Washington (original) (raw)
Alternate meanings: George Washington, Washington, D.C, Other places called Washington
Washington
(In Detail) (Full size) | |
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State nickname: Evergreen State | |
Other U.S. States | |
Capital | Olympia |
Largest City | Seattle |
Governor | Gary Locke |
Area - Total - Land - Water - % water | Ranked 18th184,824 km�172,587 km�12,237 km�6.6% |
Population - Total (2000) - Density | Ranked 15th 5,894,121 32/km� |
Admittance into Union - Order - Date | 42nd November 11, 1889 |
Time zone | Pacific: UTC-8/-7 |
LatitudeLongitude | 45°32' N to 49� N116°57' W to 124°48' W |
WidthLengthElevation-Highest-Mean-Lowest | 385 km 580 km 4,392 meters520 meters0 meters |
ISO 3166-2: | US-WA |
Washington is a state located in the northwestern United States. It should not be confused with Washington, D.C, the capital of the USA. While the state capital is Olympia, the largest city in Washington is Seattle. As of the 2000 census, the state population is approximately 5.9 million. Residents are called "Washingtonians".
The USS Washington was named in honor of this state.
History
In 1853, the Washington Territory was formed from part of the Oregon Territory. Washington became the 42nd state in the United States on November 11, 1889.
Geography
See: List of Washington counties
Washington shares borders with the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and British Columbia, Canada to the north. Washington is famous for scenery of breathtaking beauty and sharp contrasts. High mountains rise above evergreen forests and sparkling coastal waters. Its coastal location and Puget Sound harbors give it a leading role in trade with Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Rim. Puget Sound's many islands are served by the largest state ferry fleet in the country.
Washington is a land of contrasts. The deep forests of the Olympic Peninsula are among the rainiest places in the world, but the flat semi-desert land that lies east of the Cascade Mountains stretches for long distances without a single tree. Snow-covered peaks tower above the foothills and lowlands around them. Mount Rainier, the highest mountain in the state, appears to "float" on the horizon southeast of Seattle and Tacoma on clear days.
- Puget Sound
- Bainbridge Island
- San Juan Islands
- Whidbey Island
- Vashon Island
- Columbia River
- Snake River
- Yakima River
- Cascade Range
- Mount Adams
- Mount Baker
- Glacier Peak
- Mount Rainier
- Mount St. Helens
- Mount Stuart
- Olympic Mountains
- Mount Olympus
Important cities and towns
See also Washington City Government
Education
Colleges and universities
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Henry Cogswell College
Heritage College
Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle
Northwest Indian College
St. Martin's College
Trinity Lutheran College
Washington State University at Spokane
Washington State University at Tri-Cities
Washington State University at Vancouver
Whitworth College
Professional sports teams
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Seattle Seahawks, National Football League
Seattle Thunderbirds, Western Hockey League
Everett Silvertips, Western Hockey League
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- Tacoma Rainiers
- Everett AquaSox
- Bellingham Bells
- Yakima Bears
- Spokane Indians
- Tri-City Dust Devils
Arts and culture
Major highways
- Interstate 5
- Interstate 82
- Interstate 90
- United States Highway 2
- United States Highway 12
- United States Highway 97
- United States Highway 101
External links
- State of Washington website: http://access.wa.gov/
- Revised Code of Washington (State Law): http://www.leg.wa.gov/rcw/index.cfm
- Washington Administrative Code (State Administrative Rules): http://www.leg.wa.gov/wac/
- State Code Search Tool: http://search.leg.wa.gov/pub/textsearch/default.asp