Washington - The Evergreen State
Capital: Olympia | Abbreviation: WA | Region: Pacific Northwest | Population: 7.8 million
Quick Facts
| Population | 7,785,786 |
| Area | 71,298 sq mi (184,661 km²) |
| Population Rank | 13th |
| Area Rank | 18th |
| Capital | Olympia |
| Largest City | Seattle (749K) |
| Statehood | November 11, 1889 (42nd state) |
| Time Zone | Pacific (UTC-8 / UTC-7) |
| Nickname | The Evergreen State |
Interactive Map
🔴 Olympia (Capital)
About Washington
Washington is a Pacific Northwest state with a population of 7.8 million, making it the thirteenth-most populous state. The state capital is Olympia, while Seattle is the largest city with 749,000 residents and a metropolitan area of 4 million. Washington became the 42nd state on November 11, 1889. The state is named after George Washington and is often called "Washington State" to distinguish it from Washington, D.C.
Washington features extraordinary geographic diversity, from the rocky Pacific coastline to the volcanic Cascade Range to the arid Columbia Plateau in the east. The Cascade Mountains divide the state into two distinct climate zones: the wet, temperate west side and the drier, more extreme east side. Washington is home to iconic Mount Rainier (14,411 feet), an active volcano visible from Seattle, and Mount St. Helens, which erupted catastrophically in 1980.
Washington has a robust economy ranking 14th nationally in GDP. Seattle is a global technology hub, home to Microsoft (Redmond), Amazon (Seattle), and significant operations of Google, Meta, and Apple. The state leads the nation in apple production and is a major producer of cherries, pears, and hops. Boeing's commercial airplane manufacturing has been centered in Washington since 1916. The Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma form the third-largest container gateway in North America. Washington is also a leader in hydroelectric power, wind energy, and has no state income tax.
Geography & Climate
Washington's geography is divided by the Cascade Mountains into distinct regions:
- Pacific Coast: Rocky coastline, Olympic Peninsula, rainforests, beaches
- Puget Sound Lowlands: Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, mild climate, most populous region
- Cascade Range: Volcanic mountains including Rainier, St. Helens, Baker, skiing, hiking
- Columbia Plateau: Eastern region, arid, wheat farming, Columbia River
- Climate: Oceanic west of Cascades (mild, rainy), semi-arid to continental east of Cascades
- Rainforests: Hoh Rainforest receives 140+ inches of rain annually
Major Cities
Seattle
Population: 749,256
Metro: 4.0M
Known For: Tech hub (Amazon, Microsoft), Space Needle, coffee culture, music scene, port
Spokane
Population: 230,176
Metro: 590K
Known For: Eastern Washington hub, Gonzaga University, Riverfront Park, medical center
Tacoma
Population: 219,346
Metro: 910K
Known For: Port of Tacoma, museums, industry, Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Vancouver
Population: 190,915
Known For: Portland metro area, Fort Vancouver, Columbia River, growth
Bellevue
Population: 151,854
Known For: Affluent Seattle suburb, tech companies, downtown skyline
Olympia
Population: 55,605
Metro: 295K
Known For: State capital, government, Puget Sound, Evergreen State College
Technology & Innovation Hub
Washington, particularly the Seattle metro area, is a global center for technology and innovation:
- Microsoft: Founded in 1975, headquartered in Redmond, one of world's most valuable companies
- Amazon: Founded in Seattle (1994), now world's largest online retailer and major cloud provider (AWS)
- Other Tech Giants: Major operations from Google, Meta, Apple, Oracle, Salesforce
- Startups: Thriving startup ecosystem, venture capital, innovation culture
- Cloud Computing: AWS pioneered cloud services, data centers throughout region
- Gaming: Valve, Nintendo of America, Xbox (Microsoft), PopCap, Bungie
- Research: University of Washington ranked top public university for research funding
Economy & Industry
Washington has a diverse, innovation-driven economy with major sectors:
- Technology: Software, cloud computing, e-commerce, gaming - Microsoft, Amazon leading employers
- Aerospace: Boeing commercial airplanes, Blue Origin (space company), aerospace suppliers
- Agriculture: #1 in apples, hops, pears; major wheat, cherries, potatoes, wine grapes (over 1,000 wineries)
- International Trade: Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, gateway to Asia-Pacific, container shipping
- Clean Energy: Hydroelectric power (67% of electricity), wind farms, leader in renewable energy
- Military: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Naval Base Kitsap, significant defense presence
- Tourism: National parks, mountains, Seattle attractions, San Juan Islands, wine country
Natural Wonders & Outdoor Recreation
Washington offers spectacular natural beauty and outdoor opportunities:
National Parks
- Olympic National Park: Rainforests, mountains, rugged coastline
- Mount Rainier National Park: 14,411-ft active volcano, glaciers, wildflowers
- North Cascades National Park: "American Alps" with jagged peaks, glaciers
Outdoor Activities
- Skiing: Crystal Mountain, Stevens Pass, Mt. Baker
- Hiking: Pacific Crest Trail, thousands of trails
- Water: Kayaking, sailing, whale watching in Puget Sound
- San Juan Islands: Ferry-accessible islands, orcas
Interesting Facts
- Only state named after a US president (George Washington)
- Starbucks coffee company founded in Seattle's Pike Place Market (1971)
- Grunge music movement originated in Seattle (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden)
- Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, deadliest volcanic event in US history
- Pike Place Market is oldest continuously operating public market in US (1907)
- No state income tax in Washington
- Produces more apples than any other state (65% of US crop)
- Space Needle built for 1962 World's Fair in Seattle
- Hoh Rainforest is one of few temperate rainforests in continental US
- Boeing 747 and 787 Dreamliner assembled in Everett (world's largest building by volume)
- Jimi Hendrix, Bing Crosby, Bill Gates from Washington
- Grand Coulee Dam is largest hydroelectric facility in US
- State has active volcanoes part of Pacific Ring of Fire
- Seattle's first Whole Foods opened in 1980 (under different name)
Neighboring States & Borders
Also borders: Canada (British Columbia) to the North | Pacific Ocean to the West
Compare Washington
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Compare Washington