Fun Facts About Washington
Washington, created on the 11th of November, 1889 and officially known as the State of Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest part of the Western region of the United States. After its creation, it became the 42nd state of the United States of America. There are definitely more facts about Washington you would need to know more than the creation of the state. These facts about Washington are shared in the compilation contained in this article.
Washington, the only US state named after a president(George Washington) is also known as the Evergreen State, is known for its rich history, good standard of living, and many more things. To learn more Washington state facts, continue reading below.
Fun Facts About Washington State
- It was named for the 1st president of the United States
When it was admitted to the union, Washington State was named for the first president of the US, Pres. George Washington. As of now, it is still the only state to be named after a president.
- It is larger than Cambodia
Despite not being amongst one of the largest states in the US, if Washington were to be a country, it would be larger than Cambodia, which is a country in Southeast Asia.
- Washington’s neighboring states
Washington borders Oregon to the south, British Columbia to the north, Idaho to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
- It is the 42nd state
Washington is the 42nd state of the United States after it was admitted to the union in 1889.
- Its capital
The capital of the state is Olympia. It is one of the smallest cities in the state.
- The largest city in Washington
Unlike many other states, the state capital is not the largest city in Washington as that feat belongs to Seattle, which is home to 9.8% of the state’s population.
- The state motto
Washington has an unofficial state motto and it is “Al-ki”, a Native American word. It is said to mean “bye and bye” or “into the future” (evolved meaning).
- There are more than 25 Native American tribes in the state
To be exact, there are 29 federally recognized Native American tribes in the state of Washington. This is quite much compared to other states in the United States.
- It is the 18th-largest state
Washington comes in as the 18th largest state in the United States as it has an area of 71,362 square miles.
- It is the 13th most populous state
Washington is the 13th on the list of the most populous states in the US as of 2020, it had about 7.5 million people.
- The secret behind its nickname
Evergreen State is the official nickname of Washington State and there is a reason behind it. Throughout the state, there are lots of fir and pine trees, and these trees are evergreen.
Another common nickname is the “Chinook State” and this is because there are chinooks on both sides of the state’s Cascade Range.
- It is best called Washington State
Washington is best called Washington State so it can be distinguished from the United States capital, Washington, D.C.
- It is a major producer of apples
Washington State is responsible for more than 50% of the total apples produced in the United States. This has also led apple to be considered the official state fruit.
- It is the north-westernmost state in the contiguous US
Of all the Lower 48 States (contiguous US), Washington 8s the north-westernmost state.
- More than 50% of the land in Washington is covered with forests
To be precise, about 52% of the total land area in Washington State is covered by forests which makes it a good place for camping and listening to birds.
- It is home to multiple national parks
Across Washington State, there are 3 national parks. They are Olympic National Parks, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier. Make sure to visit any one of them when you visit the state.
- It has one UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Olympic park in the state also happens to be the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state.
- Its highest peak
Mount Rainier is the highest point in the whole of Washington State as it is at 14,410 feet above sea level.
- It is a major producer of wines
Of all states in the US, Washington is the 2nd state with the most volume of wine produced, only behind California. It is estimated that there are more than 1000 wineries spread across the state.
- It has over 100 state parks
There are more than 100 state parks spread across the state of Washington. All of them are great venues for you to go to with friends and family if you happen to visit the state.
- It has no personal income tax
Washington is one of the few US states that do not levy a personal income tax.
- The deadliest volcanic eruption in US history happened in Washington
The deadliest and also most remembered volcanic eruption in the history of the United States happened when Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. It is still remembered to this day, and the site is now a historical place to visit.
- There are 10 volcanoes in Washington
Throughout the state of Washington, there are 10 volcanoes and only 5 of them are still active.
- It has a lot of glaciers
After Alaska, Washington State is the US state that has the most glaciers. It is the contiguous US state with the most glaciated area.
- It has one of the snowiest places in the world
Mount Rainier’s slope is recognized as one of the snowiest places in the world. If you love the snow, you can try visiting the place during winter.
- Washington State has a lot of islands
There are more than 200 islands that are said to be owned by the state of Washington. Most of these islands are in Puget Sound which is a complex inlet. The largest island in Washington is Fidalgo Island which is located in Skagit County.
- It has the last Japanese bathhouse in the US
Japanese bathhouses are no longer common in the United States, and the Panama Hotel in Washington State hosts the last Japanese bathhouse.
- Starbucks was founded in Washington
Starbucks is the world’s largest coffee chain and this big company was founded in Seattle, Washington. The first store is at Pike Place Market which is a large seafood market. Even on its logo, there are elements representing how close the city is to the sea.
- There are more than 20 national historic landmarks in Washington
To be exact, there are 24 national historic landmarks across the state of Washington. These landmarks include a dam, a port, a lot of boats, a plutonium production reactor, and many more. Make sure to go see them when you visit the state.
- Famous people from Washington
Washington is home to a lot of famous people. Some of them are Bob Barker, Bill Gates, Kenny G, Rainn Wilson, Frank Murkowski, Jim Hendrix, and Bing Crosby.
- Amazon began in Washington
Amazon began in Washington as Jeff Bezos started running the company from his garage in Bellevue, WA. The company was also officially founded in the same garage in 1994.
- Boeing started in Seattle
Boeing, one of the biggest airplane manufacturers, started in Seattle, Washington in 1916.
- Property taxes are a big thing
Washington State’s property taxes are responsible for about 30% of the total state and local revenue.
- The bass guitar was invented in Washington
If you love music then this will be interesting to you. The bass guitar was invented in Washington during the 1930s.
- It is the birthplace of grunge music
Grunge music, an alternative rock genre, originated in Seattle, Washington, during the mid-1980s.
- Washington is home to the first revolving restaurant
The first revolving restaurant in the world is located in Washington State and it is in Seattle’s Space Needle which opened in 1961.
- The first Costco warehouse was in Washington
In 1983, the first ever Costco warehouse was opened in Seattle, Washington.
- It is a top lumber-producing state
Washington ranks 1st on the list of US states that produce the most lumber. The lumber industry is a key part of the state’s economy.
- UPS started in Seattle
UPS, a world delivery service, was founded in Seattle in 1907.
- Washington hosts the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament
Spokane, a city in Washington, hosts Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. Hoopfest has been held for more than 30 years now.
- Its highest temperature
The highest-ever temperature to be recorded in Washington State was in Hanford and it was 120°F.
- Its lowest temperature
Winthrop recorded Washington’s lowest temperature at -48°F.
- There are some weird laws in Washington
Every state has some weird and funny laws, and Washington is no exception.
It is against the law for one to spit on a bus or paint polka dots on the American flag. It is also technically illegal for one to purchase meat or a mattress on a Sunday.
There is also a law that prohibits women from sitting on a man’s lap on a bus or train without placing a pillow between them first.
On the bright side, these laws are not enforced so you don’t have to worry much.
- It has a lot of airspaces
Washington is not short of airspace, as there are about 140 public airfields in the state with 16 of them being state airports.
- It hosts the world’s largest freezer
2800 Polar Way in Richland, Washington, is the largest freezer in the world as it has an area of 505,139 square feet, and is capable of storing 350 million pounds of frozen food.
- It has four floating bridges
Floating bridges are no longer common in today’s world but Washington manages to have four floating bridges. Not just four, but four of the five longest in the world. They are the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, the Hood Canal Bridge, Homer M. Hadley Bridge, and Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge.
- It has the largest ferry fleet in the US
The Washington State Ferry system is the largest ferry fleet in the United States, and it is also the second largest in the world. The fleet caters to those who visit or live on the Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.
- Father’s Day originated in Washington
Father’s Day has its origins in the state of Washington as the holiday was said to have been first observed in Spokane, Washington. Father’s Day is a national holiday held to show appreciation and honor to all fathers.
- It has the longest continuous beach in the US
The Long Beach Peninsula is a city in Washington, and it is home to the longest continuous beach in the United States as its sands span 28 miles.
- The largest hydropower producer in the US is in Washington
The Grand Coulee Dam is about four miles wide and it is the largest hydroelectric plant in the US as its three power plants have a capacity of 6,809 MW. To put into perspective, this dam can single-handedly power 2 million households for a year.
- Washington is a major producer of hops
Hops are common ingredients used when making beer and the majority of the United States’ hops are produced in the Yakima Valley, Washington. Be grateful to the state for every beer that you drink.
- It is the origin of the fastest-growing sports in the US
Pickleball was invented in Washington in 1964, and now, it is recognized as the state’s sport as well as the fastest-growing sport in the US.
We have come to the end of the list of Washington fun facts, while there might be more facts about Washington we missed we were able to cover most. You are also welcome to share some that Washington facts that you know. In the next section we would be answering some popular and frequently asked questions about Washington state.
FAQs About Washington Facts
What is Washington state known for?
Washington state is known for the following:
- The Evergreen state.
- Space Needle.
- Named after George Washington.
- Seattle the state capital.
- Birthplace of Starbucks
- Birthplace of Boeing.
- Birthplace of Amazon.
what is Washington known for?
Washington is known for the following:
- The Evergreen state.
- Space Needle.
- Named after George Washington.
- Seattle the state capital.
- Birthplace of Starbucks
- Birthplace of Boeing.
- Birthplace of Amazon.
What’s the capital of Washington state?
The capital of Washington state is Seattle.
What is capital of Washington state?
Seattle is the capital of Washington state, it is also the state’s most populated city.
What are people from Washington called?
People from Washington are called Washingtonians, they are sometimes also called Toners.
What is the state of Washington known for?
The state of Washington is known for the following:
- The Evergreen state.
- Space Needle.
- Named after George Washington.
- Seattle the state capital.
- Birthplace of Starbucks
- Birthplace of Boeing.
- Birthplace of Amazon.
