Washington Facts for Kids

Washington is a name you'll hear a lot, and it can mean a few different important things! Most often, when people say "Washington," they are talking about:

George Washington (1732–1799), who was the very first president of the United States. He's a really important figure in American history!
Washington (state), a state located in the Pacific Northwest part of the United States. It's known for its beautiful nature, like forests and mountains.
Washington, D.C., which is the capital city of the United States. This is where the U.S. government makes many important decisions.
- Sometimes, "Washington" is used as a shortcut to talk about the federal government of the United States itself.
- The Washington metropolitan area is the large city area that includes Washington, D.C., and the towns and cities around it.

Important Places Called Washington
Education and Learning
- Universities in the United States
- High Schools
People Named Washington
Sports Teams
- Teams in Washington, D.C.
- Teams in Washington State
Other Uses of the Name Washington
See also

Important Places Called Washington

Washington in the United States

The name "Washington" is used for many places across the United States. Here are some of the most well-known:

The Capital City: Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is not part of any state; it's a special federal district. It's home to the White House, the Capitol Building, and many famous museums. It's a very important center for politics and history.

Washington State

Washington (state) is on the west coast of the U.S. It's famous for its evergreen forests, mountains, and the city of Seattle. It's a place of natural beauty and big tech companies.

Other Cities and Towns

Many other cities and towns across the U.S. are also named Washington. For example, you can find a Washington in Washington, Illinois, Washington, Indiana, Washington, Missouri, and many other states. These towns often have their own unique history and charm.

Washington in England

The name Washington also has roots in England.

Washington, Tyne and Wear is a town in England.
Washington Old Hall is a historic house in England. It's famous because it was the ancestral home of the family of George Washington, the first U.S. president.

Washington Around the World

The name Washington can be found in other parts of the world too:

In Greenland, there's a place called Washington Land.
The Philippines has several places named Washington, like New Washington, Aklan.
There's also Washington, Ontario in Canada, and Washington Island (Kiribati) in the Pacific Ocean.

Education and Learning

Many schools and universities are named Washington, often honoring George Washington or located in places named Washington.

Universities in the United States

The University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, is a large and well-known public university.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C.
Washington University in St. Louis is another highly respected university, located in Missouri.
Other universities include the University of Mary Washington in Virginia and Washington College in Maryland.

High Schools

There are many high schools across the U.S. named Washington. Some examples include Lake Washington High School in Washington state and various schools named George Washington High School (disambiguation) or Booker T. Washington High School (disambiguation).

People Named Washington

"Washington" is also a common surname and sometimes a first name.

The most famous person is, of course, George Washington.
There are also many athletes, especially footballers from Brazil, who use "Washington" as their professional name, like Washington (footballer, born 1 April 1975).
Washington (musician) is the stage name of an Australian musician named Megan Washington.

Sports Teams

Many professional and college sports teams are named after Washington, especially those located in Washington, D.C., or Washington state.

Teams in Washington, D.C.

The capital city is home to several major professional sports teams:

The Washington Capitals play ice hockey in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Washington Nationals play baseball in Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Washington Commanders play American football in the National Football League (NFL). They used to be known as the Washington Redskins.
The Washington Wizards play basketball in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The Washington Mystics play women's basketball in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
D.C. United is a professional soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Teams in Washington State

Colleges in Washington state also have popular sports teams:

The Washington Huskies are the athletic teams for the University of Washington.
The Washington State Cougars represent Washington State University.
The Eastern Washington Eagles play for Eastern Washington University.

Other Uses of the Name Washington

The Washington (tree) is a giant sequoia tree found in Sequoia National Park, California. It's one of the largest trees in the world!
The Boeing Washington was the British name for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a famous airplane.

Washington facts for kids

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