100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Washington (WA) sits in the Pacific Northwest on the border with Canada, the state blends stunning nature with a developed technology industry. The local economy is strongly shaped by the headquarters of Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks. Top tourist attractions include the national parks Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and the Space Needle tower in downtown Seattle. The capital of Washington is Olympia, the largest city by far is Seattle.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Washington Abbreviation WA Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle (Population: 755 078) Current time 12:46 Time zone PST (UTC-8), the state observes daylight saving time PDT (UTC-7) Population 7,705,267 (#13 most populous US state) Area 184,827 km² (#18 largest US state) Admitted to the Union November 11, 1889 (#42 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Washington
Olympia became the capital of Washington Territory in 1853 and, after Washington joined the Union in 1889, its state capital as well. The city was named after the Olympic Mountains.
🏙️ Largest City in Washington
The largest city in the state of Washington is Seattle, which had a population of 755,078 in 2023. The second largest is Spokane with 229,447 residents, and third is Tacoma with a population of 222,906.
🕒 Time in Washington
The current time in the state of Washington is 12:46. The entire state observes Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC-8). Like most of the United States, Washington switches to Daylight Saving Time between March and November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Washington
In 2023, the state of Washington had a total population of 7,705,267, making it the 13th most populous state in the United States.
📍 Area of Washington
The total area of the state of Washington is 184,827 km², of which 172,587 km² is land and 12,240 km² is water. Washington ranks as the 18th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About the State of Washington
🧩 Which States Border Washington
Washington borders only two U.S. states, Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south. In addition, it has a border with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, and to the west it has a 252.67 km-long Pacific coastline.
📅 Date of Washington Statehood
Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889 as the 42nd state, preceded by Washington Territory.
📛 Washington State Nickname
The state is unofficially nicknamed “The Evergreen State”, a nod to Washington’s year-round greenery, thanks in part to frequent rain. The nickname dates to 1890, and was likely coined by Seattle journalist and advertising professional Charles T. Conover.
The phrase “The Evergreen State” still appears on license plates of vehicles registered in Washington.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Washington
The highest peak in Washington is the potentially active volcano Mount Rainier with an elevation of 4,392.17 m, which is also the highest point in the Cascade Range. The mountain, also known as Tahoma, lies within Mount Rainier National Park about 95 km southeast of Seattle.
🏞️ Rivers in Washington
The longest river in the state of Washington is the Columbia River with a total length of 2,000 km. It is followed by the Snake River (1,735 km), the Yakima River (344 km), the Grande Ronde River (293 km), and the Kettle River (282 km).
🎓 Universities in Washington
The largest university in the state is the University of Washington, founded in 1861 in Seattle and now attended by just under 60,000 students.
Second is Washington State University with 31,000 students, based in Pullman with traditions dating back to 1890. The third largest is Western Washington University in Bellingham, founded in 1892 and serving 16,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Washington
The state of Washington uses ZIP code ranges 980xx–986xx and 988xx–994xx, and you can look them up by address on the USPS website. More information and a clear map can be found in the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in Washington
The best time to visit the state of Washington is summer, when the weather is stable and usually sunny. Conditions are ideal for hiking and exploring natural landscapes.
Spring in Washington differs between the western and eastern parts of the state. In the west, especially around Seattle, springs tend to be milder with temperatures around 10 °C to 15 °C, with frequent rainfall in March and April. In eastern Washington, temperatures are lower (around 5 °C to 10 °C), although there is also less rain.
Summer in Washington is fairly dry with low rainfall totals. In the west, temperatures range between 17 °C and 22 °C, while the eastern half of the state is sunnier with typical highs between 26 °C and 31 °C.
Fall in Washington brings cooler weather at 10 °C to 15 °C and a return of rain, with November usually the wettest month.
Winter in Washington varies. In the western part, temperatures hover around 1 °C to 6 °C, with frequent showers. Eastern Washington is colder, with winter temperatures dropping to -10 °C. Snow is more common there, and higher elevations typically hold a regular snowpack.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Washington
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What to See in Washington
1️⃣ Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park lies in western Washington and stands out for its variety, where beaches, mountains, wilderness, and temperate rainforest trade places. The Hoh Rain Forest with giant moss-draped trees and the coastal stretch at Rialto Beach with its driftwood rank among the spots worth seeing with your own eyes.
Other popular activities in the park include camping, fishing, and wildlife watching, with chances to glimpse squirrels, skunks, coyotes, river otters, or foxes.
2️⃣ Space Needle
The Space Needle is a 184.40 m-tall tower and the unmistakable symbol of Seattle, opened in 1962 for the World’s Fair. At 158.50 m there is an observation deck with a 360° view of the city, the bay, and the mountains. For a jolt of adrenaline, The Loupe lets visitors look straight down through a rotating glass floor. The attraction is part of the restaurant of the same name.
3️⃣ Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park was established in March 1899 to protect nature around the active volcano of the same name, which at 4,392.17 m is the highest mountain in Washington. The park features more than 418.43 km of hiking trails, along with excellent conditions for mountaineering and wildlife viewing. The area is known for meadows full of wildflowers, waterfalls, and glaciers.
4️⃣ The Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight in Seattle ranks among the largest air and space museums in the world. Its collection includes historic aircraft, a lunar module, and a lunar rover used on the Moon. Visitors can tour the first jet Air Force One, a British Airways Concorde, or a restored Lockheed L-10 Electra low-wing aircraft.
Interactive simulators are a highlight, and the museum also hosts educational programs and talks. It’s a great place to visit for tech enthusiasts and families with kids alike.
5️⃣ North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park sits in the north of the state near the Canadian border and is defined by its glaciers and steep peaks rising to 2,804 m. The park is a favorite with hikers, with more than 643.74 km of trails of varying difficulty, including routes to the turquoise waters of Diablo Lake and Ross Lake.
Camping and wildlife watching are also excellent, with chances to see moose, beavers, river otters, and black bears, among others.
6️⃣ Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls are 81.7 m high and lie about a 40-minute drive east from downtown Seattle. Visitors can admire the falls from a viewing platform or follow a trail down to their base. The falls are among the most visited natural attractions in Washington and are accessible year-round.
7️⃣ Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market in Seattle is one of the oldest public markets in the United States, opened on August 17, 1907. Farm stands, bakeries, restaurants, and craft shops are open 363 days a year. Notably, Pike Place Market hosted the first Starbucks coffee shop in the world, which opened on March 30, 1971. The market holds regular food festivals, farmers’ markets, and other cultural events.
8️⃣ Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture is housed in a striking building in Seattle on the former World’s Fair grounds and opened in 2000. The entire project was financed by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, who sought to honor local native Jimi Hendrix.
Exhibits rotate regularly and focus on film, video games, fantasy, science fiction literature, and computer games. Visitors can also try interactive studios for music recording and sound experiments.
9️⃣ Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium sits on Pier 59 near downtown, where visitors can explore marine life of the Pacific Northwest. The main attraction is an underwater dome with a 260° view into the aquarium, where sharks, salmon, giant comb jellies, sturgeon, and rockfish swim by.
Another area features a touch tank where visitors can feel more than a hundred invertebrates. Across all tanks there are over 12,000 animals from 400 different species, making the aquarium a great destination for a full family day out.
🔟 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
The largest tulip festival in North America takes place every April in Skagit Valley in northwestern Washington. Visitors can admire millions of vibrant tulips, complemented by art exhibits, farmers’ markets, and street fairs. It’s worth checking the current bloom status right before your visit, since tulips are sensitive to weather.
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Largest Cities in Washington
The table lists the ten largest cities in the state of Washington in 2023, with data sourced from the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary task is the census.
City County Population 1 Seattle King 755,078 Map of Seattle 2 Spokane Spokane 229,447 Map of Spokane 3 Tacoma Pierce 222,906 Map of Tacoma 4 Vancouver Clark 196,442 Map of Vancouver 5 Bellevue King 151,574 Map of Bellevue 6 Kent King 133,378 Map of Kent 7 Everett Snohomish 111,180 Map of Everett 8 Spokane Valley Spokane 108,235 Map of Spokane Valley 9 Renton King 104,491 Map of Renton 10 Federal Way King 97,701 Map of Federal Way -
Sports Teams in Washington
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
The only NHL franchise in the state is the Seattle Kraken, founded only in 2021 and among the league’s youngest clubs. The team plays home games at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and competes in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The club’s colors include four shades of blue and red.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
The state’s sole NFL representative since the 1976 season has been the Seattle Seahawks of the NFC’s West Division. The club plays its home games at Lumen Field in Seattle, with official colors of college navy, action green, and wolf gray.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Washington has no team in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
Washington is represented in Major League Baseball by the Seattle Mariners, part of the American League since the 1977 season. The club plays home games at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, with team colors of navy, metallic silver, northwest green, royal blue, yellow, and cream.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC have competed in MLS since the 2009 season and are in its Western Conference. The club plays home matches at Lumen Field in Seattle, and the team colors are blue, green, and slate.
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Washington State Symbols
The state of Washington has a number of symbols recognized by law, and this article highlights only some of them.
Flag of the State of Washington
The state flag was officially adopted on March 5, 1923, although its appearance has changed several times since. The design features Washington’s state seal with the name of the state’s namesake president on a green field. The background color symbolizes nature and forests, while the portrait recalls the legacy of the first U.S. president.
Washington is the only one of the U.S. states with a presidential portrait on its flag and the only one with a green background.
Seal of the State of Washington
The Great Seal is used to authenticate documents issued by the government of the state of Washington. The first seal was adopted in 1889 and features a portrait of President George Washington painted by Gilbert Stuart. The year 1889 refers to Washington’s admission to the Union.
State Song
The official state song since 1959 has been Washington, My Home. The lyrics were written by Helen Davis, who used adapted music from Stuart Churchill’s composition “America, My Home”.
State Bird
Washington’s state bird is the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), which can be seen especially in the state’s rural areas. It became a state symbol in 1928 at the suggestion of elementary school children.
State Fish
Since 1969, the state fish has been the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), one of the most popular species among local sport anglers. The rainbow trout is known for its ability to survive in different aquatic environments, which symbolizes Washingtonians’ adaptability.
State Amphibian
In 2007, the Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) became a state symbol. It lives on both sides of the Cascade Range and in every county of Washington. The frog is known for its loud croak and its ability to change skin color, which helps it camouflage from predators.
State Tree
Washington’s state tree is the western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), one of the most common trees in local forests. The symbol was codified in 1946 after an article in The Portland Oregonian pointed out that Washington did not yet have a state tree.
State Native Mammal
The Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus) is one of the few mammal species endemic to Washington. It is commonly found across the Olympic Peninsula and can be spotted in Olympic National Park along Hurricane Ridge in summer. It became a state symbol in 2009 to draw attention to this exceptional endemic species.
State Gemstone
In 1975, petrified wood became one of the state symbols, found in nearly all Washington counties. Petrified wood forms when water permeates wood and replaces its fibers with silica. Among the best-known sites for petrified wood in Washington is Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.
State Fruit
Under a law passed in 1989, apples became the official state fruit. Washington is the nation’s largest apple producer, and by some estimates grows up to half of the U.S. crop.
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