State of Washington
Flag of Washington Seal Nickname(s): The Evergreen State Motto(s): Alki (Chinook Wawa: "Eventually", or "By and by"[1])
Demonym	Washingtonian
Capital	Olympia
Largest city	Seattle
Area	Ranked 18th in the US
- Total	71,342 sq mi (184,827 km²)
- Width	240 miles (400 km)
- Length	360 miles (580 km)
- % water	6. The Flag of the US state of Washington consists of the state seal (which bears an image of George Washington) on a field of The Washington state seal contains a portrait of George Washington, as painted by Gilbert Stuart. This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. Chinook Jargon originated as a Pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread quickly up the West Coast from modern Oregon to the regions now A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800 Olympia is the Capital of Washington and is the County seat of Thurston County. This is a list of the largest cities of US states by population Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 6
- Latitude	45° 33′ N to 49° N
- Longitude	116° 55′ W to 124° 46′ W
Population	Ranked 13th in the US
- Total	6,468,424
- Density	88. 49th Parallel ( is the third film made by the British writer-director team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison as of July 1, 2007, according to the This article is a list of the 50 US States ordered by Population density. 6/sq mi  34. 20/km² (25th in the US)
- Median income	$53,515 (13th)
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)
Lieutenant Governor	Brad Owen (D)
U.S. Senators	Patty Murray (D) Maria Cantwell (D)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Abbreviations	WA US-WA
Website	www.access.wa.gov

Washington (IPA: /ˈwɒʃɪŋtən/) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Household income is a measure of current private income commonly used by the United States government and private institutions Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> Mount Rainier is an active Stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano in Pierce County Washington, located southeast of Seattle, Washington The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of U Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic Governor of the state of Washington This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. Brad Owen (born May 23, 1950) is an American Politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party and currently serves as the The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Patricia Lynn Murray (born October 11, 1950) is the senior United States Senator from Washington. Maria E Cantwell (born October 13, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from the state of Washington and is a member of the The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses These are tables of congressional delegations from the state of Washington to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. This is a list of United States of America States by time zone The Pacific Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-8) Daylight saving time ( DST The traditional abbreviations for US states and territories were widely used in mailing addresses prior to the introduction of two-letter U ISO 3166-2US is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United States of America. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory and admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. The Washington Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States that was formed in February 8, 1853 from the portion of the In 2006, the Census Bureau estimated the state's population at 6,395,798. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census

Named after George Washington, it is the only U.S. state named after a president. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government 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. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D S. capital.

Geography

Washington is the northwestern-most state of the contiguous United States. The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District Its northern border lies mainly along the 49th parallel, with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The 49th parallel north is a Circle of latitude that is 49 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C 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. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Columbia River (known as 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. The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U The Clearwater River is a river in North Central Idaho, which flows from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho- Montana border westward joining the To the west of Washington lies the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions ^[3]

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. The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Sometimes it refers only to lands within the northwestern United States, including Oregon. See also Pacific Northwest The Northwestern United States comprise the northwestern states up to the western Great Plains regions of the United States Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Digitally colored elevation map of 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 is a Region of the United States defined as that part of Washington An oceanic climate (also called marine west coast climate and maritime climate) is the Climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes Western Washington also supports dense forests of conifers and areas of temperate rain forest. Temperate rainforests are Coniferous or broadleaf Forests that occur in the Temperate zone and receive high rainfall 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 (178 mm) . For the university see Eastern Washington University. Eastern Washington is a Region of the United States defined as the part of In physical Geography, a steppe ( German, from степь - "a flat and arid land" степ - /stɛp/ тал - tal дала - /dɑlɑ/ pronounced A desert is a Landscape or region that receives very little precipitation. For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series. Farther east, the climate becomes less arid. The Palouse region of southeast Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland. The Palouse is a region of the Northwestern United States, encompassing parts of Eastern Washington, North Central Idaho and in some definitions extending Other parts of eastern Washington are forested and mountainous.

The Cascade Range contains several volcanoes, which reach altitudes significantly higher than the rest of the mountains. The Cascade Volcanoes (also known as the Cascade Volcanic Arc or the Cascade Arc) are a number of Volcanoes in a Volcanic arc in western From the north to the south these volcanoes are Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. Mount Baker (elevation) is an active glaciated andesitic Stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the Cascades of Glacier Peak (known in the Sauk Indian dialect of Lushootseed as "Tda-ko-buh-ba" or "Takobia") is the most remote of the five major Volcanoes in the Mount Rainier is an active Stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano in Pierce County Washington, located southeast of Seattle, Washington Mount St Helens is an active Stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States Mount Adams is a potentially active Stratovolcano in the Cascade Range and the second-highest Mountain in the state of Washington Mount St. Helens is currently the only Washington volcano that is actively erupting; however, all of them are considered active volcanoes. Mount St Helens is an active Stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States Nestled amongst the hills are the Galena chain lakes.

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 (ˈpjuːʤᵻt is an arm of the Pacific Ocean, connected to the rest of the Pacific by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the Pacific Northwest Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The Pacific Rim refers to the countries and cities located around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Puget Sound's many islands are served by the largest ferry fleet in the United States. This page is about the ferry system operated by the state of Washington

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. Geography The Olympic Peninsula is home to some of the only Temperate rain forests in the world including the Hoh, Queets, and Quinault The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the few Temperate rain forests in the world and is also one of the largest Mount Rainier, the highest mountain in the state,^[2] is covered with more glacial ice than any other peak in the lower 48 states. Mount Rainier is an active Stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano in Pierce County Washington, located southeast of Seattle, Washington "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period.

Federal land and reservations

There are three national parks in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park and two National Monuments, Mount St. Helens National Monument and Hanford Reach National Monument. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington North Cascades National Park is a US National Park located in the state of Washington. Olympic National Park is located in the US state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. A National Monument in the United States is a Protected area that is similar to a National Park except that the President of the United States Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument is a US National Monument that The Hanford Reach National Monument is a national monument in the U

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. "National forest" redirects here for the National Forest in England see National Forest England; for those in Brazil see List of Brazilian National Forests The Colville National Forest is a US National Forest located in northeastern Washington state Gifford Pinchot The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington extends more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern The Okanogan National Forest is a US National Forest located in northern and western Okanogan County in north-central Washington State United States Olympic National Forest is a US National Forest located in Washington, USA Wenatchee National Forest is a US 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 Canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a US National Recreation Area located about 35 miles (56 kilometers south of the Canadian border in Chelan County Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument is a US National Monument that Ross Lake National Recreation Area is a US National Recreation Area located in north central Washington just south of the Canadian border. Franklin D Roosevelt Lake (also called Lake Roosevelt) is the Reservoir created in 1941 by the impoundment of the Columbia River by the Grand Coulee Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in the states of Washington and Oregon. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation

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 US National Wilderness Preservation System protects federally managed land areas that are of a pristine condition The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a large wilderness area spanning the Cascade Range of Washington state in the United States. The Glacier Peak Wilderness, created by Congress in the original 1964 wilderness legislation, is located within portions of Chelan County, Snohomish Goat Rocks Wilderness is a US Wilderness Area in Washington, United States. The Henry M Jackson Wilderness is a US Wilderness Area in Washington, United States. Norse Peak Wilderness is located in central Washington in the United States. Mount Baker Wilderness in northern Washington, USA,contains. Its eastern border is shared with the boundary of the North Cascades National Park for a distance Pasayten Wilderness is a 2145 km² Protected area located within Okanogan National Forest in Washington State centered on the watershed of the Olympic Wilderness is a 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 United States Army post located in Pierce County Washington, United States. McChord Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Pierce County Washington. Naval Base Kitsap is a US Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state The Hanford Site is a decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in south-central Washington operated by the United States government

There are many Indian reservations in Washington. An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American Tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau The largest include the Colville Indian Reservation, Spokane Indian Reservation, Yakama Indian Reservation, and the Quinault Indian Reservation. The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in the eastern part of the U The Spokane (or Spokan) are a Native American people in the northeastern portion of the U The Yakama Indian Reservation is a United States Indian reservation located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in southern Washington. Quinault are a group of Native American peoples from western Washington 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. An oceanic climate (also called marine west coast climate and maritime climate) is the Climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes 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. A high pressure area (also called a high or high-pressure is a region where the Atmospheric pressure is greater than surrounding areas A low pressure area, or " low " is a region where the Atmospheric pressure is lower in relation to the surrounding area In the spring and summer, a high pressure anticyclone system dominates the north Pacific Ocean, causing air to spiral out in a clockwise fashion. 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 For Washington this means prevailing winds from the northwest bringing relatively cool air and a predictably dry season. The prevailing winds are the trends in speed and direction of Wind over a particular point on the Earth 's surface The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the Tropics. 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. In Meteorology, a cyclone refers to an area of closed circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This causes Washington's prevailing winds to come from the southwest, bringing relatively warm and moist air masses and a predictably wet season. A wet season or rainy season is a Season in which the average Rainfall in a region is significantly increased The term Pineapple Express is used to describe the extreme form of this wet season pattern. Pineapple Express (also known as Pineapple Connection) is a non-technical shorthand term popular in the news media for a meteorological phenomenon which is characterized by ^[4]

In 2006, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington published The Impacts of Climate change in Washington’s Economy, a preliminary assessment on the risks and opportunities presented given the possibility of a rise in global temperatures and their effects on Washington State. See Washington (disambiguation for other uses The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research University Climate change in the American state of Washington is a subject of study and projection today ^[5]

Rain shadow effects

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. Orographic lift occurs when an Air mass is forced from a low Elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain 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. For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series. 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. Temperate rainforests are Coniferous or broadleaf Forests that occur in the Temperate zone and receive high rainfall A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide ^[6] The San Juan Islands and the city of Sequim are known for their dry climate compared to the rest of the coastal region. The San Juan Islands are a part of the San Juan Archipelago in the northwest corner of the continental United States. Sequim (skwɪm is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. 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.

The Cascade Range forms a larger barrier than the Olympics and has a correspondingly stronger orographic effect. Orography is the average height of land measured in geopotential meters, over a certain domain 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. (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. Mount Baker (elevation) is an active glaciated andesitic Stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the Cascades of (1,140 inches/95 feet/2,896 cm) [2]. ) East of the Cascades, a large region experiences strong rain shadow effects. For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series. 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. A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climatic regions that receive low annual Rainfall (250-500 mm or 10-20 in The Columbia River Plateau is a geologic and geographic region that lies across parts of the U Okanagan Highland is a plateau-like hilly area in British Columbia, Canada, and the U Thus instead of rain forests much of eastern Washington is covered with grassland and shrub-steppe. Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the Vegetation is dominated by Grasses ( Poaceae) and other Herbaceous (non-woody Shrub-steppe is a type of low rainfall natural Grassland. Shrub-steppes are distinguishable from deserts which are too dry to support a noticeable cover of perennial grasses

Temperatures

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.

History

Main article: History of Washington

Mt. The History of Washington includes thousands of years of Native American history before Europeans and Americans arrived and began to establish territorial claims Rainier reflected in Reflection lake.

The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River

Mount Rainier with Tacoma in foreground

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. The Dalles Dam is a hydroelectric Dam spanning the Columbia River, two-miles (3 km east of the city of The Dalles Oregon, United States The Columbia River (known as Mount Rainier is an active Stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano in Pierce County Washington, located southeast of Seattle, Washington Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States Today, they are most notable for their totem poles and their ornately carved canoes and masks. Totem poles are monumental Sculptures carved from great Trees usually cedar but mostly Western Redcedar, by a number of Indigenous cultures along Prominent among their industries were salmon fishing and whale hunting. Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas In the east, nomadic tribes traveled the land and missionaries such as the Whitmans settled there. Marcus Whitman ( September 4, 1802 &ndash November 29, 1847) was an American physician and missionary in the Oregon

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. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Bruno de Heceta (Hezeta y Dudagoitia (1744-1807 was a Spanish Basque 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 They claimed all the coastal lands up to the Russian possessions in the north for Spain. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

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. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and Cape Flattery is the furthest northwest point of the contiguous United States The Strait of Juan de Fuca (also called Juan de Fuca Strait) is a large body of water about long forming the principal outlet for the Georgia Strait and Puget 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. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Manuel Quimper Benítez del Pino (c 1757 – April 1844 was a Peruvian born Spanish Explorer, Cartographer, naval officer and colonial official Captain George Vancouver

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. For other uses of the word Nootka see Nootka (disambiguation. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the American captain Robert Gray (for whom Grays Harbor County is named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. Robert Gray ( May 10, 1755 – c July 1806 was an American merchant sea-captain and explorer Grays Harbor County is a county of Washington State, in the United States of America. The Columbia River (known as He named the river after his ship, the Columbia. Nine United States Navy ships have been named USS Columbia, after the personification of the United States, also after the city of Columbia South Beginning in 1792, Gray established trade in sea otter pelts. The sea otter ( Enhydra lutris) is a Marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. The Lewis and Clark Expedition entered the state on October 10, 1805. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or

In 1819, Spain ceded their original claims to this territory to the United States. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This began a period of disputed joint-occupancy by Britain and the U. The Oregon boundary dispute (or Oregon question) arose as a result of competing British and American claims to the Pacific Northwest of S. that lasted until June 15, 1846, when Britain ceded their claims to this land with the Treaty of Oregon. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display The Oregon Treaty, officially known as the Treaty with Great Britain in Regard to Limits Westward of the Rocky Mountains, Buchanan-Packenham

In 1836, a group of missionaries including Marcus Whitman established several missions and Whitman’s own settlement Waiilatpu, in what is now southeastern Washington state, near present day Walla Walla, in territory of both the Cayuse and the Nez Percé Indian tribes. Marcus Whitman ( September 4, 1802 &ndash November 29, 1847) was an American physician and missionary in the Oregon The Cayuse are a Native American tribe in the state of Oregon in the United States. The Nez Perce (ˌnɛzˈpɝs are a Tribe of Native Americans who live in the Pacific Northwest region ( Columbia River Plateau) of the United Whitman’s settlement would in 1843 help the Oregon Trail, the overland emigration route to the west, get established for thousands of emigrants in following decades. Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the Marcus 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 murdered Whitman and twelve other white settlers in the Whitman massacre in 1847. The Whitman massacre (also known as the Walla Walla massacre and the Whitman Incident) was the murder in the Oregon Country on November 29, This event triggered the Cayuse War between settlers and Indians. The Cayuse War was an armed conflict that took place in the Northwestern United States from 1848 to 1855 between the Cayuse people of the region and the United

The first settlement in the Puget Sound area in the west of what is now Washington, was that of Washington's founder, the black pioneer George Washington Bush and his caucasian wife, Isabella James Bush, from Missouri and Tennessee, respectively. Puget Sound (ˈpjuːʤᵻt is an arm of the Pacific Ocean, connected to the rest of the Pacific by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the Pacific Northwest George Washington Bush (1779-1863 was one of the first American settlers and the first black settler in what would later become the U Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. They led four white families into the territory and settled New Market, now known as Tumwater, Washington, in 1846. New Market is the name of a number of places Geography Bangladesh New Market Dhaka India Tumwater is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. They settled in Washington to avoid Oregon's racist settlement laws. ^[7] After them, many more settlers, migrating overland along the Oregon trail, wandered north to settle in the Puget Sound area. Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the Puget Sound (ˈpjuːʤᵻt is an arm of the Pacific Ocean, connected to the rest of the Pacific by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the Pacific Northwest

Washington became the 42^nd state in the United States on November 11, 1889. Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of U Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

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 apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. 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. Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other industries that developed in the state include fishing, salmon canning and mining.

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. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent 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. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E

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. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water This culminated in 1941 with the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in the United States. Grand Coulee Dam is a Hydroelectric Gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U

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. The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E A heavy bomber is a Bomber aircraft of the largest size and typically longest ranges Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U Seattle was the point of departure for many soldiers in the Pacific, a number of which were quartered at Golden Gardens Park. Golden Gardens Park provides picnic beach playground and hiking opportunities in the " Sunset Hill " part of north Ballard in Seattle Washington 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. For the university see Eastern Washington University. Eastern Washington is a Region of the United States defined as the part of The Hanford Site is a decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in south-central Washington operated by the United States government Nuclear Energy is released by the splitting (fission or merging together (fusion of the nuclei of Atom (s A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.

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. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Mount St Helens is an active Stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States 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 and other surrounding states in ash, making day look like night.

Demographics

Washington Population Density Map

Seattle

Spokane

Tacoma

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. In Demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region on average King County is located in the US state of Washington. The population in the 2000 census was 1737034 and in 2006 was an estimated 1835300 North Bend is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Enumclaw is a city in King County, Washington, United States. ^[8]

According to the U.S. Census, as of 2006, Washington has an estimated population of 6,395,798, which is an increase of 501,658, or 8. The United States Census is a decennial Census mandated by the United States Constitution. 5%, since the year 2000. ^[9] This includes a natural increase of 221,958 people (that is, 503,819 births minus 281,861 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 287,759 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 157,950 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 129,809 people. American immigration ( emigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States.

As of the Census 2000, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metropolitan Area's population was 3,043,878, about half the state's total population. ^[10]

As of 2004, Washington's population included 631,500 foreign-born (10. 3% of the state population), and an estimated 100,000 illegal aliens (1. 6% of state population). ^[11]

Largest Cities

See also: List of cities in Washington

The largest cities in Washington according to 2007 state census estimates. This is a list of cities in the US state of Washington. See also List of cities in Washington (by population, List of towns in Washington ^[12]

Race

The six largest reported ancestries in Washington are: German (18. German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry 7%), English (12%), Irish (11. The English people (from the adjective in Englisc) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to England who predominantly speak English Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. 4%), Norwegian (6. Norwegian Americans (norskamerikanere are Americans of Norwegian descent 2%), Mexican (5. See also History of Mexican-Americans Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican ancestry 6%) and Filipino (3. Filipino Americans are Americans of Philippine ancestry which trace back to the Philippines, an archipelagic nation in Southeast Asia. 7%).

There are many migrant Mexican farm workers living in the southeast-central part of the state, though the population is also increasing as laborers in Western Washington. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America.

Washington has the fifth largest Asian population of any state. Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. They include sub-ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Indian The Filipino community is the largest Asian American subgroup in the state. Filipino Americans are Americans of Philippine ancestry which trace back to the Philippines, an archipelagic nation in Southeast Asia. Gary Locke was elected as the first Asian American governor (and so far, the only Chinese American governor of any US state) at the end of the 20th century. Gary Faye Locke (born January 21, 1950) was elected governor of Washington (1997-2005 Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. They include sub-ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Indian

African Americans are less numerous than Asians or Hispanics in many communities, but have been elected as mayor of Seattle, Spokane and Lakewood and as King County Executive. Asian or Asiatic is a Demonym for people from Asia. However the use of the term varies by country and person often referring to people from a particular Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically In Seattle, minorities are moving into the southern part of the city as well as many suburban areas such as South King County. Tacoma also has a rising African-American population. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa

Washington is the location of many Native American reservations, with some placing prominent casinos next to major interstate highways. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States Residents have adopted many of the artwork themes of the northwest coast Indians who were noted for totem poles, longhouses, dugout canoes and pictures of animals. Totem poles are monumental Sculptures carved from great Trees usually cedar but mostly Western Redcedar, by a number of Indigenous cultures along In Archaeology and Anthropology, a long house or longhouse is a type of long narrow single-room building built by peoples in various parts of the world A dugout is a Boat which is basically a hollowed tree trunk Other names for this type of boat are logboat and monoxylon. Many cities have traditional names created by Native Americans such as Yakima, Seattle, Spokane, Puyallup, and Walla Walla. Puyallup Washington (pjuːˈɑːləp is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. Walla Walla is both the County seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, and the county's largest city

6. 7% of Washington's population was reported as under 5, 25. 7% under 18, and 11. 2% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50. 2% of the population.

Religion

The religious affiliations of Washington's population are:^[13]

• Christian – 63%
  • Protestant – 29%
    • Lutheran – 6%
    • Baptist – 6%
    • Methodist – 4%
    • Presbyterian – 3%
    • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 10%
  • Catholic – 20%
  • Other Christian – 11%
• Latter-day Saint – 3%
• Other Religions – 5%
• Refused – 6%
• No religion – 25%

As with many other Western states, the percentage of Washington's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Roman Catholicism in the United States has grown dramatically over the country's history from being a tiny minority faith during the time of the Thirteen Colonies The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known The Western United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American West or simply the West &mdashtraditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion The percentage of non-religious people in Washington is the highest of any state. ^[14]

Economy

Microsoft Corporation, Redmond

Starbucks Headquarters, Seattle. Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management's April 1 2008 estimate the city has a population

The 2005 total gross state product for Washington was $268. 5 billion, placing it 14th in the nation. ^[15] The per capita income was $42,702, 17th in the nation. Significant business within the state include the design and manufacture of jet aircraft (Boeing), computer software development (Microsoft, Amazon.com, Nintendo of America), electronics, biotechnology, aluminum production, lumber and wood products (Weyerhaeuser), mining, and tourism. The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Amazoncom Inc ( is an American electronic commerce ( E-commerce) company in Seattle Washington. is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving Electrons through Nonmetal conductors (mainly Semiconductors, whereas electrical Biotechnology is Technology based on Biology, especially when used in Agriculture, Food science, and Medicine. WikipediaNaming Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world the world's largest private owner of Softwood Timberland Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body The state has significant amounts of hydroelectric power generation.

Significant amounts of trade with Asia pass through the ports of the Puget Sound. See list of United States companies by state. This is a list of United States companies by state in which their headquarters is located Alabama See also List of Alabama companies Alaska Fortune magazine survey of the top 20 Most Admired Companies in the US has 4 Washington based companies in it, Starbucks, Microsoft, Costco and Nordstrom. Fortune is a Global Business Magazine published by Time Inc's Fortune|Money Group Starbucks Corporation ( is an international Coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle Washington. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Costco Wholesale Corporation ( is the largest membership Warehouse club chain in the world based on sales volume headquartered in Issaquah Washington, Nordstrom Inc ( is an upscale Department store chain in the United States. ^[16]

The state of Washington has the most regressive tax structure in the U. A regressive tax is a Tax imposed in such a manner that the Tax rate decreases as the amount subject to taxation increases S. It is one of only seven states that does not levy a personal income tax. The wealthiest one percent of Washington taxpayers pay 3. 2% of their income in taxes. The poorest fifth of Washington taxpayers pay 17. 6% of their income in taxes. ^[17] The state also does not collect a corporate income tax or franchise tax. Corporate tax refers to a Tax levied by various jurisdictions on the Profits made by companies or associations. Franchise tax is a tax charged by some US states to Corporations formed in those states based on the number of shares they issue or in some cases the amount of their However, Washington businesses are responsible for various other state levies. One tax Washington charges on most businesses is the business and occupation tax (B & O), a gross receipts tax which charges varying rates for different types of businesses. The Business and Occupation tax (often abbreviated B & O tax) is a type of Tax levied by the U A gross receipts tax, sometimes referred to as a gross excise tax, is a Tax on the total gross revenues of a company regardless of their source

Washington's state sales tax is 6. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services 5 percent, and it applies to services as well as products. ^[18] Most foods are exempt from sales tax; however, prepared foods, dietary supplements and soft drinks remain taxable. Soft drink is a beverage that does not contain Alcohol. Carbonated soft drinks are commonly known as soda soda pop pop, or 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 8 and 9 percent. ^[19] An excise tax applies to certain select products such as gasoline, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages. Excise or Excise tax (sometimes called an excise duty) is a type of Tax charged on goods produced within the country (as opposed to Customs duties A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured Property tax was the first tax levied in the state of Washington and its collection accounts for about 30 percent of Washington's total state and local revenue. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed It continues to be the most important revenue source for public schools, fire protection, libraries, parks and recreation, and other special purpose districts. The term public school has two distinct (and virtually opposite meanings depending on the location of usage in the United States, Australia and A library is a collection of information sources resources and services and the structure in which it is housed it is organized for use and maintained by a public body an institution A park is a protected area of Land and Water, usually in its natural or semi-natural (landscaped state and set aside for some purpose often to do with human

All real property and personal property is subject to tax unless specifically exempted by law. In the Common law, real property (or realty) refers to one of the two main classes of Property, the other class being Personal property ( Personal property is a type of Property. In the Common law systems personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. Personal property also is taxed, although most personal property owned by individuals is exempt. Personal property tax applies to personal property used when conducting business or to other personal property not exempt by law. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed All property taxes are paid to the county treasurer's office where the property is located. Washington does not impose a tax on intangible assets such as bank accounts, stocks or bonds. A bank account is a financial account with a Banking institution recording the financial transactions between the customer and the bank and the resulting financial position of Software for Fixed assets management and Stock control developed in 2004. In Finance, a bond is a Debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to repay the principal and Interest Neither does the state assess any tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Washington does not collect inheritance taxes; however, the estate tax is decoupled from the federal estate tax laws, and therefore the state imposes its own estate tax. Estate tax and Death duty redirect here Inheritance tax, estate tax and death duty are the names given to various taxes which Estate tax and Death duty redirect here Inheritance tax, estate tax and death duty are the names given to various taxes which

Washington is one of eighteen states which has a government monopoly on sales of alcoholic beverages, although beer and wine with less than 20 percent alcohol by volume can be purchased in convenience stores and supermarkets. In Economics, government monopoly (or public monopoly) is a form of Coercive monopoly in which a Government agency is the sole provider of a Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice A convenience store is a small store or shop. They are often located alongside busy roads or at gas/petrol stations. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good Liqueurs (even if under 20 percent alcohol by volume) and spirits can only be purchased in state-run or privately-owned-state-contracted liquor stores. A liqueur is a sweet Alcoholic beverage, often flavored with Fruits, Herbs Spices Flowers Seeds Roots Plants A liquor store dore is the American and Canadian name for a type of Convenience store which specializes in the sale of Alcoholic beverages in ^[20]

Bill Gates (worth $59. If you would like to experiment with Wikipedia please copy 2 billion), the second wealthiest man in the world, is the best known billionaire from the state. A billionaire is a person who has a Net worth of at least one billion units of currency such as United States dollars ( USD /US$ U ^[21] Other Washington state billionaires include Paul Allen (Microsoft), Steve Ballmer (Microsoft), Jeffrey Bezos (Amazon), Craig McCaw (McCaw Cellular), James Jannard (Oakley), Howard Schultz (Starbucks), and Charles Simonyi (Microsoft). Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21 1953 is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Steve Anthony Ballmer (born March 24 1956 is an American Businessman. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Jeffrey Preston Bezos (born January 12, 1964) is the founder president chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Amazon Amazoncom Inc ( is an American electronic commerce ( E-commerce) company in Seattle Washington. Craig McCaw (b August 11, 1949 in Centralia Washington) is the second of four sons of Marion and John Elroy McCaw AT&T Wireless Services Inc, formerly part of AT&T Corp, was a Wireless Telephone carrier in the United States, based in Redmond Washington James "Jim" Jannard is the founder of the eyewear and apparel company Oakley Inc Oakley Inc is a Company known mostly for their High end Sunglasses, football visors and Ski Goggles. Howard Schultz (b July 19, 1953) is an American Businessman and Entrepreneur most widely known as the Chairman and Starbucks Corporation ( is an international Coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle Washington. Charles Simonyi (Simonyi Károly born September 10 1948 is a Hungarian Computer software executive who as head of Microsoft 's application software Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer ^[22]

Agriculture

Washington is a leading agricultural state. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture (The following figures are from the Washington State Office of Financial Management and the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service. )

For 2003, the total value of Washington's agricultural products was $5. 79 billion, the 11th highest in the country. The total value of its crops was $3. 8 billion, the 7th highest. The total value of its livestock and specialty products was $1. 5 billion, the 26th highest.

In 2004, Washington ranked first in the nation in production of red raspberries (90. The raspberry (plural raspberries) is the edible Fruit of a multitude of plant species in the subgenus Idaeobatus of the genus Rubus 0% of total U.S. production), wrinkled seed peas (80. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A pea (inaccurately called a '''sweet pea''' by food distubutors is most commonly the small spherical Seed or the seed-pod of the Legume Pisum 6%), hops (75. The hop ( Humulus) is a small genus of Flowering plants native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. 0%), spearmint oil (73. 6%), apples (58. The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. 1%), sweet cherries (47. This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. 3%), pears (42. A pear is a pomaceous Fruit produced by a tree of Genus Pyrus. 6%), peppermint oil (40. Peppermint ( Mentha × piperita) is a hybrid mint, a cross between Watermint ( Mentha aquatica) and Spearmint 3%), Concord grapes (39. Concord grapes are a Cultivar derived from the Grape species Vitis labrusca (a 3%), carrots for processing (36. The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek karōton 8%), and Niagara grapes (31. Niagara grapes are a variety of the North American Grape species Vitis labrusca and are used as Table grapes and for Wines 6%). Washington also ranked second in the nation in production of lentils, fall potatoes, dry edible peas, apricots, grapes (all varieties taken together), asparagus (over a third of the nation's production), sweet corn for processing, and green peas for processing; third in tart cherries, prunes and plums, and dry summer onions; fourth in barley and trout; and fifth in wheat, cranberries, and strawberries. The lentil or daal or pulse ( Lens culinaris) is a bushy Annual plant of the legume family grown for its lens-shaped Seeds The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is Asparagus officinalis is a flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus from which the Vegetable known as asparagus is obtained Sweet corn ( Zea mays var rugosa) also called indian corn, sweetcorn, sugar corn, pole corn, or simply corn This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. A prune is any of various of various Plum species mostly Prunus domesticus or European Plum (commonly referred to as a Sugar Plum A plum or gage is a stone fruit Tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. Organicsalsajpg||thumb|right|Onions used in salsa.]]Cooked onions in frying pan Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Cranberries are a group of Evergreen dwarf Shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccos Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide

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. ^[23] Two areas account for the vast majority of the state's apple crop: the Wenatchee–Okanogan region (comprised of Chelan, Okanogan, Douglas, and Grant counties), and the Yakima region (Yakima, Benton and Kittitas counties). See Chelan for other uses Chelan County is a County located in the U Okanogan County (ˌoʊkəˈnɑːgən is a County located in the U Douglas County is a County located in the US state of Washington. Grant County is a County located in the US state of Washington. Yakima County is a County located in the US state of Washington. Benton County is a County located in the south-central portion of the U Kittitas County is a County located in the US state of Washington. ^[24]

Transportation

Washington has a system of state highways, called State Routes, as well as an extensive ferry system which is the largest in the nation^[25] as well as the third largest in the world. State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts two of them related to a State government in a country that is divided This is a list of State highways in the US state of Washington that have existed since the 1964 renumbering. This page is about the ferry system operated by the state of Washington There are 140 public airfields in Washington, including 16 state airports owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation. tags they are used to transclude this state's "Commercial Service - Primary" airports in the List of airports The following airports are public use Airports owned by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT The Washington State Department of Transportation ( WSDOT) was established in 1905 Boeing Field in Seattle is one of the busiest primary non-hub airports in the US. Boeing Field, officially King County International Airport is a two- Runway Airport owned and run by King County Washington, USA ^[26] The unique geography of Washington presents exceptional transportation needs.

There are extensive waterways in the midst of Washington's largest cites, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Olympia. 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 navigate Puget Sound and its inland waterways to 20 different ports of call. Washington is home of four of the five longest floating bridges in the world: the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and Homer M. Hadley Bridge over Lake Washington, and the Hood Canal Bridge which connects the Olympic Peninsula and Kitsap Peninsula. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, now officially the Governor Albert D The Lacey V Murrow Memorial Bridge is a floating bridge that carries the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 across Lake Washington from Seattle to Mercer The Third Lake Washington Bridge officially the Homer M Hadley Memorial Bridge is the fifth longest Floating bridge in the world at 5811 feet (1772 m Lake Washington is the second largest natural Lake in state of Washington (after Lake Chelan) and the largest lake in King County. The Hood Canal Bridge is located in Washington state in the USA on State Route 104 and connects the Olympic Peninsula and the Kitsap Peninsula Geography The Olympic Peninsula is home to some of the only Temperate rain forests in the world including the Hoh, Queets, and Quinault The Kitsap Peninsula is an arm of land that is part of the larger Olympic Peninsula in Washington

The Cascade Mountain Range also provides unique transportation challenges. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven major mountain passes and eight minor passes. In a range of hills or especially of mountains, a pass (also gap, notch, col, saddle, bwlch, During winter months some of these passes are plowed, sanded, and kept safe with avalanche control. Not all are able to stay open through the winter. The North Cascades Highway on State Route 20 closes every year. State Route 20, also known as SR 20 or North Cascades Highway, is a State Highway (Route in Washington. State Route 20, also known as SR 20 or North Cascades Highway, is a State Highway (Route in Washington. This is because of the extraordinary amount of snowfall and frequency of avalanches, leading to it not being safe in the winter months.

Toxic chemicals

Reverse side of the Washington quarter

In 2007, Washington became the first state in the nation to target all forms of highly toxic brominated flame retardants known as PBDEs for elimination from the many common household products in which they are used. Flame retardants are materials that inhibit or resist the spread of Fire. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE, are Organic compounds that are used as a Flame retardant. A 2004 study of 40 mothers from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Montana found PBDEs in the breast milk of every woman tested. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern

Three recent studies by the Washington Department of Ecology showed that toxic chemicals banned decades ago continue to linger in the environment and concentrate in the food chain. The Washington Department of Ecology, or simply Ecology, is an environmental regulatory agency for the State of Washington. In one of the studies, state government scientists found unacceptable levels of toxic substances in 93 samples of freshwater fish collected from 45 sites. The toxic substances included PCBs; dioxins, two chlorinated pesticides, DDE and dieldrin, and PBDEs. Polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCB s are a class of Organic compounds with 1 to 10 Chlorine atoms attached to Biphenyl which is a molecule composed Not to be confused with Dioxane or Digoxin. Dioxin is a heterocyclic, organic, antiaromatic compound Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (11- bis -(4-chlorophenyl-22-dichloroethene is the full name of DDE Dieldrin is a Chlorinated hydrocarbon originally produced in 1948 by J 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, the Washington Department of Health is advising the public not to eat mountain whitefish from the Wenatchee River from Leavenworth downstream to where the river joins the Columbia, due to unhealthy levels of PCBs. The mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni is one of the mostly widely distributed salmonid Fish of western North America. The Wenatchee River is a river in Washington originating at Lake Wenatchee and flowing southeast for 53 miles (85 km until it meets the Columbia River The Columbia River (known as Study results also indicated 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[3].

Law and government

See also: :Category:Government of Washington

The Washington State Capitol in Olympia.

The bicameral Washington State Legislature is the state's legislative branch. In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The state legislature is composed of a lower House of Representatives and an upper State Senate. In the United States of America, a state legislature is a generic term referring to the legislative body of any of the country's 50 states. A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house. The Washington House of Representatives is the Lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U An upper house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Lower house. The Washington State Senate is the Upper house of the Washington State Legislature. 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, whilst senators serve for four years. There are no term limits. See also Rotation in office A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office Currently, the Democratic Party holds majorities in both chambers. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party.

Washington's executive branch is headed by a governor elected for a four-year term. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. The current governor is Christine Gregoire, a Democrat who has been in office since 2005. Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic Governor of the state of Washington The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party.

The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. The Washington Supreme Court is the highest Court in the Judiciary of the U Nine justices serve on the bench and are elected statewide.

U. S. Congress

See also: United States Congressional Delegations from Washington

The two U.S. Senators from Washington are Patty Murray (D) and Maria Cantwell (D). These are tables of congressional delegations from the state of Washington to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Patricia Lynn Murray (born October 11, 1950) is the senior United States Senator from Washington. Maria E Cantwell (born October 13, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from the state of Washington and is a member of the

Washington representatives in the United States House of Representatives (see map of districts) are Jay Inslee (D-1), Richard Ray (Rick) Larsen (D-2), Brian Baird (D-3), Doc Hastings (R-4), Cathy McMorris (R-5), Norm Dicks (D-6), Jim McDermott (D-7), David Reichert (R-8), and Adam Smith (D-9). This is a complete list of congressional districts for representation in the United States House of Representatives. Jay Robert Inslee (born February 9, 1951) is an American politician currently serving as U Richard Ray "Rick" Larsen (born June 15, 1965) American politician has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Brian Norton Baird (born March 7, 1956) is an American politician from the U Richard Norman "Doc" Hastings (born February 7, 1941) an American politician has been a Republican member of the United Cathy McMorris Rodgers (born May 22 1969) is a Republican politician from Washington. Norman DeValois "Norm" Dicks (born December 16 1940) American politician has been a Democratic member of the United States For the illustrator see Jim McDermott (illustrator. James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott (born December 28 1936 David George Reichert (born August 29 1950) is a member of the United States Congress and the former Sheriff of King County Washington. David Adam Smith (born June 15, 1965) American politician has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives

State elected officials

Executive

• Christine Gregoire, Governor (D)
• Brad Owen, Lieutenant Governor (D)
• Sam Reed, Secretary of State (R)
• Rob McKenna, Attorney General (R)
• Mike Murphy, Treasurer (D)
• Brian Sonntag, Auditor (D)
• Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction (non partisan office)
• Doug Sutherland, Commissioner of Public Lands (R)
• Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner (D)

Politics

The state has been thought of as politically divided by the Cascade Mountains, with Western Washington being liberal (particularly the I-5 Corridor) and Eastern Washington being conservative. Western Washington is a Region of the United States defined as that part of Washington For the university see Eastern Washington University. Eastern Washington is a Region of the United States defined as the part of Lately however, Washington has voted for the Democratic Presidential candidate in every election since 1988. Spokane, the state's second largest city located in Eastern Washington, has been leaning more liberal, with one example being Democrat Maria Cantwell winning by a wide margin in the 2006 senate race against Republican Mike McGavick. Maria E Cantwell (born October 13, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from the state of Washington and is a member of the Michael S "Mike" McGavick (b February 7 1958, Seattle Washington) is a former Since the population is larger in the west, the Democrats usually fare better statewide. More specifically, the Seattle metro area (especially King County) generally delivers strong Democratic margins, while the outlying areas of Western Washington were nearly tied in both 2000 and 2004. It was considered a key swing state in 1968, and it was the only Western state to give its electoral votes to Hubert Humphrey (D). Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr ( May 27, 1911 &ndash January 13, 1978) was the thirty-eighth Vice President of the United States, serving However, this state did participate in the 1994 Republican Revolution, and had the biggest pickup in the house for Republicans, making 7 of the 9 house members Republicans for the state of Washington. The term can also refer to the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that led to the establishment of the Republic of China. ^[27] But this dominance didn't last for long as Democrats picked up one seat in the 1996 election^[28] and two more in 1998, giving the Democrats a 5-4 majority. ^[29]

While the Democratic Party has long dominated Washington, the 2004 Washington gubernatorial election was among the closest races in United States election history. The Washington State Democratic Party works to elect Democrats to office in Washington. The election for governor of the US state of Washington on November 2 2004 gained national attention for its legal twists turns and extremely close finish The initial count gave Republican candidate Dino Rossi a lead of 261 votes out of a total vote count of 2,805,913, or 0. Dino Rossi (born October 15 1959 in Seattle Washington, US) is a former Washington State Senator and Republican nominee for Governor 0093%. ^[30] The mandatory recount again had Rossi in the lead, but it was now by 42 votes, or 0. 0015% of the total 2,808,341 votes included in the first recount. ^[31] Another recount was done by hand, at the request of the Democratic party as allowed by law. A judge identified 1,678 illegal votes: 745 felons from a Republican list, 647 felons from a Democratic list, 175 mishandled provisional ballots in King County and 77 in Pierce County, six double votes and 19 ballots cast in the name of dead people. However, The final recount resulted in a win for Christine Gregoire, the Democrat candidate, by 0. Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic Governor of the state of Washington 0045% of the 2,810,058 votes cast. ^[32] Govenor Gregoire was inaugurated on January 12, 2005. Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic Governor of the state of Washington Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The subsequent court battles raged on for months after the election, but the official count left Gregoire holding office. ^[33]

Washington is the first and only state in the country to have elected women to all three major statewide offices (Governor Chris Gregoire and U. S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell) at the same time.

Education

Colleges and universities

State universities

• Central Washington University
• Eastern Washington University
• The Evergreen State College
• University of Washington
• Washington State University
• Western Washington University

Private universities

Community colleges

Educational Cooperatives

• Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC)