Washington
-
Where is Washington located in the United States?
Washington, a constituent state of the United States, is in the northwestern corner of the 48 conterminous states. It is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, the state of Idaho to the east, the state of Oregon to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its capital, Olympia, is in the western part of the state, at the southern end of Puget Sound. Washington is in the Pacific Time zone (GMT ā 8 hours).
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the capital city of Washington?
The capital of Washington state is Olympia. The city lies at the southern end of Puget Sound, 29 miles (47 km) southwest of Tacoma, at the mouth of the Deschutes River. Originally named Smithfield in 1851, it was renamed Olympia after the nearby Olympic Mountains. Olympia was selected as the territorial capital in 1853 and has developed port facilities and a lumber-based economy, enhanced by oyster farming, brewing, and other industries.
Olympia is the gateway to Olympic National Park and headquarters for Olympic National Forest. The Evergreen State College (1967) is located here, and St. Martin's College (1895) is nearby in Lacey. The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located east of the city.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What natural features is Washington known for?
Washington state is known for its diverse natural features, including dense rainforests, mountains, and waterways. The Cascade Range has volcanic peaks such as Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.
The state has seven physiographic regions, including the Olympic Peninsula, Willapa Hills, Puget Sound Lowland, Cascade Range, Columbia basin, Okanogan Highlands, and Blue Mountains.
Washington's forests are among the most extensive in the United States, with Douglas fir, hemlock, western red cedar, and ponderosa pine being the major tree species. The state is also home to a variety of animal life, including deer, elk, bears, and whales.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Which industries are important to Washington's economy?
Since its early settlement, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries have been major contributors to Washington's economy. High-technology manufacturing, especially of software and electronics, has greatly increased the state's economic growth since the 1970s.
Other important industries include:
* Aircraft and aerospace production
* Food processing
* Lumber and wood-product processing
* Manufacturing of machinery, medical equipment and textiles3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some popular cities to visit in Washington besides the capital?
Olympia is the capital of Washington, but other cities offer unique attractions. Seattle boasts a vibrant cultural scene, including the Seattle Art Museum and the Museum of Pop Culture. It is also known for its coffee culture and music scene.
Tacoma, on Commencement Bay, is a lumber-processing center with attractions like Point Defiance Park and the Washington State Historical Society Museum. Spokane, in eastern Washington, is a trade and shipping point with a rich hinterland and access to outdoor recreation. Vancouver, the oldest continuously inhabited white settlement in the state, offers a diversified economy and access to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
7 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How does Washington's climate differ from east to west?
Washington's climate is significantly influenced by prevailing westerly winds and the Pacific Ocean, with the Cascade Mountains creating a notable divide between the western and eastern regions.
West of the Cascades, the climate is milder compared to other areas at similar latitudes in the United States. For instance, Seattle experiences average January temperatures in the low 40s Ā°F (about 5 Ā°C) and average July temperatures in the mid-60s Ā°F (about 19 Ā°C). The western side of the Olympic Peninsula can receive over 150 inches (3,800 mm) of precipitation annually, while the northwest sees less than 20 inches (500 mm). The Puget Sound Lowland typically has between 30 and 40 inches (750 and 1,000 mm) of precipitation annually, and the Cascades get over 100 inches (2,500 mm).
East of the Cascade Range, there are greater seasonal temperature variations. The Rocky Mountains offer some protection from cold Canadian air during winter. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 Ā°F (38 Ā°C) for several days. Spokane has average January temperatures in the mid-20s Ā°F (about -4 Ā°C) and July temperatures around 70 Ā°F (21 Ā°C). Spokane's annual precipitation is about 17 inches (430 mm), but the lower Yakima valley receives less than 8 inches (200 mm).
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Washington, constituent state of the United States of America. Lying at the northwestern corner of the 48 conterminous states, it is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, the U.S. states of Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The capital is Olympia, located at the southern end of Puget Sound in the western part of the state. The stateās coastal location and excellent harbors give it a leading role in trade with Alaska, Canada, and countries of the Pacific Rim. Washington cities have sister cities in several countries, and their professional and trade associations commonly include Canadian members.
The terrain and climate of Washington divide the state into a rainy western third and a drier eastern two-thirds in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. Western Washington industries depend on agriculture, forests, and fisheries and imported raw materials, whereas eastern Washington is mainly agricultural, producing wheat, irrigated crops, and livestock. Most of the people live in the highly urbanized area around Puget Sound that includes Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, and other cities. Area 71,298 square miles (184,661 square km). Pop. (2020) 7,705,281; (2025 est.) 8,001,020.
- Capital:
- Olympia
- Population1:
- (2020) 7,705,281; (2025 est.) 8,001,020
- Governor:
- Bob Ferguson (Democrat)
- Date Of Admission:
- Nov. 11, 1889
- U.S. Senators:
- Patty Murray (Democrat)
- Maria Cantwell (Democrat)
- State Nickname:
- Evergreen State
- Chinook State
- State Motto:
- āAlki (By and By)ā
- State Bird:
- willow goldfinch
- State Flower:
- coast rhododendron
- State Song:
- āWashington, My Homeā
- Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives:
- 10 (of 435)
- Time Zone:
- Pacific (GMT ā 8 hours)
- Total Area (Sq Km):
- 184,661
Land
Relief and drainage
Washington has seven physiographic regions. In the northwest the Olympic Peninsula borders the Pacific Ocean south of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Dense rainforests extend along the western slopes of the rugged Olympic Mountains, which rise to 7,965 feet (2,428 meters) on Mount Olympus.
The Willapa Hills parallel the coast from Grays Harbor to the Columbia River in the southwest. Gentle forested slopes descend to an indented Pacific coastline and, north and east of the hills, to the fertile Chehalis and Cowlitz valleys.
The Puget Sound Lowland stretches southward from Canada between the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range to join the valleys of the Chehalis and Cowlitz rivers, which form an extension to the Columbia River. Deep waters and fine harbors in Puget Sound, together with relatively flat terrain along its shores, favor the densest population and greatest commercial development in the state.
The Cascade Range, east of the Puget Sound Lowland, has the stateās highest elevations. Its chain of volcanic peaks includes 14,410-foot (4,392-meter) Mount Rainier, the fifth highest peak in the conterminous United States. Mount St. Helens, located in the Cascades near the Oregon border, erupted violently in 1980 and blasted away its volcanic cone, reducing the mountainās elevation from 9,677 feet (2,950 meters) to 8,363 feet (2,549 meters). The highest peaks of the Cascades have permanent glaciers.
Occupying most of central Washington, the Columbia basin is surrounded by the Cascades to the west, the Okanogan Highlands to the north, uplands to Idaho to the east, and the Blue Mountains to the southeast. It is a basalt plateau lying at an elevation of about 1,000 to 2,500 feet (300 to 750 meters) and is drained by the Columbia River and its main tributary, the Snake. Glaciation, flooding, and wind have shaped diverse landforms, although the general appearance is that of a large interior plain.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
The Okanogan Highlands, in the northeast, are an extension of the Rocky Mountains. Their north-south ranges, with summits that rise to more than 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), are separated by glaciated trenches. Most of the stateās metallic ores are found in this region.
The Blue Mountains, which extend into Washington from Oregon, consist of uplifted plateaus and ranges in the southeastern corner of the state. Gentle slopes and broad valleys descend from 6,000-foot (1,800-meter) heights to the Columbia basin. Outliers to the west comprise the Horse Heaven Hills and Rattlesnake Hills.
How big is Washington?
Soils
The most productive soils in Washington are those of the river floodplains along with the weathered basalts and windblown silts of the Columbia basin. In wetter areas acidic soils support forests, but the driest regions east of the Cascades have sparse plant life and require irrigation for agriculture. The fine-textured sandy soils of the Big Bend and Palouse areas are susceptible to erosion by wind and water. Topsoil loss through the use of mechanized agriculture has emerged as a major environmental problem.
Climate
Prevailing westerly winds and the influence of the Pacific Ocean dominate the climate of Washington, although the Cascades barrier creates significant differences between western and eastern regions. The west has milder conditions than any other part of the United States at the same latitudes. Seattle has average January temperatures in the low 40s F (about 5 Ā°C) and average July temperatures in the mid-60s F (about 19 Ā°C). Annual precipitation on the Pacific side of the Olympic Peninsula exceeds 150 inches (3,800 mm), but places on the northwest of the peninsula receive less than 20 inches (500 mm) a year. Typical annual totals in the Puget Sound Lowland range between 30 and 40 inches (750 and 1,000 mm). The Cascades receive more than 100 inches (2,500 mm) of precipitation annually.
East of the Cascade Range, seasonal temperature variations are greater, but the Rocky Mountains shield the region to some extent from cold Canadian air masses in winter. Maximum summer temperatures usually exceed 100 Ā°F (38 Ā°C) a few days each year. Spokaneās January average temperatures are in the mid-20s F (about ā4 Ā°C); July average temperatures are about 70 Ā°F (21 Ā°C). Annual precipitation is about 17 inches (430 mm) in Spokane but less than 8 inches (200 mm) in the lower Yakima valley.
Throughout the state precipitation is greatest in the cooler months, when a succession of cyclonic storms move inland from the northern Pacific, sometimes with gale-force winds. Rain falls on a great number of days even in areas that are relatively arid, such as in the west. The occasional outbreaks of continental air from the north or northeast may reach the outer coast, bringing freezing conditions in winter or hot, dry air that increases the danger of forest fires in summer.