pasayten Wilderness, Olympic Wilderness, and many others. The National Wilderness Preservation System protects federally managed land areas that are of a pristine condition. ... The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a large, mountainous wilderness area in Washington, United States. ... The Glacier Peak Wilderness, created by Congress in the original 1964 wilderness legislation, is located within portions of Chelan, Washington, and Skagit Counties in the North Cascades of Washington State, USA. The area, 572,000 acres (2315 km²) in size, 35 miles (56 kilometers) long and 20 miles (32 kilometers... Goat Rocks Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in Washington, United States. ... US Forest Service sign along the North Fork Skykomish Trail at the edge of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Mount Baker Wilderness in northern Washington, USA, contains 117,500 acres (475 km²). Its eastern border is shared with the boundary of the North Cascades National Park for a distance of 40 miles (65 kilometers). ... Pasayten Wilderness is a 2143 square km protected area located within Okanogan National Forest in Washington State. ... Olympic Wilderness is a 3548 square km protected area comprising over 95% of Olympic National Park in Washington State. ...

There are several large military-related reservations, including Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, Naval Base Kitsap, the Hanford Site, and the Yakima Training Center. Fort Lewis is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post located in Pierce County, Washington. ... McChord Air Force Base (IATA: TCM, ICAO: KTCM) is a United States Air Force base in Pierce County, Washington. ... NB Kitsap logo Naval Base Kitsap, is a US Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. ... Hanford Site plutonium production reactors along the Columbia River during the Manhattan Project. ...

There are many Indian reservations in Washington. The largest include the Colville Indian Reservation, Spokane Indian Reservation, Yakama Indian Reservation, and the Quinault Indian Reservation. This article is about Native Americans. ... The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in eastern Washington State, inhabited and managed by Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is recognized by the United States of America as an American Indian Tribe. ... Spokane flag The Spokane (or Spokan) are a Native American people in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Washington. ... The Yakama Indian Reservation is a United States Indian reservation located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains of the state of Washington. ... Quinault (tribe) is a group of Native American peoples from western Washington state in the United States. ...

Climate

Washington's climate varies greatly from west to east. An oceanic climate (also called "marine west coast climate") predominates in western Washington, and a much drier climate prevails east of the Cascade Range. World map showing the oceanic climate zones. ...

November 2006 Pineapple Express flood, Granite Falls on the Stillaguamish River

Major factors determining Washington's climate include the large semi-permanent high pressure and low pressure systems 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 pressure anticyclone system dominates the north Pacific Ocean, causing air to spiral out in a clockwise fashion. For Washington this means prevailing winds from the northwest bringing relatively cool air and a predictably dry season. In the autumn and winter, a low pressure cyclone system takes over in the north Pacific Ocean, with air spiraling inward in a counter-clockwise fashion. This causes Washington's prevailing winds to come from the southwest, bringing relatively warm and moist air masses and a predictably wet season. The term Pineapple Express is used to describe the extreme form of this wet season pattern.^[4] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1985 KB) Stillaguamish River Viewpoint location: Granite Falls Fish Ladder, Granite Falls, Washington Geographic coordinates: 48. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1985 KB) Stillaguamish River Viewpoint location: Granite Falls Fish Ladder, Granite Falls, Washington Geographic coordinates: 48. ... The Stillaguamish River is a river in northwest Washington in the United States, approximately 20 mi (32 km) long. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Anticyclone. ... A large low-pressure system swirls off the southwestern coast of Iceland, illustrating the maxim that nature abhors a vacuum. ... In meteorology, an anticyclone (that is, opposite to a cyclone) is a weather phenomenon in which there is a descending movement of the air and a high pressure area over the part of the planets surface affected by it. ... The prevailing winds are the trends in speed and direction of wind over a particular point on the earths surface. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the meteorological phenomenon. ... A wet season or rainy season is a season in which the average rainfall in a region is significantly increased. ... This article is about the tropical jet stream. ...

Washington enjoys extensive variation in rainfall

The coastal mountains and Cascades compound this climatic pattern by causing orographic lift of 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. In contrast, the leeward slopes facing northeast experience a rain shadow effect, with low precipitation and warmer temperatures. As a result, there are temperate rain forests on the southwest side of the Olympic Mountains while the northeast side has a drier climate sometimes called sub-mediterranean climate.^[5] The San Juan Islands and the city of Sequim are known for their dry climate compared to the rest of the coastal region. The Olympic rain shadow extends into Canada. Terms like "Mediterranean", "sub-Mediterranean", and "modified Mediterranean" are sometimes used to describe the Olympic rainshadow region even though it is quite different from the standard "Mediterranean" climate. The terms are mainly used to indicate a climate with wet winters and dry summers with regular drought conditions. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 352 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (387 × 659 pixel, file size: 47 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) created myself out of larger USA map I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 352 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (387 × 659 pixel, file size: 47 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) created myself out of larger USA map I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... This wave cloud pattern formed off of the ÃŽle Amsterdam in the far southern Indian Ocean, due to orographic lift of an airmass by the island, producing alternating bands of condensed and invisible humidity downwind of the island as the moist air moves in vertical waves and the moisture successively... For the television series see Rain Shadow. ... A map showing the areas where temperate rainforest can be found Temperate rain forest in the Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, United States. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is a climate that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin. ... One of the San Juan islands The San Juan Islands are a part of the San Juan Archipelago in the northwest corner of the continental United States. ... Sequim is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. ...

The Cascade Range forms a larger barrier than the Olympics and has a correspondingly stronger orographic effect. 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. 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 central Columbia River Plateau — especially the region just east of the Columbia River from about the Snake River to the Okanagan Highland. Thus instead of rain forests much of eastern Washington is covered with grassland and shrub-steppe. Orography is the average height of land, measured in geopotential meters, over a certain domain. ... For the television series see Rain Shadow. ... Semi-arid generally describes regions that receive low annual rainfall (25 to 50 cm /10 to 20 in) and generally have scrub or grass vegetation. ... The Columbia River Plateau is shown in green on this map. ... Location map of the Okanagan Highland The Okanagan Highland, also known as the Okanogan Highland in the United States, is a plateau-like hilly area in British Columbia, Canada. ... The Konza tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas. ... Shrub-steppe is low rainfall natural grassland ecoregion extending from southeastern Washington and eastern Oregon, through Idaho, Nevada, and Utah, and into western Wyoming and Colorado. ...

The average annual temperature ranges from 51 °F (10.6 °C) on the Pacific coast to 40 °F (4.4 °C) in the northeast. The recorded temperature in the state has ranged from -48 °F (-44.4 °C) to 118 °F (47.8 °C) with both records set east of the Cascades. Western Washington is known for its mild climate, considerable fog, frequent cloud cover and long-lasting drizzles in the winter, and sunny and dry summers. The western region occasionally experiences extreme climate. Arctic cold fronts in the winter and heat waves in the summer are not uncommon. The western side of the Olympic Peninsula receives as much as 160 inches (4064 mm) of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of the 48 conterminous states. Weeks or even months 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/5080 mm) in the country. In the rain shadow area east of the Cascades, the annual precipitation is only 6 inches (152 mm). Precipitation increases eastward toward the Rocky Mountains.

Spokane in Winter Image File history File links SpokaneSnow. ... Nickname: Location of Spokane in Spokane County and Washington Coordinates: , Country United States State Washington County Spokane Government  - Mayor Dennis P. Hession Area  - City  58. ...

Seattle in Winter Image File history File links TypicalSeattle. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ...

History

Mt. Rainier reflected in Reflection lake.

The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River

Mount Rainier with Tacoma in foreground

For more details on this topic, see History of Washington.

Prior to the arrival of explorers from Europe, this region of the Pacific Coast had many established tribes of Native Americans, each with its own unique culture. Today, they are most notable for their totem poles and their ornately carved canoes and masks. Prominent among their industries were salmon fishing and whale hunting. In the east, nomadic tribes traveled the land and missionaries such as the Whitmans settled there. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3072x2048, 3522 KB) Summary Kelvin Kay user:Kkmd Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3072x2048, 3522 KB) Summary Kelvin Kay user:Kkmd Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... source: http://vulcan. ... source: http://vulcan. ... Categories: Stub | Dams ... The Columbia River (French: fleuve Columbia) is a river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. ... source http://vulcan. ... source http://vulcan. ... For other uses, see Mount Rainier (disambiguation). ... Nickname: Location of Tacoma in Pierce County and Washington State Coordinates: , Country United States of America State Washington County Pierce Government  - Mayor Bill Baarsma (D) Area  - City 62. ... Washingtons current flag. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... A Gitxsan pole (left) and Kwakwakawakw pole (right) at Thunderbird Park in Victoria, British Columbia. ... For other uses, see Salmon (disambiguation). ... This article is about the animal. ... Marcus Whitman (September 4, 1802–November 29, 1847) was an American physician and missionary in the Oregon Country. ...

The first European record of a landing on the Washington coast was by Spanish Captain Don Bruno de Heceta in 1775, on board the Santiago, part of a two-ship flotilla with the Sonora. They claimed all the coastal lands up to the Russian possessions in the north for Spain. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Bruno de Heceta (Hezeta) y Dudagoitia (1744-1807) was a Spanish explorer of the Pacific Northwest. ... A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a flota of small ships, and this from French flotte), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. ...

In 1778, British explorer Captain James Cook sighted Cape Flattery, at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but the straits would not be explored until 1789, by Captain Charles W. Barkley. Further explorations of the straits were performed by Spanish explorers Manuel Quimper in 1790 and Francisco de Eliza in 1791, then by British Captain George Vancouver in 1792. This article is about the British explorer. ... Cape Flattery is the furthest northwest point of the contiguous United States. ... The Strait of Juan de Fuca separates Vancouver Island of British Columbia from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. ... Motto (Latin) Further Beyond Anthem  1(Spanish) Royal March Spain() – on the European continent() – in the European Union() Capital (and largest city) Madrid Official languages Spanish2 Demonym Spanish, Spaniard Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Head of State King Juan Carlos I  -  President of the Government Formation 15th century   -  Dynastic union 1516   -  Unification... Manuel Quimper del Pino was a Spanish explorer of French paternity who participated in exploration and settlement expeditions for Spain along the Pacific Coast of North America. ... A life sized statue covered in gold of George Vancouver on top of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings Captain George Vancouver RN (June 22, 1757 – May 12, 1798) was an officer of the Royal Navy, best known for his exploration of North America, including the Pacific coast along the modern...

The Spanish Nootka Convention of 1790 opened the northwest territory to explorers and trappers from other nations, most notably Britain and then the United States. Captain Robert Gray (for whom Grays Harbor County is named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. He named the river after his ship, the Columbia. Beginning in 1792, Gray established trade in sea otter pelts. The Lewis and Clark Expedition entered the state on October 10, 1805. The Nootka Convention was a treaty between Spain and Great Britain in 1790 that averted a war between the two countries over overlapping claims to portions of the northwestern coast of North America. ... Robert Gray (May 10, 1755 – July, 1806) was an American merchant sea-captain and explorer. ... Grays Harbor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. ... The Columbia River (French: fleuve Columbia) is a river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. ... Seven United States Navy ships have been named USS Columbia, after the personification of the United States, also after the city of Columbia, South Carolina. ... Binomial name Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758) The Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) is a large otter native to the North Pacific, from northern Japan and Kamchatka west across the Aleutian Islands south to California. ... “Lewis and Clark” redirects here. ... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1819, Spain ceded their original claims to this territory to the United States. This began a period of disputed joint-occupancy by Britain and the U.S. that lasted until June 15, 1846, when Britain ceded their claims to this land with the Treaty of Oregon. The Oregon Country/Columbia District Disputed Area is the main area of dispute, although the whole region was disputed The Oregon boundary dispute (often called the Oregon question) arose as a result of competing British and American claims to the Oregon Country, a region of northwestern North America known also... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The 1846 Oregon Treaty, formally titled Treaty with Great Britain, in Regard to Limits Westward of the Rocky Mountains, established the border between the British and American sections of the Oregon Country. ...

What was to become Washington state's first family was that of Washington's founder, the black pioneer George Washington Bush and his caucasian wife, Isabella James Bush, from Missouri and Tennessee, respectively. They led four white families into the territory and settled what is now Tumwater, Washington. They settled in Washington to avoid Oregon's racist settlement laws.^[6] George Washington Bush (1779-1863) was one of the first American settlers and the first black settler in what would later become the State of Washington. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Tumwater Falls of the Deschutes River, Tumwater, Washington. ...

Because of the overland migration along the Oregon Trail, many settlers wandered north to what is now Washington and settled the Puget Sound area. The first settlement was New Market (now known as Tumwater) in 1846. In 1853, Washington Territory was formed from part of Oregon Territory. The Ox Team or the Old Oregon Trail 1852-1906 by Ezra Meeker. ... Puget Sound For the university in this region, see University of Puget Sound. ... Tumwater Falls of the Deschutes River, Tumwater, Washington. ... Categories: Historical stubs | Washington history | U.S. historical regions and territories ... The Oregon Territory is the name applied both to the unorganized Oregon Country claimed by both the United States and Britain, as well as to the organized U.S. territory formed from it that existed between 1848 and 1859. ...

Washington became the 42^nd state in the United States on November 11, 1889. The order which the original 13 states ratified the constitution, then the order that the others were admitted to the union This is a list of U.S. states by date of statehood, that is, the date when each U.S. state joined the Union. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Early prominent industries in the state included agriculture and lumber. In eastern Washington, the Yakima Valley became known for its apple orchards, while the growth of wheat using dry-farming techniques became particularly productive. The 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 the Douglas fir. Other industries that developed in the state include fishing, salmon canning and mining. This irrigation ditch receives its water from the Yakima River. ... This article is about the fruit. ... “Cascades” redirects here. ... Species See text Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. ...

For a long period, Tacoma was noted for its large smelters where gold, silver, copper and lead ores were treated. Seattle was 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 including World War I and World War II, and the Boeing company became an established icon in the area. Nickname: Location of Tacoma in Pierce County and Washington State Coordinates: , Country United States of America State Washington County Pierce Government  - Mayor Bill Baarsma (D) Area  - City 62. ... “Seattle” redirects here. ... Official language(s) None[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing. ...

During the Great Depression, a series of hydroelectric dams were constructed along the Columbia river as part of a project to increase the production of electricity. This culminated in 1941 with the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in the United States. For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... Electric redirects here. ... For the town, see Coulee Dam, Washington. ...

During World War II, the state became a focus for war industries, with the Boeing Company producing many of the nation's heavy bombers and 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, a number of which were quartered at Golden Gardens Park. In eastern Washington, the Hanford Works atomic energy plant was opened in 1943 and played a major role in the construction of the nation's atomic bombs. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing. ... The B-52 Stratofortress, a heavy bomber. ... “Seattle” redirects here. ... Sinclair Inlet and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (left), Dyes Inlet (middle distance) and Manette and Warren Avenue Bridges (left to right) across Port Washington Narrows Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, USA. The population was 37,259 at the 2000 census. ... Nickname: Motto: A colorful past, a bright future Location in Washington Coordinates: , Country State County Clark County Founded 1825 Incorporated 1857 Government  - Mayor Royce Pollard Area  - City  46. ... Nickname: Location of Tacoma in Pierce County and Washington State Coordinates: , Country United States of America State Washington County Pierce Government  - Mayor Bill Baarsma (D) Area  - City 62. ... “Seattle” redirects here. ... Golden Gardens Park Wetlands in 2005 Golden Gardens Park is a park located in the north part of the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. ... For the university, see Eastern Washington University. ... Hanford Site plutonium production reactors along the Columbia River during the Manhattan Project. ... Nuclear energy is energy released from the atomic nucleus. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 km (11 mi) above the epicenter. ...

On May 18, 1980, following a period of heavy tremors and eruptions, the northeast face of Mount St. Helens exploded outward, destroying a large part of the top of the volcano. This eruption flattened the forests, killed 57 people, flooded the Columbia River and its tributaries with ash and mud, and blanketed large parts of Washington in ash, making day look like night. is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... For the mountain in California, see Mount Saint Helena. ...

Demographics

Washington Population Density Map The center of population of Washington in the year 2000 was located in an unpopulated part of rural eastern King County, southeast of North Bend and northeast of Enumclaw.[7] The Seventh Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 23,191,876 — an increase of 35. ...