Washington ( The Evergreen State ) Washington is famous for scenery of breathtaking beauty and sharp contrasts. High mountains rise above evergreen forests and sparkling coastal waters. The deep forests of the Olympic Peninsula are among the rainiest places in the world but the flat semi-desert land that lies east of the Cascade Mountains stretches for long distances without a single tree. Snow-covered peaks tower above the foothills and lowlands around them. Mount Rainier, the highest mountain, in the state, appears to "float" on the horizon, southeast of Seattle and Tacoma. In 1853, the Washington Territory was formed from part of the Oregon Territory. Its coastal location and Puget Sound harbors give it a leading role in trade with Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Rim. The state has two major mountain ranges - the 7,000-foot Olympic Mountains surrounded by temperate rain forest on the peninsula west of Puget Sound, and the more majestic Cascade Range, which boasts the 14,410-foot Mount Rainier and the volcanic Mount St. Helens, which erupted twice in the 1980s. Some of the famous celebrities that were born in Washington include: Drew Bledsoe, Bing Crosby, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, The Flag of Washington Entered the Union in 1889 as the 42nd State; flag adopted in 1923, modified in 1967. The "Evergreen State" shows the color green for the background of its flag, which bears the State seal. The president for whom the State was named was made part of the seal in 1889.   Largest Cities in the State (2000) Seattle, 563,374; Spokane, 195,629; Tacoma, 193,556; Vancouver, 143,560; Bellevue, 109,569; Everett, 91,488; Federal Way, 83,259; Kent, 79,524; Yakima, 71,845; Bellingham, 67,171   Business and Trade in Washington Agriculture: Seafood, dairy products, apples, cattle, wheat, potatoes, nursery stock. Industries: Aerospace, software development, food processing, paper products, lumber and wood products, chemical products, tourism. State Symbols and Emblems Bird: Willow Goldfinch Flower: Western Rhododendron (rhododendron macrophyllum) Tree: Western Hemlock (tsuga heterophylla) Song(s): Washington, My Home Motto: Alki (By and By) Washington Travel - Vacation Destinations & Recreation National parks and historic locations suitable for family vacations or day trips. • Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture - Spokane • Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest - Mountlake Terrace • Pierce National Wildlife Refuge - Stevenson • Carson National Fish Hatchery - Carson • Easton Diversion Dam - Wenatchee

Capital: Olympia     Local Weather  Statehood: 1889-11-11  Population: 5,894,121 (88.6 mi2)   Geographic Area (mi2)     Total 71,299.64     Water 4,755.58     Land 66,544.06     Rank 20th Largest   State Education:     Pub & Prv Schools     College & University     Libraries   Border States: Idaho, Oregon   Health Information:     Illicit Drug Use   Housing: In Washington, there are 2,451,075 housing units, averaging to 36.8 per sq mile.   Related Magazines:     Sports Washington Magazine     Puget Sound Business Journal     Seattle Magazine   Posters and Artwork Winter Scene from Steptoe Butte, Whitman County, Washington, USA Photographic Print 24" x 18" • Washington State Ferry Silhouetted by the Suns Rays, Washington, USA Photographic Print 18" x 24" • Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington Art Print 11" x 17" • Western Washington University Art Print 14" x 10" • Statue of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., USA Photographic Print 24" x 8" • Gen'l Washington on a White Charger Art Print 20" x 28"