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• Washington State is the 18th largest state in the United States. It is located in the Pacific Northwest, bordered by Oregon and Idaho. It is the only state named after a President. Major businesses in the area include jet aircraft (due to Boeing), computer software development (due to Microsoft, Amazon.com and Nintendo), biotechnology, aluminum production, lumber and wood products and mining.

• Fast Facts

  1. Capital: Olympia
  2. Governor: Chris Gregoire
  3. Population (2007): 6,488,0002007 Data Book: Washington State General Info
  4. Land Area in Square Miles: 66,544.062007 Data Book: Washington State General Info
  5. Density (Persons per Square Mile-2007): 97.52007 Data Book: Washington State General Info
  6. Founded: November 11, 1889
  7. Time zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)
  8. Major cities: Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia
  9. Official state items: Coast Rhododendron (flower), Western Hemlock (tree), Steelhead Trout (fish), Petrified Wood (gem), Apple (fruit), Orca (marine mammal)
  10. Nickname: The Evergreen StateAbout.com: Washington State Nickname

• History

  It was the 42nd state admitted to the Union, on November 11, 1889. Prior to arrival of European explorers, the area was had many Native American settlers, including Chinook, Lummi, Quinault, Makah, Quileute, and Snohomish. The Plateau tribes include the Cayuse, Nez Percé, Okanogan, Palouse, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Yakima. Today the state has 20 Native American Reservations. During World War II, the Puget Sound area became very important due to the Boeing Company producing the nation's heavy bombers and ports in Seattle, Bremerton, Vancouver, and Tacoma.

• Washington State's Official...

  1. Flower: Coast Rhododendron
  2. Tree: Western Hemlock
  3. Bird: Willow Goldfinch
  4. Song: Washington, My Home
  5. Fish: Steelhead Trout
  6. Gem: Petrified Wood
  7. Dance: Square Dance
  8. Folk Song: Roll On, Columbia, Roll On
  9. Fruit: Apple
  10. Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass
  11. Insect: Green Darner Dragonfly
  12. Fossil: Columbian Mammoth
  13. Marine Mammal: Orca
  14. Amphibianamphibian: Pseudacris regilla
  15. Ship: Lady Washington

• Little Known Facts

  There is a Petrified Forest called Ginkgo at the base of the Cascade Mountains, near town of Vantage.unusal-washington-state-facts

  The NE portion of the state has prime wheat farming area which was land given by the federal government to the Nez Perce Indian Tribe. This land produces more wheat per acre than any other area in the world.unusal-washington-state-facts

  The Federal Government built the town of Richland to support The Manhatton Project which created fuel for one of the atomic bombs.unusal-washington-state-facts

  The state is named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States but did you know that there were towns of George and Martha in Washington? Martha no longer exists. George was home to outdoor music events.

  Point Roberts, an unincorporated community in Whatcom County, WA USA can only be reached from the US by boat or by traveling thru Canada.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/point_roberts_washington

  There is an old law that bans lollipops in Washington.http://www.rcasteel.com/StrangeThings/laws.aspx

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Space Needle Deals | United States | Seattle | Seattle Vacation | University of Washington | Washington State University | Washington Huskies Football | Washington State Cougars Football | Seattle Mariners | Seattle Seahawks | Seattle SuperSonics | Starbucks | Nirvana | Soundgarden | Pearl Jam | Alice in Chains | Oregon | Montana | Canada | Columbia River | 2008 Washington Caucus | Washington Election Results | Washington Exit Polls | Jill St. Onge | Terry Lee Thomas | Skokomish River

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