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Washington, US (Population: 6,395,798)

State Capitol: Olympia


Major Cities: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way, Kent, Yakima, Bellingham


State Nickname/Motto: The Evergreen State – Alki: Bye and Bye


Statehood Granted: November 11, 1889


History: Prior to the arrival of explorers from Europe, this region of the Pacific Coast had many established tribes of American Indians, 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. The first European record of a landing on the Washington coast was by Spanish Captain Don Bruno de Heceta in 1775.They claimed all the coastal lands up to the Russian possessions in the north for Spain. 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. 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. What was to become Washington state's first family was that of Washington's founder, the black pioneer George Washington Bush and his european wife, Isabella James Bush, from Missouri and Tennessee, respectively. They settled in Washington to avoid Oregon's racist settlement laws.


Geography: Highest point: Mt. Rainer 14,410 feet. Washington is the north-westernmost 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. 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.


Ethnic Diversity: One Race (96.7%), White (81.2%), Black or African American (3.3%), American Indian and Alaska Native (1.4%), Asian (6.6%), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.5%), Some other race (3.7%), Two or more races (3.3%), Hispanic or Latino (8.86%)*


Famous State People:


  • Bing Crosby (1903 - 1977) Singer and actor; born in Tacoma.
  • Jimi Hendrix (1942 - 1970) Rock & roll guitarist; born in Seattle.
  • Bill Gates (1955 - ) Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft Corporation; born; grew up in Seattle.
  • Kenny Loggins (1948 - ) Singer, songwriter; born in Everett.
  • Audrey Wurdemann (1911 - 1960) Pulitzer prize winning poet for Bright Ambush.
  • Hilary Swank (1974 - ) Oscar winning actress; born in Bellingham.
  • Fred Couples (1959 - ) Professional golfer; born in Seattle.
  • Adam West (1928 - ) Actor who played the original Batman; born in Walla Walla.
  • William Boeing (1881 - 1956) Aircraft manufacturer who founded the Boeing Aircraft company; lived in Seattle.
  • Bob Barker (1923 - ) Host of the popular television show The Price is Right; born in Darrington.
  • Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994) Grunge rock icon, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist for band Nirvana; born in Hoquiam.
  • Phil Mahre (1957 - ) Skier, 3-time World Cup overall champ (1981-83); finished 1-2 with twin brother Steve in 1984 Olympic slalom; lives in Yakima.
  • Francis Scobee (1939 - 1986) Astronaut; born in Cle Elum.



  • Major Colleges/Universities: Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington, Washington State University, Western Washington University, Antioch University Seattle, Argosy University/Seattle, Art Institute of Seattle, Bastyr University, City University, Cornish College of the Arts, DigiPen Institute of Technology, Gonzaga University, Henry Cogswell College, Heritage College, Northwest University, Pacific Lutheran University, St. Martin's University, School of Visual Concepts, Seattle Bible College, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, Trinity Lutheran College, University of Puget Sound, Walla Walla College, Whitman College, Whitworth College, Northwest Indian College


    State and National Parks: Alta Lake, Lewis & Clark, Anderson Lake, Lewis & Clark Trail, Battle Ground Lake, Lime Kiln Point, Bay View, Lincoln Rock, Beacon Rock, Manchester, Belfair, Maryhill, Birch Bay, Millersylvania, Blake Island, Moran, Bogachiel, Mount Pilchuck, Bridgeport, Mount Spokane, Bridle Trails, Mystery Bay, Brooks Memorial, Nolte, Camano Island, Ocean City, Cape Disappointment, Olallie, Centennial Trail, Old Fort Townsend, Columbia Hills, Olmstead Place, Columbia Plateau Trail, Osoyoos Lake, Conconully, Pacific Beach, Crawford, Pacific Pines, Curlew Lake, Palouse Falls, Daroga, Paradise Point, Damon Point, Peace Arch, Dash Point, Pearrygin Lake, Deception Pass, Penrose Point, Dosewallips, Peshastin Pinnacles, Doug's Beach, Potholes, Fay Bainbridge, Potlatch, Federation Forest, Rainbow Falls, Fields Spring, Rasar, Flaming Geyser, Riverside, Fort Casey, Rockport, Fort Columbia, Sacajawea, Fort Ebey, Saint Edward, Fort Flagler, Saltwater, Fort Okanogan, Scenic Beach, Fort Simcoe, Schafer, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, Colville National Forest, Gifford Pinchot National forest, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Okanogan National forest, Olympic National Forest, Wenatchee National Forest


    Misc: Washington is the location of many American Indian reservations. Washington state 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 such as the design used for the Seattle Seahawks. Many cities have traditional names created by Native Americans such as Yakima, Seattle, Spokane, Puyallup, and Walla Walla.


    *U.S. Census - 2005