Basic Information About Washington

Washington is the northwestern corner of the contiguous United States, bordering Canada to the north, Idaho to the east, Oregon to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. With approximately 7.8 million residents, it is the 13th most populous state. The capital is Olympia; Seattle is the largest city by far.

Nickname: The Evergreen State — a reference to the dense conifer forests that cover the western slopes of the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula. The forests are primarily Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock.

Statehood: November 11, 1889 — the 42nd state admitted to the union.

State Flower: Coast Rhododendron.

State Bird: Willow Goldfinch.

State Tree: Western Red Cedar.

Climate: Washington has two dramatically different climates separated by the Cascade Mountains. West of the Cascades (Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma) is one of the cloudiest and rainiest regions of the US — Seattle averages 152 cloudy days per year and about 38 inches of annual rainfall. East of the Cascades (Spokane, Yakima, the Columbia Basin) is semi-arid, with hot summers and cold winters, averaging less than 20 inches of annual precipitation in many areas.

Geography: The Olympic Peninsula in the northwest has temperate rainforests receiving over 140 inches of rainfall per year. The Cascade Range divides the state east-west. The Columbia River forms the southern border with Oregon.

Economy: Washington is home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Costco, and Starbucks — one of the most remarkable corporate headquarters concentrations of any state. The state has no income tax, relying on sales and business taxes. Technology and aerospace are the dominant industries.

Washington D.C.: Washington State is frequently confused with Washington D.C. When writing, the state abbreviation is "WA" to clarify.