Washington Atlas

Washington facts and history plus travel and tourism information.

Capital: Olympia
Abbreviations: WA (postal), Wash.
Area: 70,637 square miles
State Bird: Willow Goldfinch
State Tree: Western Hemlock
State Flower: Coast Rhododendron
State Motto: Al-Ki - By and by (Native American word)
Nicknames: The Evergreen State, The Chinook State

When British fur trappers first set foot in Washington state, they found a land of awesome natural beauty, and they likely encountered people from the Chinook, Salish, and Yakama Native American tribes. European pioneers settled in Washington in the 1830s, and the region became the 42nd state on November 11, 1889.

Located in the northwest corner of the nation, Washington borders both the Pacific Ocean and Canada. The Cascade Mountains run north-south through the state and include Washington's highest point, Mt Rainier. The Olympic Peninsula, as well as Washington's capital city of Olympia and its largest city, Seattle, lie west of the Cascades; Spokane is an important urban center for the irrigated farmlands east of the Cascade mountain range.

The Columbia River and Washington's archipelago are important resources for various uses, including irrigation, hydroelectric power, and recreation. However, dams along the Columbia River have contributed to steep declines in historically strong anadromous fish runs.

Washington Map

Washington Links

1. Washington Government - official Washington state website.
2. Washington State Tourism - Washington travel and tourism.
3. National Parks in Washington
4. Washington QuickFacts - from the US Census Bureau.
5. 50States.com - Washington

Washington Resources

• Washington Real Estate - real estate information about Washington.
• Washington Colleges and Universities - higher education institutions in Washington.
• Washington Libraries - list of libraries in Washington.

Washington History and Geography