Washington State

Flag State Seal

Admitted on Nov. 11, 1889, as the 42nd member state of the United States, Washington lies at the northwest corner of the 48 contiguous states. It is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia on the north, Idaho on the east, Oregon on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. A coastal location and excellent harbors give the state 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.

Washington's area of 68,139 square miles (176,479 square kilometers) is smaller than those of its border states, Idaho and Oregon, but it has the largest population of the three. Most of the people live in the metropolitan areas of Seattle and Tacoma and other cities along Puget Sound, including the state capital, Olympia. (Editor's Note: A few hardy types live in Port Angeles.)

The terrain and climate of Washington divide the state into a rainy western third (see Olympic Mountains) 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.

The Land (Relief, Soils, Climate, Plant & Animal Life, Settlement patterns)

The People

Cultural Life

History

Copyright 1994-1999 Encyclopedia Britannica

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Towns of the Olympic Peninsula