Washington, officially known as the State of Washington, is a state located in the Pacific Northwest part of the Western United States. It was named after George Washington, who was the first U.S. president. The state was created from the western part of the Washington Territory. This land was given up by the British Empire in 1846, following the Oregon Treaty which settled a land dispute.

Washington is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. It became the 42nd state to join the United States in 1889. Olympia is the state capital, and Seattle is its largest city. People often call it Washington state to make sure it's not confused with Washington, D.C., the nation's capital.

Washington is the 18th-largest state by area, covering about 71,362 square miles (184,827 square kilometers). It is also the 13th-most populous state, with over 7.7 million people. Most of Washington's residents live in the Seattle metropolitan area. This area is a major hub for transportation, business, and industry, located on Puget Sound. Puget Sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean with many islands, deep fjords, and bays formed by glaciers.

The rest of the state has different landscapes. You can find deep temperate rainforests in the west and mountain ranges in the west, central, northeast, and far southeast. The eastern part of the state has a semi-arid basin region, which means it's quite dry. This area is used for a lot of farming. Washington is the second most populated state on the West Coast and in the Western United States, right after California. Mount Rainier, an active volcano, is the state's highest point at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters). It is also the most prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S..

Washington is a major producer of lumber. Its forests are full of trees like Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa pine, and cedar. The state is the biggest producer in the U.S. for apples, hops, pears, blueberries, and sweet cherries. It also produces a lot of apricots, asparagus, grapes, and potatoes. Raising livestock (farm animals) and commercial fishing (especially for salmon and halibut) are also very important to the state's economy. Washington is second only to California in wine production.

Manufacturing in Washington includes making aircraft, missiles, and other transportation equipment. Food processing, metal products, chemicals, and machinery are also big industries. Washington has over a thousand dams, including the Grand Coulee Dam. These dams help with irrigation, making electricity, controlling floods, and storing water.

Washington is one of the wealthiest states in the country. It also has a very socially liberal outlook. The state often ranks high for how long people live and for having low unemployment.

Why Washington Got Its Name
Exploring Washington's Geography
- Western Washington: Wet and Green
- Eastern Washington: Dry and Open
Washington's Climate and Weather
- Temperature Ranges in Washington
Washington's Amazing Plants and Animals
A Look at Washington's Past
How Washington's Government Works
- State Government Structure
People and Population in Washington
Washington's Strong Economy
Getting Around Washington: Transportation
Symbols and Names of Washington
- The Evergreen State Nickname
- Official State Symbols
Learning in Washington: Education
- Elementary and High School Education
- Higher Education and Colleges
Images for kids
See also

Why Washington Got Its Name

The Washington Territory was named after George Washington. He was the very first President of the United States.

Exploring Washington's Geography

Southeastern Washington

The Pacific Coast of Westport, Washington

Washington is the northwestern-most state in the contiguous United States (the main part of the U.S. without Alaska or Hawaii). Its northern border mostly follows the 49th parallel north, which is the line that separates it from the Canadian province of British Columbia.

To the south, Washington borders Oregon. The Columbia River forms the western part of this border. To the east, Washington borders Idaho. The Pacific Ocean is to the west of Washington.

Cascade Pass in the North Cascades National Park

Washington is part of a larger area called the Pacific Northwest. This term always includes Washington and Oregon. Sometimes it also includes parts of Idaho, Montana, California, British Columbia, and Alaska.

The tall Cascade Range mountains run from north to south, cutting the state in half. People in Washington often call these two parts the "West side" and "East side." They also use terms like "Wet side" and "Dry side," or "Timberland" and "Wheatland," to describe the differences.

Western Washington: Wet and Green

West of the Cascade Mountains, Western Washington has a marine west coast climate. This means it has mild temperatures. Winters, autumns, and springs are wet, while summers are usually dry.

The Cascade Range has several volcanoes. These volcanoes are much taller than the rest of the mountains. From north to south, the main volcanoes are Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. All of them are considered active.

Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in the state. It is about 50 miles (80 km) south of Seattle. You can see it clearly from the city. Mount Rainier is 14,411 feet (4,392 meters) tall. It is thought to be the most dangerous volcano in the Cascade Range. This is because it is so close to the Seattle metropolitan area. It also has more glacial ice than any other peak in the lower 48 states.

The Columbia River Gorge.

Western Washington also has the Olympic Mountains. These are located far west on the Olympic Peninsula. They have thick forests of conifer trees and areas of temperate rainforest. These deep forests, like the Hoh Rainforest, are some of the only temperate rainforests in the continental United States.

Eastern Washington: Dry and Open

Eastern Washington, which is east of the Cascades, has a much drier climate. This is very different from the west side. It includes large areas of semi-arid steppe (dry grasslands). Some parts are true deserts because they are in the rain shadow of the Cascades. For example, the Hanford area gets only about 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm) of rain each year.

Further east, the climate becomes less dry. The annual rainfall increases as you go east. The Okanogan Highlands and the rugged Kettle River Range and Selkirk Mountains cover much of the northeastern part of the state. The Palouse region in southeastern Washington used to be grassland. Now, it is mostly farmland. It extends to the Blue Mountains.

Washington's Climate and Weather

Washington's climate changes a lot from west to east. Western Washington has an oceanic climate, also called a "west coast marine climate." East of the Cascade Range, a much drier semi-arid climate is common.

Two main things affect Washington's weather. These are the large high and low pressure systems over the north Pacific Ocean. Also, the continental air masses from North America play a role. The Olympic and Cascade mountains also have a big impact.

In spring and summer, a high-pressure system is over the north Pacific. This causes winds to blow from the northwest. These winds bring cool air and a predictable dry season.

Dryland farming caused a large dust storm in arid parts of eastern Washington on October 4, 2009. Courtesy: NASA/GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response.

In autumn and winter, a low-pressure system takes over the north Pacific. This makes Washington's winds, called the Chinooks, come from the southwest. These winds bring warm and moist air, leading to a predictable wet season. Sometimes, very strong wet-season Chinook winds are called the "Pineapple Express".

Even though western Washington has a mild marine climate, there have been exceptions. For example, there were "Big Snow" events in 1880, 1881, 1893, and 1916. Also, "deep freeze" winters happened in 1883–84, 1915–16, 1949–50, and 1955–56. During these times, western Washington saw up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow. Temperatures dropped below 0 °F (−18 °C). Lakes and rivers froze for weeks. Seattle's lowest recorded temperature was 0 °F (−18 °C) on January 31, 1950. However, some low-altitude areas away from Seattle have recorded lows as cold as −48 °F (−44 °C).

Winter weather is also affected by the Southern Oscillation. During an El Niño, the jet stream moves south through California. This means late fall and winter are drier than usual with less snow. During a La Niña, the jet stream is stronger over the Pacific Northwest. This causes Washington to get more rain and snow than average.

Temperature Ranges in Washington

The average yearly temperature in Washington varies. It ranges from 51 °F (11 °C) on the Pacific coast to 40 °F (4 °C) in the northeast. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state was −48 °F (−44 °C). This happened in Winthrop and Mazama.

Western Washington is known for its mild climate. It often has a lot of fog, frequent cloud cover, and long drizzles in the winter. Summers are warm and mild. The Eastern region can sometimes have extreme weather. Very cold Arctic fronts in winter and heat waves in summer are not unusual. In the Western region, temperatures have reached as high as 112 °F (44 °C) in Marietta-Alderwood. They have also dropped as low as −20 °F (−29 °C) in Longview.

Washington's Amazing Plants and Animals

Black-tailed deer graze at Deer Park in Olympic National Park

Forests cover 52% of Washington's land area. Most of these are west of the North Cascades. About two-thirds of Washington's forests are owned by the public. This includes 64% of federal land. Other common trees and plants in the region include camassia, Douglas fir, hemlock, and western red cedar. Many types of ferns also grow here.

The state's wild areas offer a safe home for many animals. There are large numbers of shorebirds and marine mammals. The Pacific shore around the San Juan Islands is home to many killer, gray, and humpback whales.

Mammals that live in the state include the bat, black bear, bobcat, cougar, coyote, deer, elk, gray wolf, moose, raccoon, and tree squirrel. Because Washington has so many different types of land, it is home to many different bird species. These include birds of prey, shorebirds, woodland birds, grassland birds, and ducks. Many species have also been brought to Washington since the 1700s, like horses and burros.

The channel catfish, lamprey, and sturgeon are among the 400 known freshwater fish. There are also several types of snakes and amphibians, like the Cascades frog. Coastal bays and islands often have many shellfish and whales. Five types of salmon swim up the streams in Western Washington to lay their eggs.

A Look at Washington's Past

Early History and Native Peoples

The remains of Kennewick Man were found in Washington. These are some of the oldest and most complete human remains found in North America. Before Europeans arrived, many Native American tribes lived in the region. They were known for their totem poles and beautifully carved canoes and masks. Fishing for salmon was very important to them. The Makah tribe was also known for whale hunting. People living inland had a different culture. They focused on hunting, gathering food, and some farming. They also depended on salmon from the Columbia River and its smaller rivers. A smallpox outbreak in the 1770s greatly reduced the Native American population.

European Explorers Arrive

The first European to officially land on the Washington coast was Spanish Captain Don Bruno de Heceta in 1775. He was on the ship Santiago. He claimed all the coastal lands for Spain. In 1778, British explorer Captain James Cook saw Cape Flattery. But he didn't realize the Strait of Juan de Fuca was there. Charles William Barkley discovered the strait in 1787. Spanish explorers Manuel Quimper (1790) and Francisco de Eliza (1791) explored it further. British explorer George Vancouver also explored it in 1792.

The British-Spanish Nootka Convention of 1790 opened the Northwest Coast to other nations. These included Britain, Russia, and the new United States. American captain Robert Gray discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. He named the river after his ship, the Columbia. The Lewis and Clark Expedition entered the state on October 10, 1805.

Settling the Land

Explorer David Thompson claimed the land for Great Britain in 1811. Britain and the United States agreed to share the land west of the Continental Divide in 1818. This was called "joint occupancy." Spain gave up its claims north of the 42nd Parallel to the U.S. in 1819.

Negotiations between Britain and the U.S. about the border failed for decades. This led to the Oregon boundary dispute. Many American settlers moved into the Oregon Country. The Hudson's Bay Company tried to keep British control. But Britain eventually gave up all claims south of the 49th parallel to the United States. This happened with the Oregon Treaty on June 15, 1846.

In 1836, missionaries like Marcus Whitman started settlements in southeastern Washington. This was near what is now Walla Walla County. It was in the territory of the Cayuse and Nez Perce tribes. Whitman's settlement helped the Oregon Trail become a route for thousands of settlers. Marcus provided medical care to Native Americans. However, many Native American patients died from new diseases, while white patients recovered. The tribes blamed Marcus Whitman and killed him and twelve other settlers in the Whitman massacre in 1847. This event started the Cayuse War.

Fort Nisqually was the first European settlement in the Puget Sound area. It was a farm and trading post started in 1833. In 1846, pioneer George Washington Bush and his wife led four white families to found New Market, now Tumwater. They settled in Washington to avoid unfair laws in Oregon. After them, many more settlers moved north to the Puget Sound area.

Becoming a State

Yesler Way, Seattle, 1887

People living north of the Columbia River asked for a new territory. The U.S. government granted this in 1853, creating the Washington Territory. The territory's border was first larger than the state's current border. It included parts of Idaho and Montana. The creation of Idaho Territory in 1863 set Washington's final eastern border.

A state constitution was written in 1878, but it was not officially adopted. However, it was used a lot when writing Washington State's official constitution in 1889. Washington became the 42nd state in the United States on November 11, 1889.

Early important industries in the state were farming and lumber. In eastern Washington, the Yakima River Valley became famous for its apple orchards. Growing wheat using dry farming methods also became very successful. Heavy rain west of the Cascade Range created thick forests. Ports along Puget Sound grew rich from making and shipping lumber products, especially Douglas fir. Other industries that grew were fishing, salmon canning, and mining.

The Industrial Age and World Wars

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress bombers under construction, c. 1942

For a long time, Tacoma was known for its large smelters. These processed gold, silver, copper, and lead ores. Seattle was the main port for trade with Alaska and the rest of the country. For a while, it had a big shipbuilding industry. The area around eastern Puget Sound developed heavy industry during World War I and World War II. The Boeing company became a well-known symbol in the area.

During the Great Depression, many hydroelectric dams were built along the Columbia River. This was part of a plan to make more electricity. In 1941, the Grand Coulee Dam was finished. It was the largest concrete structure in the United States.

During World War II, Washington became important for war industries. The Boeing Company made many of the nation's heavy bombers. Ports in Seattle, Bremerton, Vancouver, and Tacoma built warships. Seattle was where many soldiers left for the Pacific. In eastern Washington, the Hanford Works atomic energy plant opened in 1943. It played a big role in making the nation's atomic bombs.

Mount St. Helens Eruption in 1980

On May 18, 1980, after many tremors and small eruptions, the northeast side of Mount St. Helens erupted violently. This destroyed a large part of the top of the volcano. The eruption flattened forests and killed 57 people. It filled the Columbia River and its smaller rivers with ash and mud. Large parts of Washington and other nearby states were covered in ash, making day look like night.

How Washington's Government Works

State Government Structure

The Washington State Capitol building in Olympia

Washington's executive branch is led by a governor. The governor is elected for a four-year term. Other officials elected statewide include the Lieutenant Governor and the Secretary of State. There is also the State Treasurer and the State Auditor. The Attorney General and the Superintendent of Public Instruction are also elected. Finally, there is the Commissioner of Public Lands and the Insurance Commissioner.

The bicameral Washington State Legislature is the state's law-making branch. It has two parts: the lower House of Representatives and the upper State Senate. The state is divided into 49 legislative districts. Each district has about the same number of people. Each district elects two representatives and one senator. Representatives serve for two years, while senators serve for four years. There are no limits on how many terms they can serve. The Democratic Party currently has more members in both the House and Senate.

The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. It meets in Olympia. Nine justices serve on this court. They are either elected statewide or appointed by the governor to fill empty spots. There are 30 judicial districts, each with a superior court. These districts mostly match up with counties. Some districts combine rural or closely related counties.

People and Population in Washington

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	1,201	—
1860	11,594	865.4%
1870	23,955	106.6%
1880	75,116	213.6%
1890	357,232	375.6%
1900	518,103	45.0%
1910	1,141,990	120.4%
1920	1,356,621	18.8%
1930	1,563,396	15.2%
1940	1,736,191	11.1%
1950	2,378,963	37.0%
1960	2,853,214	19.9%
1970	3,409,169	19.5%
1980	4,132,156	21.2%
1990	4,866,692	17.8%
2000	5,894,121	21.1%
2010	6,724,540	14.1%
2020	7,705,281	14.6%
2024 (est.)	7,958,180	18.3%
Source: 1910–2020

Washington's Growing Population

Washington population density map

Chinese New Year, Seattle (2011)

In 2020, Washington's population was 7,705,281. This was a 14.6% increase since the 2010 census. In 2020, the state was the 13th most populated overall. It was the third most populated state west of the Mississippi River, after California and Texas. Washington has the largest population among states in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon and Idaho follow it. As of April 1, 2023, the state population was estimated to be 7,951,150.

The Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metropolitan area had a population of 4,018,762 in the 2020 census. This is more than half of the state's total population. In 2010, the center of Washington's population was in a rural, unpopulated part of the Cascade Mountains. This was in eastern King County.

In 2020, 5.7% of Washington's residents were under five years old. 21.8% were under 18, and 16.3% were 65 or older.

Four out of five people in the state identify as White or European American. Washington has some of the largest Native American and Asian populations among U.S. states. The state also has a small number of African Americans. Washington's Hispanic community started growing quickly in the late 20th century. In 2018, the top countries where Washington's immigrants came from were Mexico, India, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. There are 29 federally recognized Native American tribes in the state. Most of these are in Western Washington. There are also other groups that are not officially recognized.

In 2022, there were an estimated 25,211 homeless people in Washington.

Languages Spoken in Washington

**Top 10 non-English languages spoken in Washington**
Language	Percentage of population (as of 2010)
Spanish	7.79%
Chinese	1.19%
Vietnamese	0.94%
Tagalog	0.84%
Korean	0.83%
Russian	0.80%
German	0.55%
Japanese	0.39%
French	0.33%
Ukrainian	0.27%

In 2010, most Washington residents (82.51%) aged 5 and older spoke English at home as their main language. However, many other languages are also spoken. For example, 7.79% spoke Spanish, 1.19% spoke Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin), and 0.94% spoke Vietnamese. Other languages spoken include Tagalog (0.84%), Korean (0.83%), Russian (0.80%), and German (0.55%). In total, 17.49% of Washington's population aged 5 and older spoke a language other than English at home.

Religion in Washington

Religion in Washington as of 2014^[update]
Religion			Percent
Protestant			40%
Unaffiliated			32%
Catholic			17%
Latter Day Saints			4%
Jewish			1%
Hindu			1%
Muslim			0.5%
Other faiths			3%

Most people in Washington identify as Christian (60%). Within Christianity, 40% are Protestant and 17% are Catholic. About 4% are Latter-day Saints. A significant portion of the population (32%) identifies as having no religious affiliation. Smaller percentages follow other faiths like Jewish (1%), Hindu (1%), and Muslim (0.5%).

The largest Christian groups in 2010 were the Roman Catholic Church, with 784,332 members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 282,356 members. The Assemblies of God had 125,005 members.

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church is the largest Wiccan church in the country. Like other states on the West Coast, Washington has a higher percentage of people who say they are "non-religious" compared to the national average.

Washington's Strong Economy

Microsoft Corporation headquarters in Redmond, an Eastside suburb of Seattle

Washington has a very strong economy. In 2019, its total economic output was over $612 billion. This made it the fifth largest economy in the nation. It was also growing at 6.5% per year, which was the fastest rate in the United States. As of January 1, 2021, the minimum wage was $13.69 an hour. This was the second highest in the country.

Important businesses in the state include designing and making aircraft (Boeing). There's also car manufacturing (Paccar) and computer software development (Microsoft, Bungie, Amazon, Nintendo of America, Valve, ArenaNet). Other industries are telecom (T-Mobile US), electronics, biotechnology, and aluminum production. Lumber and wood products (Weyerhaeuser) are also key. Beverages (Starbucks, Jones Soda) and real estate are significant. Retail companies like Nordstrom and Costco are based here. Tourism is also important, with companies like Alaska Airlines and Expedia, Inc..

A Fortune magazine survey of the top 20 Most Admired Companies in the U.S. included four Washington-based companies: Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Costco. Over 80% of the state's electricity comes from hydroelectric power. Also, a lot of trade with Asia goes through the ports of the Puget Sound. This makes Washington's ports rank high in the U.S.

In 2012, the Washington State Liquor Control Board ended its control over all state liquor stores. This was due to a new law called Initiative 1183.

As of August 2021, two of the world's wealthiest people lived in Washington. These were Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Bill Gates of Microsoft. Other billionaires in the state include Paul Allen, Steve Ballmer, Charles Simonyi, Craig McCaw, James Jannard, and Howard Schultz.

As of December 2020, the state's unemployment rate was 7 percent.

Understanding Washington's Taxes

Starbucks headquarters, Seattle

Washington is one of seven states that do not charge a personal income tax. The state also does not collect a corporate income tax or a franchise tax. However, businesses in Washington pay various other state taxes. These include the business and occupation tax (B & O), which is a tax on gross receipts. It charges different rates for different types of businesses.

Washington's state sales tax is 6.5%. This is combined with a local sales tax that changes depending on the city or county. The total sales tax (state and local) usually ranges from 7.5% to 10%. For example, in March 2017, the combined sales tax in Seattle and Tacoma was 10.1%. The cities of Lynnwood and Mill Creek have the highest sales tax rate in the state at 10.5%. These taxes apply to both services and products. Most foods are exempt from sales tax. However, prepared foods, dietary supplements, and soft drinks are still taxed.

An excise tax is applied to certain products like gasoline, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages. Property tax was the first tax in Washington. It makes up about 30% of Washington's total state and local income. It is still the most important source of money for public schools, fire protection, libraries, parks, and other special districts.

All real property (like land and buildings) and personal property (like business equipment) are taxed, unless the law specifically says they are not. Most personal property owned by individuals is not taxed. Personal property tax applies to personal property used for business or other non-exempt items. All property taxes are paid to the county treasurer's office where the property is located. Washington does not tax intangible assets like bank accounts, stocks, or bonds. The state also does not tax retirement income earned from another state. Washington does not collect inheritance taxes. However, the state does have its own estate tax.

As of 2017, Washington state had the 18th highest effective tax rate per person in the United States. Its tax rules are different from neighboring Oregon's. Oregon has no sales tax but does have a personal income tax. This leads to interesting economic situations along the border, especially in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Similar border economies exist with British Columbia and Idaho.

Farming and Agriculture in Washington

Azwell, WA, a small community of pickers' cabins and apple orchards

Washington is a leading state for agriculture. In 2018, the total value of Washington's farm products was $10.6 billion. In 2014, Washington was first in the nation for producing red raspberries (90.5% of total U.S. production). It was also first for hops (79.3%), spearmint oil (75%), and wrinkled seed peas (70.4%). The state also led in apples (71.1%), sweet cherries (62.3%), and pears (45.6%). Washington produced 55.1% of Concord grapes, 30.6% of carrots for processing, and 32.4% of green peas for processing.

Washington also ranked second in the nation for fall potatoes (a quarter of the nation's production). It was second for nectarines, apricots, asparagus, all raspberries, and grapes (all types combined). The state was also second for sweet corn for processing (a quarter of the nation's production) and summer onions (a fifth of the nation's production). Washington ranked third in the nation for dried peas, lentils, onions, and peppermint oil.

The apple industry is very important to Washington. Central Washington has a good climate with dry, warm summers and cold winters. Because of this, the state has been the top apple producer in the U.S. since the 1920s. Two main areas grow most of the state's apples. These are the Wenatchee–Okanogan region and the Yakima region. Washington grows seven main types of apples. These are sent to over sixty countries.

Washington's Wine Industry

Rattlesnake Hills AVA, one of nineteen American Viticultural Areas in the state

Washington ranks second in the United States for producing wine, right after California. By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (125 square kilometers) of vineyards. They harvested 120,000 short tons (108,862 metric tons) of grapes. Wine from Washington was exported to more than forty countries from its 600 wineries. By 2021, this number grew to 1050 wineries.

While some grape growing happens in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, almost all (99%) of wine grapes are grown in the desert-like eastern half. The rain shadow of the Cascade Range means the Columbia River Basin gets only about 8 inches (20 cm) of rain each year. This makes irrigation and water rights very important for the Washington wine industry. Grape growing in the state also benefits from long hours of sunlight. On average, it gets two more hours of sunlight per day than California during the growing season. The temperatures are also very consistent.

Getting Around Washington: Transportation

Washington has the largest ferry system in the United States.

Floating bridges on Lake Washington

Washington's transportation system includes many ways to travel. These are managed by different government groups. The state highway system, called State Routes, has over 7,000 miles (11,000 km) of roads. The Washington State Ferries system is the largest of its kind in the nation. It is the third largest in the world. There are also 57,200 miles (92,000 km) of local roads. Cities and counties maintain these. Several ferries are also run by local governments.

Washington has 140 public airfields. Sixteen of these are state airports owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is the main commercial airport for the greater Seattle area. Boeing Field in Seattle is one of the busiest non-hub airports in the U.S.

There are many waterways around Washington's largest cities. These include Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and Olympia. The state highways include a large network of bridges. The largest ferry system in the United States helps with transportation in the Puget Sound area. Washington's marine highway has 28 ferries. They travel through Puget Sound and its waterways to 20 different ports. They complete almost 147,000 trips each year.

Washington is home to four of the five longest floating bridges in the world. These are the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, and Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge over Lake Washington. The Hood Canal Bridge connects the Olympic Peninsula and Kitsap Peninsula. One of its most famous bridges is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It collapsed in 1940 and was rebuilt. Washington has 75 port districts. Several of these are major seaports on the Pacific Ocean. These include ports in Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver. The Columbia and Snake rivers also provide 465 miles (748 km) of waterways. Barges can travel on these as far east as Lewiston, Idaho.

The Cascade Mountain Range also makes transportation difficult. Washington operates roads over seven major mountain passes and eight smaller ones. In winter, some of these passes are plowed and kept safe with avalanche control. Not all of them stay open through the winter. The North Cascades Highway, State Route 20, closes every year due to snow and avalanches. The Cayuse and Chinook passes east of Mount Rainier also close in winter.

Washington has many freight railroads. Amtrak's passenger Cascade route runs between Eugene, Oregon, and Vancouver, BC. It is the eighth busiest Amtrak service in the U.S. Seattle's King Street Station is the busiest station in Washington. It is the 15th busiest in the U.S. It is the end point for two long-distance Amtrak routes in Washington: the Empire Builder to Chicago and the Coast Starlight to Los Angeles. The Sounder commuter rail service runs in Seattle and its nearby cities, between Everett and Lakewood. The intercity network includes the Cascade Tunnel. This is the longest railroad tunnel in the United States.

Sound Transit Link light rail currently operates in the Seattle area. It is 20 miles (32 km) long. In Tacoma, it is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long. The entire system has a plan to expand light rail to a total of 116 miles (187 km) by 2041. Seattle also has a 3.8-mile (6.1 km) streetcar network with two lines. There are plans to expand it further by 2025. There are 32 local bus transit systems across the state. The busiest is King County Metro, in Seattle and King County. It had over 122 million riders in 2017.

Symbols and Names of Washington

Reverse side of the Washington quarter

Four ships of the United States Navy, including two battleships, have been named USS Washington to honor the state. Earlier ships had this name to honor George Washington.

The Evergreen State Nickname

The state's nickname, "Evergreen," was suggested in 1890 by Charles T. Conover from Seattle. The name became popular because the forests are full of evergreen trees. Also, the abundant rain keeps the plants and grasses green all year. Even though this nickname is widely used, for example, on vehicle license plates, it has not been officially adopted. The publicly funded Evergreen State College in Olympia also gets its name from this nickname.

Official State Symbols

The state song is "Washington, My Home". The state bird is the American goldfinch. The state fruit is the apple, and the state vegetable is the Walla Walla sweet onion. The state dance, adopted in 1979, is the square dance. The state tree is the western hemlock. The state flower is the coast rhododendron. The state fish is the steelhead. The state folk song is "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" by Woody Guthrie. The unofficial, but popular, state rock song is Louie Louie. The state grass is bluebunch wheatgrass. The state insect is the green darner dragonfly. The state gem is petrified wood. The state fossil is the Columbian mammoth. The state marine mammal is the orca. The state land mammal is the Olympic marmot. The state seal (also on the state flag) was inspired by an unfinished portrait by Gilbert Stuart.

Learning in Washington: Education

Elementary and High School Education

As of the 2020–2021 school year, 1,094,330 students were enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Washington. There were 67,841 teachers working to educate them. As of August 2009, there were 295 school districts in the state. Nine Educational Service Districts support these schools. The Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (a non-profit state agency) helps with managing information for finances, human resources, and student data. Elementary and secondary schools are overseen by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

High school juniors and seniors in Washington can use the state's Running Start program. This program started in 1990 by the state legislature. It allows students to attend colleges at public expense. They earn both high school and college credit at the same time.

The state also has several public high schools that focus on arts. These include Tacoma School of the Arts and the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. There is also The Center School in Seattle. There are four high schools focused on Science and Math. One is Delta in the Tri-Cities. Another is SAMI in Tacoma. Raisbeck Aviation High School is in Seattle, and Tesla STEM High School is in Redmond.

Higher Education and Colleges

Washington has more than 40 colleges and universities. The state has major research universities, technical schools, religious schools, and private career colleges. Some of the well-known colleges and universities include the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Washington State University. Others are Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Central Washington University. There are also Seattle Pacific University, Saint Martin's University, Pacific Lutheran University, Gonzaga University, University of Puget Sound, The Evergreen State College, and Whitman College.

Images for kids

The Pacific coast of Westport
Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest
Köppen climate types of Washington, using 1991-2020 climate normals.
Washington experiences extensive variation in rainfall.
Washington's national forests

Washington (state) facts for kids

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