Washington is the18th-largest state, with an area of 71,362 square miles (184,830 km2), and the13th-most populous state, with a population of just less than 8 million.[2] The majority of Washington's residents live in theSeattle metropolitan area, the center of transportation, business, and industry onPuget Sound,[7][8] an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands, deepfjords and bays carved out by glaciers. The remainder of the state consists of deeptemperate rainforests in the west;mountain ranges in the west, center, northeast, and far southeast, and a semi-arid basin region in the east, center, and south, given over to intensive agriculture. Washington is the second most populous state on theWest Coast and in the Western United States, afterCalifornia.Mount Rainier, an activestratovolcano, is the state's highest elevation at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), and is the mosttopographically prominent mountain in thecontiguous U.S.
Washington is a leadinglumber producer, the largest producer of apples, hops, pears, blueberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries in the U.S., and ranks high in the production of apricots, asparagus, dry edible peas, grapes, lentils, peppermint oil, and potatoes.[9][10] Livestock, livestock products, and commercial fishing—particularly ofsalmon,halibut, andbottomfish—are also significant contributors to the state's economy.[11] Washington ranks third inwine production. Manufacturing industries in Washington include aircraft, missiles, shipbuilding, and other transportation equipment, food processing, metals, and metal products, chemicals, and machinery.[12]
Confusion between the state of Washington and the city of Washington, D.C., led to renaming proposals during the statehood process for Washington in 1889, includingDavid Dudley Field II's suggestion to name the new state "Tacoma"; these proposals failed to garner support.[22] Washington, D.C.'s,own statehood movement in the 21st century has included a proposal to use the name "State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth", which would conflict with the current state of Washington.[5] Residents of Washington (known as "Washingtonians") and thePacific Northwest simply refer to the state as "Washington", and the nation's capital "Washington, D.C.", "the other Washington",[23] or simply "D.C."
A farm and barren hills nearRiverside, in north-central Washington
The skeletal remains ofKennewick Man, one of the oldest and most complete human remains found in North America, were discovered in Washington in 1996 and radiocarbon dated to between 8,400 and 8,690 yearsBefore Present.[24] The region has been home to many established tribes of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. They are notable for their ornately carved welcome figures, canoes, long houses and masks. Prominent among their industries weresalmon fishing and, notably among theMakah, whale hunting.[25][26] The peoples of the Interior had a different subsistence-based culture based on hunting, food-gathering and some forms of agriculture, as well as a dependency on salmon from the Columbia and its tributaries.
The first recorded European landing on the Washington coast was by Spanish Captain DonBruno de Heceta in 1775,[28] on board theSantiago, part of a two-shipflotilla with theSonora. He claimed the coastal lands up toPrince William Sound for Spain as part of their claimed rights under theTreaty of Tordesillas, which they maintained made the Pacific a "Spanish lake" and all its shores part of the Spanish Empire. Soon thereafter, thesmallpox epidemic of the 1770s devastated the Native American population.[29]
The British–SpanishNootka Convention of 1790 ended Spanish claims of exclusivity and opened the Northwest Coast to explorers and traders from other nations, most notably Britain and Russia as well as the fledgling United States.[34][35] American captainRobert Gray (for whomGrays Harbor County is named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. He named the river after his ship, theColumbia.[36] Beginning in 1792, Gray established trade insea otter pelts. TheLewis and Clark Expedition entered the state on October 10, 1805.[37]
ExplorerDavid Thompson, on his voyage down the Columbia River, camped at the confluence with the Snake River on July 9, 1811,[38] and erected a pole and a notice claiming the territory for Great Britain and stating the intention of theNorth West Company to build a trading post at the site.
Britain and the United States agreed to what has since been described as "joint occupancy" of lands west of theContinental Divide to the Pacific Ocean as part of theAnglo-American Convention of 1818, which established the49th parallel as the international boundary west fromLake of the Woods to theRocky Mountains.[39] Resolution of the territorial and treaty issues west to the Pacific was deferred until a later time. In 1819, Spain ceded its rights north of the42nd parallel to the United States.[40]
Negotiations with Great Britain over the next few decades failed to settle upon a compromise boundary and theOregon boundary dispute was highly contested between Britain and the United States. Disputed joint occupancy by Britain and the U.S. lasted for several decades. With American settlers pouring intoOregon Country,Hudson's Bay Company, which had previously discouraged settlement because it conflicted with the fur trade, reversed its position in an attempt to maintain British control of theColumbia District.[41]
Fur trapperJames Sinclair, on orders fromSir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, led some 200 settlers from theRed River Colony west in 1841 to settle on Hudson Bay Company farms nearFort Vancouver.[42] The party crossed the Rockies into theColumbia Valley, near present-dayRadium Hot Springs, British Columbia, then traveled south-west down theKootenai River and Columbia River. Despite such efforts, Britain eventually ceded all claims to land south of the 49th parallel to the United States in theOregon Treaty on June 15, 1846.[43]
In 1836, a group of missionaries, includingMarcus Whitman, established several missions and Whitman's own settlement Waiilatpu, in what is now southeastern Washington state, near present-dayWalla Walla County, in the territory of both theCayuse and theNez Perce Indian tribes.[44] Whitman's settlement would in 1843 help theOregon Trail, the overland emigration route to the west, get established for thousands of emigrants in the following decades. Whitman provided medical care for the Native Americans, but when Indian patients—lacking immunity to new, "European" diseases—died in striking numbers, while at the same time many white patients recovered, they held "medicine man" Marcus Whitman personally responsible, and executed Whitman and twelve other white settlers. This was called theWhitman massacre in 1847.[45] This event triggered theCayuse War between settlers and Indians.
Fort Nisqually, a farm and trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company and the first European settlement in thePuget Sound area, was founded in 1833.[46] Black pioneerGeorge Washington Bush and his Caucasian wife, Isabella James Bush, fromMissouri andTennessee, respectively, led four white families into the territory and founded New Market, nowTumwater, in 1846.[47] They settled in Washington to avoidOregon'sblack exclusion law, which prohibitedAfrican Americans from entering the territory while simultaneously prohibitingslavery.[48][49] After them, many more settlers, migrating overland along the Oregon Trail, wandered north to settle in the Puget Sound area.
Spanish and Russian claims to the region were ceded in the early 19th century through a series of treaties. The Spanish signed theAdams–Onís Treaty of 1819, and the Russians theRusso-American Treaty of 1824 and1825.
TheOregon Question remained contested between the United Kingdom and the United States until the 1846Oregon Treaty established the border betweenBritish North America and the United States along the 49th parallel until theStrait of Georgia.[43] Vague wording in the treaty left the ownership of theSan Juan Islands in doubt; during the so-calledPig War, both nations agreed to a joint military occupation of the islands.[50] KaiserWilhelm I of theGerman Empire was selected as an arbitrator to end the dispute, with a three-man commission ruling in favor of the United States in 1872. The border established by the Oregon Treaty and finalized by the arbitration in 1872 remains the boundary between Washington andBritish Columbia.
The growing population of Oregon Territory north of the Columbia River formally requested a new territory. As a result of theMonticello Convention, held in present-dayCowlitz County, theU.S. Congress passed legislation to createWashington Territory. It was signed into law byPresidentMillard Fillmore on March 2, 1853.[51][20] The boundary of Washington Territory initially extended farther east than the present state, including what is now theIdahopanhandle and parts of western Montana, and picked up more land to the southeast that was left behind when Oregon was admitted as a state; the creation ofIdaho Territory in 1863 established the final eastern border. AWashington state constitution was drafted and ratified in 1878, but it was never officially adopted.[52] Although never approved by the United States Congress, the 1878 constitution is an important historical document that shows the political thinking of the time; it was used extensively during the drafting of Washington state's 1889 constitution, the one and only official Constitution of the State of Washington. Washington became the42nd state of the United States on November 11, 1889.[53]
Early prominent industries in the new state included agriculture and lumber. In Eastern Washington, theYakima River Valley became known for its apple orchards,[54] while the growth of wheat usingdry farming techniques became particularly productive. Heavy rainfall to the west of the Cascade Range produced dense forests, and the ports along Puget Sound prospered from the manufacturing and shipping of lumber products, particularly theDouglas fir. Other industries that developed in the state included fishing, salmon canning and mining.[11][55]
For a long period,Tacoma had large smelters where gold, silver, copper, and lead ores were treated.[56]Seattle was the primary port for trade with Alaska and the rest of the country, and for a time, it possessed a large shipbuilding industry. The region around eastern Puget Sound developed heavy industry during the period includingWorld War I andWorld War II, and theBoeing company became an established icon in the area.[57]
During theGreat Depression, a series ofhydroelectric dams were constructed along the Columbia River as part of a project to increase the production of electricity. This culminated in 1941 with the completion of theGrand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in the United States and the largest dam in the world at its construction.[58]
During World War II, the state became a focus for war industries. While the Boeing Company produced manyheavy bombers, ports inSeattle,Bremerton,Vancouver, andTacoma were available for the manufacture of warships. Seattle was the point of departure for many soldiers in the Pacific, several of whom were quartered at Fort Lawton, which later becameDiscovery Park.[59] In Eastern Washington, theHanford Worksatomic energy plant was opened in 1943 and played a major role in the construction ofatomic bombs.[60]
After the end of World War II, and with the beginning of thecivil rights movement, the state's growingBlack or African-American population's wages were 53% above the national average. The early diversification of Washington through theGreat Migration led to successful efforts at reducing discrimination in the workplace.[61][62] In 1950, Seattle's first black representative for thestate's legislature was elected. At the1970 U.S. census, the black population grew to 7.13% of the total population.[63]
In 1970, the state was one of only four U.S. states to have been providing legal abortions before the 1973Supreme Court decision inRoe v. Wade which loosened abortion laws nationwide.[17][64]
Washington is the northwesternmost state of thecontiguous United States. It bordersIdaho to the east, bounded mostly by the meridian running north from the confluence of theSnake River andClearwater River (about 117°02'23" west), except for the southernmost section where the border follows the Snake River. Oregon is to the south, with the Columbia River forming the western part and the 46th parallel forming the eastern part of the Oregon–Washington border. During Washington's partition from Oregon, the original plan for the border followed the Columbia River east until the confluence with the Snake, and then would have followed the Snake River east; this was changed to keepWalla Walla's fertile farmland in Washington.
Washington is part of a region known as thePacific Northwest, a term which always refers to at least Washington and Oregon, and may or may not include some or all the following, depending on the user's intent: Idaho, westernMontana,northern California, British Columbia, andAlaska.
The high mountains of theCascade Range run north–south, bisecting the state. In addition toWestern Washington andEastern Washington, residents call the two parts of the state the "Westside" and the "Eastside", "Wet side" and "Dry side", or "Timberland" and "Wheatland", the latter pair more commonly in the names of region-specific businesses and institutions. These terms reflect the geography, climate, and industry of the land on both sides of the Cascades.
Mount Rainier—the tallest mountain in the state[70]—is 50 miles (80 km) south of the city of Seattle, from which it is prominently visible. TheUnited States Geological Survey considers 14,411-foot-tall (4,392 m) Mount Rainier the most dangerous volcano in the Cascade Range, due to its proximity to theSeattle metropolitan area, and most dangerous in the continental U.S. according to theDecade Volcanoes list.[71] It is also covered with moreglacial ice than any other peak in the contiguous 48 states.[72]
Western Washington also is home of theOlympic Mountains, far west on theOlympic Peninsula, which support dense forests of conifers and areas oftemperate rainforest. These deep forests, such as theHoh Rainforest, are among the only rainforests in the continental United States.[73] While Western Washington does not always experience a high amount of rainfall as measured in total inches of rain per year, it does consistently have more rainy days per year than most other places in the country.[74]
Eastern Washington—the part of the state east of the Cascades—has a relatively dry climate, in distinct contrast to the west side. It includes large areas of semiaridsteppe and a few truly ariddeserts in therain shadow of the Cascades; the Hanford reservation receives an average annual precipitation of 6 to 7 inches (150 to 180 mm). Despite the limited amount of rainfall,agriculture is an extremely important business throughout much of Eastern Washington, as the soil is highly productive andirrigation, aided by dams along the Columbia River, is fairly widespread.[75] The spread of population in Eastern Washington is dominated by access to water, especially rivers. The main cities are all located alongside rivers or lakes; most of them are named after the river or lake they adjoin.
Farther east, the climate becomes less arid, with annual rainfall increasing as one goes east to 21.2 inches (540 mm) in Pullman, near the Washington–Idaho border.[76] TheOkanogan Highlands and the ruggedKettle River Range andSelkirk Mountains cover much of the state's northeastern quadrant. ThePalouse southeast region of Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland, and extends to theBlue Mountains.[77]
The state of Washington has a temperate climate. The eastern half of Washington has asemi-arid towarm-summer mediterranean climate, while the western side of Washington as well as the coastal areas of the state have a cooloceanic climate or warm-summer mediterranean climate. Major factors determining Washington's climate include the large semi-permanentlow pressure andhigh pressure systems of the north Pacific Ocean, the continental air masses of North America, and the Olympic and Cascade mountains. In the spring and summer, a high-pressureanticyclone system dominates the north Pacific Ocean, causing air to spiral out in a clockwise fashion. For Washington, this meansprevailing winds from the northwest bring relatively cool air and a predictablydry season.[79][failed verification]
In the autumn and winter, a low-pressurecyclone system, theAleutian Low, takes over in the north Pacific Ocean. The air spiraling inward in a counter-clockwise fashion causes Washington's prevailing winds to come from the southwest, and bring cool and overcast weather and a predictablywet season. The term "Pineapple Express" is used colloquially to describeatmospheric river events, where repeated storm systems are directed by this persistent cyclone from the tropical Pacific regions a great distance into the Pacific Northwest. Western Washington is very cloudy during much of fall, winter, and early spring.Seattle averages the fewest sunshine hours of any major city in the United States.[80]
Despite Western Washington's marine climate similar to many coastal cities of Europe, there are exceptions such as the "Big Snow" events of 1880, 1881, 1893, and 1916,[81][82] and the "deep freeze" winters of 1883–1884, 1915–1916, 1949–1950, and 1955–1956, among others.[83] During these events, Western Washington experienced up to 6 feet (1.8 m) of snow, sub-zero (−18 °C) temperatures, three months with snow on the ground, and lakes and rivers frozen over for weeks.[82] Seattle's lowest officially recorded temperature is 0 °F (−18 °C) set on January 31, 1950, but low-altitude areas approximately three hours away from Seattle have recorded lows as cold as −48 °F (−44 °C).[84]
TheSouthern Oscillation greatly influences weather during the cold season. During the El Niño phase, the jet stream enters the U.S. farther south through California, therefore late fall and winter are drier than normal with less snowpack. The La Niña phase reinforces the jet stream through the Pacific Northwest, causing Washington to have more rain and snow than average.[85]
In 2006, the Climate Impacts Group at theUniversity of Washington publishedThe Impacts of Climate Change in Washington's Economy, a preliminary assessment of the risks and opportunities presented given the possibility of a rise in global temperatures and their effects on Washington state.[86]
Washington experiences extensive variation in rainfall.
Rainfall in Washington varies dramatically going from east to west. The Olympic Peninsula's western side receives as much as 160 inches (4,100 mm) of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of the 48 conterminous states and atemperate rainforest. Weeks may pass without a clear day. The western slopes of the Cascade Range receive some of the heaviest annual snowfall (in some places more than 200 inches or 5,100 millimeters water equivalent) in the country. In the rain shadow area east of the Cascades, the annual precipitation is only 6 inches (150 mm). Precipitation then increases again eastward toward the Rocky Mountains (about 120 miles (190 km) east of the Idaho border).
The Olympic mountains and Cascades compound this climatic pattern by causingorographic lift of the air masses blown inland from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the windward side of the mountains receiving high levels of precipitation and the leeward side receiving low levels. This occurs most dramatically around the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range. In both cases, the windward slopes facing southwest receive high precipitation and mild, cool temperatures. While the Puget Sound lowlands are known for clouds and rain in the winter, the western slopes of the Cascades receive larger amounts of precipitation, often falling as snow at higher elevations.[87]Mount Baker, near the state's northern border, is one of the snowiest places in the world. In 1999, it set the world record for snowfall in a single season—1,140 inches (95 ft; 29 m).[88]
East of the Cascades, a large region experiences strong rain shadow effects. Semi-arid conditions occur in much of Eastern Washington with the strongest rain shadow effects at the relatively low elevations of the centralColumbia Plateau—especially the region just east of the Columbia River from about the Snake River to theOkanagan Highland. Thus, instead of rain forests, much of Eastern Washington is covered with drygrassland,shrub-steppe, anddunes.
The average annual temperature ranges from 51 °F (11 °C) on the Pacific coast to 40 °F (4 °C) in the northeast. The lowest temperature recorded in the state was −48 °F (−44 °C) inWinthrop andMazama. The highest recorded temperature in the state was 120 °F (49 °C) atHanford on June 29, 2021.[89][90] Both records were set east of the Cascades. Western Washington is known for its mild climate, considerable fog, frequent cloud cover, long-lasting drizzles in the winter and warm, temperate summers. The eastern region, which does not benefit from the general moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, occasionally experiences extreme climate. Arctic cold fronts in the winter and heat waves in the summer are not uncommon. In the Western region, temperatures have reached as high as 118 °F (48 °C) inMaple Valley[91] during theJune 2021 heat wave, and as low as −6 °F (−21 °C) inLongview,[92] and even −8 °F (−22 °C) inSammamish.[93]
Forests cover about half the state's land area, mostly west of the northern Cascades. Approximately two-thirds of Washington's forested area is publicly owned, including 64 percent of federal land.[104] Common trees and plants in the region arecamassia, Douglas fir, hemlock,penstemon, ponderosa pine,western red cedar, and many species of ferns.[105] The state's various areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with substantially large populations of shorebirds and marine mammals. The Pacific shore surrounding theSan Juan Islands is heavily inhabited bykiller, gray, and humpback whales.[106]
In Eastern Washington, the flora is vastly different.Tumbleweeds andsagebrush dominate the landscape throughout large parts of the countryside.Russian olives and other trees are common alongside riverbanks; however, apart from the riversides, large swaths of Eastern Washington have no naturally existing trees at all (though many trees have been planted and are irrigated by people). A wider variety of flora can be found in both theBlue Mountains and the eastern sides of the Cascades.
Mammals native to the state include thebat,black bear,bobcat,cougar,coyote,deer,elk,gray wolf,hare,moose,mountain beaver,muskrat,opossum,pocket gopher,rabbit,raccoon,river otter,skunk, andtree squirrel.[107] Because of the wide range of geography, the state of Washington is home to several different ecoregions, which allow for a varied range of bird species. This range includes raptors, shorebirds, woodland birds, grassland birds, ducks, and others.[108] There have also been a large number of species introduced to Washington, dating back to the early 18th century, including horses and burros.[109] Thechannel catfish,lamprey, andsturgeon are among the 400 knownfreshwater fishes.[110][111] Along with the Cascades frog, there are several forms of snakes that define the most prominentreptiles and amphibians.[112][113] Coastal bays and islands are often inhabited by plentiful amounts of shellfish and whales. There are five species ofsalmon that ascend the Western Washington area, from streams to spawn.[106]
There are 39 counties within the state, and 281 incorporated municipalities which are divided into cities and towns.[118] The majority of the state's population lives within Western Washington, in the Seattle metropolitan area; the city of Seattle is the principal city of the metropolitan area, and Western Washington, with a 2020 census population of 737,015.[119]
Washington's population was 7,705,281 in the2020 census,[125] a 14.6% increase since the2010 census.[126] In 2020, the state ranked 13th overall in population, and was the third most populous, after California and Texas, west of the Mississippi River.[127] Washington has the largest population among states in the Pacific Northwest, followed by Oregon and Idaho. The Washington State Office of Financial Management estimated the state population to be 7,951,150 as of April 1, 2023.[128]
In 2020, Washington's proportion of residents under the age of five was 5.7%, 21.8% under 18, and 16.3% 65 or older.[131]
Four-fifths of the state's population identifies as White or European American. Washington has some of the largest Native American and Asian populations among states in the U.S.; the state also has a small proportion ofAfrican Americans. Washington's Hispanic community began growing rapidly in the late 20th century.[106] In 2018, the top countries of origin for Washington's immigrants wereMexico,India,China, thePhilippines andVietnam.[132] There are 29federally recognized Native American tribes in the state, mostly in Western Washington, and other unrecognized groups.[133]
The racial composition of Washington's population as of the 2020 census was:
Race and Hispanic origin of Washington by county, showing race by color, and then breaking down non-Hispanic and Hispanic origin by color tone. The county population is shown by size and by the label. The same data on the map below shows non-Hispanic and Hispanic origin first and then breaks that down by race using color tone.[137]The same race and origin data as above, but the Hispanic origin is grouped first, then by race. The first emphasizes the racial diversity of people of Hispanic origin, while the second grouping gives a clearer indication of the total Hispanic population.[137]
Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanic origin are not collected, but included in oneHispanic group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
While the population of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest is relatively scarce overall, they are mostly concentrated in theSouth End andCentral District areas of Seattle, and in inner Tacoma.[156] The black community of Seattle consisted of one individual in 1858,Manuel Lopes, and grew to a population of 406 by 1900.[157] It developed substantially during and after World War II when wartime industries and theU.S. Armed Forces employed and recruited tens of thousands of African Americans from theSoutheastern United States. They moved west in the second wave of theGreat Migration, leaving a high influence on West Coastrock music andR&B andsoul in the 1960s, including Seattle nativeJimi Hendrix, a pioneer in hard rock, who was of African-American and allegedCherokee descent.
Asian Americans are mostly concentrated in the Seattle−Tacoma metropolitan area of the state. Seattle,Bellevue, andRedmond, which are all within King County, have sizable Chinese communities (includingTaiwanese), as well as significantIndian andJapanese communities. TheChinatown–International District in Seattle has a historical Chinese population dating back to the 1860s, who mainly emigrated fromGuangdong Province in southern China, and is home to a diverse East and Southeast Asian community.Koreans are heavily concentrated in the suburban cities ofFederal Way andAuburn to the south, and inLynnwood to the north. Tacoma is home to thousands ofCambodians, and has one of the largest Cambodian-American communities in the United States, along withLong Beach, California, andLowell, Massachusetts.[158] TheVietnamese andFilipino populations of Washington are mostly concentrated within the Seattle metropolitan area.[159]
Washington state has the second highest percentage of Pacific Islander people in the mainland U.S. (behindUtah); the Seattle–Tacoma area is home to more than 15,000 people ofSamoan ancestry, who mainly reside in southeast Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, and inSeaTac.[160][161]
The most numerous (ethnic, not racial, group) are Latinos at 11%, asMexican Americans formed a large ethnic group in theChehalis Valley,Skagit Valley, farming areas ofYakima Valley, andEastern Washington. They were reported to at least date as far back as the 1800s.[162] But it was in the late 20th century, that large-scale Mexican immigration and other Latinos settled in the southern suburbs of Seattle, with limited concentrations in King,Pierce, andSnohomish Counties during the region's real estate construction booms in the 1980s and 1990s.
Additionally, Washington has a largeEthiopian community, with manyEritrean residents as well.[163] Both emerged in the late 1960s, and developed since 1980.[164] An estimated 30,000Somali immigrants reside in the Seattle area.[165]
In 2010, 82.51% (5,060,313) of Washington residents age5 and older spoke English at home as aprimary language, while 7.79% (477,566) spoke Spanish, 1.19% (72,552) Chinese (which includesCantonese andStandard Chinese), 0.94% (57,895) Vietnamese, 0.84% (51,301)Tagalog, 0.83% (50,757) Korean, 0.80% (49,282) Russian, and 0.55% (33,744) German. In total, 17.49% (1,073,002) of Washington's population age5 and older spoke amother language other than English.[166]
In the late 2010s, the state had the fastest-growing economy in the United States and was tenth-largest in the nation.[175] Theminimum wage was set at $11 in 2017 and has increased annually based on acost-of-living index; since January 1, 2024, it has been $16.28 an hour, the highest of any state.[176] Several cities have higher minimum wages as of 2024[update], such as Seattle at $19.97 for large employers andTukwila at $20.29 for large employers.[177][178]
With the passage of Initiative 1183, theWashington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) ended its monopoly of all-state liquor store and liquor distribution operations on June 1, 2012. The board transitioned into licensing and regulating the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and latercannabis after the passage ofInitiative 502.[181][182]
The state of Washington is one of seven states that do not levy a personalincome tax. The state does not collect acorporate income tax orfranchise tax either. Washington businesses are responsible for various other state levies, including thebusiness and occupation tax (B & O), agross receipts tax which charges varying rates for different types of businesses.
Washington's state basesales tax is 6.5%, which is combined with a local sales tax that varies by locality. The combined state and local retail sales tax rates increase the taxes paid by consumers, depending on the variable local sales tax rates, generally between 7.5% and 10%.[184] As of 2024[update], the combined sales tax rate in Seattle was 10.25%. The Snohomish County cities ofLynnwood,Mill Creek,Mukilteo are tied for the highest sales tax rate in the state at 10.6%.[185] These taxes apply to services as well as products, but not most foods due to a 1977 ballot measure.[186][187] However, prepared foods,dietary supplements, andsoft drinks remain taxable.[188]
Anexcise tax applies to certain products such as gasoline, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages.Property tax was the first tax levied in the state of Washington, and its collection accounts for about 30% of Washington's total state and local revenue. It continues to be the most important revenue source forpublic schools, fire protection,libraries, parks and recreation, and other special-purpose districts.
Allreal property andpersonal property are subject to tax unless specifically exempted by law. Most personal property owned by individuals is exempt from tax.Personal property tax applies to personal property used when conducting business, or to other personal property not exempt by law. All property taxes are paid to the county treasurer's office where the property is located. Neither does the state assess any tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Washington does not collectinheritance taxes. However, theestate tax is de-coupled from the federal estate tax laws, and therefore, the state imposes its estate tax.
Washington state has the 18th highest per capitaeffective tax rate in the United States, as of 2017.[citation needed] As of June 2023[update], Washington has the highest gasoline prices in the United States, at an average of $4.97, in part due to the third-highest gasoline tax in the country.[189] Their tax policy differs from neighboring Oregon's, which levies no sales tax, but does levy a personal income tax. This leads toborder economic anomalies in thePortland–Vancouver metropolitan area.[190] Additional border economies with tax disparities exist with neighboring Idaho, which has a lower sales tax rate;[191] and British Columbia, which has higher costs for goods and has residents who commute into Washington for shopping.[192] These include remote mailbox and courier services for American online retailers, which became ubiquitous in border communities in the 21st century.[193]
Washington is a leading agricultural state. In 2023, the total value of Washington's agricultural products was $14 billion.[10] In 2014, Washington ranked first in the nation in production of redraspberries (90.5 percent of total U.S. production),hops (79.3 percent),spearmint oil (75 percent), wrinkled seedpeas (70.4 percent),apples (71.1 percent), sweetcherries (62.3 percent),pears (45.6 percent),Concord grapes (55.1 percent),carrots for processing (30.6 percent), and green peas for processing (32.4 percent).[194]
Washington also ranked second in the nation in the production of fall potatoes (a quarter of the nation's production),nectarines,apricots, asparagus, all raspberries, grapes (all varieties taken together), sweet corn for processing (a quarter of the nation's production), and summer onions (a fifth of the nation's production). Washington also ranked third in the nation in the production of dried peas, lentils, onions, and peppermint oil.[10]
The apple industry is of particular importance to Washington. Because of the favorable climate of dry, warm summers and cold winters of central Washington, the state has led the U.S. in apple production since the 1920s.[195] Two areas account for the vast majority of the state's apple crop: the Wenatchee–Okanogan region (comprisingChelan,Okanogan,Douglas, andGrant counties), and the Yakima region (comprisingYakima,Benton, andKittitas counties).[196] Washington produces seven principal varieties of apples which are exported to more than sixty countries.[197]
Washington ranks thirdin the United States in the production of wine, behindCalifornia andNew York, having produced 25.7 million US gallons (97 million litres) in 2024.[198]
In 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (130 km2) ofvineyards, aharvest of 120,000 short tons (109,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to more than forty countries around the world from the state's 600wineries. By 2021, that number had grown to 1,050 wineries. While there are someviticultural activities in the cooler, wetterwestern half of the state, almost all (99%) of wine grape production takes place in the desert-likeeastern half.[199] Therain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves theColumbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, makingirrigation andwater rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours (on average, two more hours a day than in California during thegrowing season) and consistent temperatures.[200]
As of 2022[update], Washington has 108,542 totalU.S. Department of Defense personnel, including active duty members of the military and civilian workers atUnited States Armed Forces bases.[201] It ranks seventh among states for most active duty personnel, at over 60,000, and seventeenth forreserve members.[202] TheU.S. Navy andMarines comprise the largest branch in Washington with 45 percent of personnel, followed by theArmy at 40 percent and theAir Force at 11 percent.[201] The state is also home to the 11th-largest population of retirees and veterans at over 560,000 as of 2019[update].[203]
This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(December 2017)
From 2009 to 2014, the Washington State Broadband Project was awarded $7.3 million in federal grants, but the program was discontinued in 2014.[209] For infrastructure, another $166 million has been awarded since 2011 for broadband infrastructure projects in Washington state.[210]
U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington second nationally for household internet access, and sixth for online download speed, based on data from 2014 and 2015.[211]
In 2019, Washington State Legislature established the Washington State Broadband Office with two key mandates: high-speed internet access for 100% of WA residents by 2024 and an increase to 150/150 Mbit/s by 2028.[citation needed]
In March 2021, the Washington State Department of Commerce issued their first biennial report on the progress of these key mandates throughout 2020.[212]
The report includes five sections: public survey results, digital adoption disparities as they relate to federal census data, a Partner-Plan-Fund-Build-Adopt model for continued progress, success stories, and a policy discussion conclusion.
According to the report, "...over 42,000 survey responses from nearly 32,000 unique locations, showing that 6.4 percent of respondents reported having no broadband service, and 57 percent reported service at download speeds under 25 Mbps..."
The Cascade Mountain Range also impedes transportation. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven[vague] majormountain passes and eight minor passes. During the winter months, some of these passes are plowed, sanded, and kept safe with avalanche control. Not all stay open through the winter. The North Cascades Highway,State Route 20, closes every year due to snowfall and avalanches in the area ofWashington Pass. TheCayuse andChinook passes east of Mount Rainier also close in winter.[218]
Washington is crossed byseveral freight railroads, andAmtrak's passengerCascade route between Eugene, Oregon, and Vancouver, BC is the eighth busiest Amtrak service in the U.S. Seattle'sKing Street Station, the busiest station in Washington, and the 15th busiest in the U.S.,[219] serves as the terminus for the two long-distance Amtrak routes in Washington, theEmpire Builder to Chicago and theCoast Starlight to Los Angeles. TheSounder commuter rail service operates in Seattle and its surrounding cities, betweenEverett andLakewood. The intercity network includes theCascade Tunnel, the longest railroad tunnel in the United States, which is part of theStevens Pass route on the BNSF Northern Transcom.[220]
Sound TransitLink light rail currently operates in the Seattle area at a length of 24 miles (39 km), and inTacoma at a length of 4 miles (6.4 km). The entire system has a funded expansion plan that will expand light rail to a total of 116 miles by 2041. Seattle also has a 3.8-mile (6.1 km)streetcar network with two lines and plans to expand further by 2025. 32 local bus transit systems exist across the state,[214] the busiest beingKing County Metro, located in Seattle and King County, with just above 122 million riders in 2017.[221] Clark County has historically resisted proposals to extend Portland'sMAX Light Rail into Vancouver, including the rejection of two ballot measures, but light rail is slated to be included in a future replacement of theInterstate Bridge.[222]
Hanford Nuclear Reservation is considered one of the mostcontaminated nuclear site in the United States[226][227] and is the focus of the nation's largestenvironmental cleanup.[228] The radioactive materials are known to be leaking from Hanford into the environment.[229] Another major cleanup site is theDuwamish River basin in Seattle, among the most contaminated bodies of water in the United States due to industrial runoff.[230]
In 2007, Washington became the first state in the nation to target all forms of highly toxicbrominatedflame retardants known asPBDEs for elimination from the many common household products in which they are being used. A 2004 study of 40 mothers from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Montana found PBDEs in the breast milk of every woman tested.
Three recent studies by theWashington State Department of Ecology showed toxic chemicals banned decades ago linger in the environment and concentrate in the food chain. In one of the studies, state government scientists found unacceptable levels of toxic substances in 93 samples of freshwater fish from 45 sites. The toxic substances includedPCBs,dioxins, two chlorinated pesticides,DDE,dieldrin and PBDEs. As a result of the study, the department will investigate the sources of PCBs in the Wenatchee River, where unhealthy levels of PCBs were found in mountain whitefish. Based on the 2007 information and a previous 2004 Ecology study, theWashington State Department of Health advises the public not to eatmountain whitefish from theWenatchee River fromLeavenworth downstream to where the river joins the Columbia, due to unhealthy levels of PCBs. Study results also showed high levels of contaminants in fish tissue that scientists collected from Lake Washington and the Spokane River, where fish consumption advisories are already in effect.[231]
On March 27, 2006, GovernorChristine Gregoire signed into law the recently approved House Bill 2322. This bill would limitphosphorus content in dishwashing detergents statewide to 0.5 percent over the next six years. Though the ban would be effective statewide in 2010, it would take place inWhatcom County,Spokane County, andClark County in 2008.[232] A recent discovery had linked high contents of phosphorus in water to a boom inalgae population. An invasive amount of algae in bodies of water would lead to a variety of excess ecological and technological issues.[233]
In 2023, the electricity sold by public and private suppliers for use in Washington was primarily sourced fromhydroelectric dams (49%), followed bynatural gas (12%),wind (10%), coal (6.5%), and nuclear (4%). A total of 89.3 millionMegawatt-hours of electricity was generated statewide in 2023.[234] As of 2025[update], Washington generates the most hydroelectric power of all U.S. states and accounts for approximately 25% of the nation's total hydroelectric generation capability. Its percentage of energy from allrenewable sources is third among U.S. states, behind Vermont and South Dakota.[235]
TheWashington Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and meets in Olympia. Nine justices serve on the bench and are elected statewide or appointed by the governor to fill vacancies.[236] There are 30 judicial districts, each with asuperior court; these districts roughly correspond to counties, with some districts that combine rural or closely related counties.[237]
Treemap of the popular vote by county, 2016 presidential election
The state is typically thought of as politically divided by the Cascade Mountains, with Western Washington beingliberal (particularly theI-5 Corridor) and Eastern Washington beingconservative.
Although the eastern half of the state votes heavilyRepublican, the overwhelmingDemocratic dominance in theSeattle metropolitan area has turned Washington into a reliablyblue state. It is considered part of theBlue wall of states that have voted Democratic in every presidential election since1992. This voting streak began with DemocratMichael Dukakis narrowly capturing Washington in1988. The state has since turned much more solidly blue, beginning with Obama's landslide victory in2008, and Democrats winning the state by double digits in every subsequent presidential election. In2024, Washington had the smallest swing to the right of any state, swinging by just 1%, compared to the national swing of about 6%.[240]
Washington was considered a key swing state in 1968, and it was the only western state to give its electoral votes to Democratic nomineeHubert Humphrey over his Republican opponentRichard Nixon. Washington was considered a part of the 1994Republican Revolution, and had the biggest pick-up in the house for Republicans, who picked up seven of Washington's nine House seats.[241] However, this dominance did not last for long, as Democrats picked up one seat in the 1996 election,[242] and two more in 1998, giving the Democrats a 5–4 majority.[243]
In 2013 and 2014, both houses of theWashington State Legislature (theWashington Senate and theWashington House of Representatives) were controlled by Democrats. The state senate was under Republican control, due to two Democrats' joining Republicans to form theMajority Coalition Caucus. After the 2014 elections, the Democrats retained control of the House, while Republicans took a majority in the Senate without the need for a coalition. In November 2017, a special election gave Democrats a one-seat majority in the Senate and complete control over state government. Since then, in the 2018 election, the Democrats have only expanded their majorities.
Thegovernorship is currently held by DemocratBob Ferguson. No state has gone longer without a Republican governor thanWashington. Democrats have controlled theWashington Governor's Mansion for40 years; the last Republican governor wasJohn Spellman, who left office in 1985. Washington has not voted for a Republican senator, governor, or presidential candidate since 1994, tying with Delaware for the longest streak in the country.[244]
Washington uses thenon-partisan blanket primary system after the approval ofInitiative 872 in 2004.[245] All candidates run on the same ballot during primary elections and the top two candidates advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation. This has resulted in several same-party general election match-ups. In a 2020 study, Washington was ranked as the second easiest state for citizens to vote in.[246]
In November 2009, Washington voters approved full domestic partnerships viaReferendum 71, marking the first time voters in any state expanded recognition of same-sex relationships at the ballot box. Three years later, in November 2012,same-sex marriage was affirmed viaReferendum 74, making Washington one of only three states to have approved same-sex marriage by popular vote.
Also in November 2012, Washington was one of the first two states to approve the legal sale and possession ofcannabis for both recreational and medical use withInitiative 502. Although marijuana is still illegal under U.S. federal law, persons 21 and older in Washington state can possess up to one ounce of marijuana, 16 ounces of marijuana-infused product in solid form, 72 ounces of marijuana-infused product in liquid form, or any combination of all three, and can legally consume marijuana and marijuana-infused products.[249]
In November 2016, voters approved Initiative 1433, which among other things requires employers to guarantee paidsick leave to most workers. On January 1, 2018, the law went into effect, with Washington becoming the seventh state with paid sick leave requirements.[250]
With the passage ofInitiative 1639 in the 2018 elections, Washington adopted stricter gun laws.
Washington enacted a measure in May 2019 in favor ofsanctuary cities, similar to California and Oregon laws which are among the strongest statewide mandates in the nation.[251]
In 2019, the legislature passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act, which requires all electricity sales to be from zero-carbon sources by 2045 and net-zero by 2030.[252]
As of the 2024–2025 school year, 1.1 million students were enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Washington. 68 thousand teachers were employed in 2023–2024 and the cost to educate each pupil was $18,649.[253]
High schooljuniors andseniors in Washington have the option of using the state'sRunning Start program. Begun by thestate legislature in 1990, it allows students to attend institutions of higher education at public expense, simultaneously earning high school and college credit.[256] The state has 141 schools that offerdual language programs in 14 languages, primarily Spanish, beginning in kindergarten.[257]
The state is divided into fourDesignated Market Areas byNielsen Media Research: Seattle–Tacoma, which also extends east to Wenatchee; Portland, which includes most of Southwestern Washington; Spokane, which also includes northern Idaho; and Yakima–Pasco–Richland–Kennewick.[265] The Seattle–Tacoma market is the largest in the Pacific Northwest and has been the 13th largest in the United States since 2009.[266] As of 2009[update], Washington had 39 full-power television stations and an additional 11 from Portland, Oregon; most are affiliated with a national or regional broadcasting network.[267] The state is home to 383 stations licensed with theFederal Communications Commission (FCC).[268][269] These radio stations broadcast to local markets as well as online, where Seattle-based music stationKEXP-FM has found a worldwide following.[270]
The state adopted theWashington Healthplanfinder system in 2014 after the passage of the federalPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as "ObamaCare").[273] The system is used by approximately 90 percent of Washington residents who purchase or acquire their health insurance directly rather than through an employer.[274] The state'sMedicaid program, namedWashington Apple Health, provides healthcare coverage to people with disabilities or low incomes.[275]
The state of Washington reformed its health care system in 1993 through the Washington Health Services Act. The legislation required individuals to obtain health insurance or face penalties, and required employers to provide insurance to employees. In addition, health insurance companies were required to sell policies to all individuals, regardless of pre-existing conditions, and cover basic benefits.[276] The act was mostly repealed in 1995 before it could go into full effect.
Pickleball, aracquet sport invented onBainbridge Island in 1965, was designated as Washington's officialstate sport in 2022.[280] For three years in a row, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the sport was named the fastest growing sport in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).[281]
Four ships of theUnited States Navy, including two battleships, have been namedUSSWashington in honor of the state. Previous ships had held that name in honor of George Washington.[citation needed]
The state's nickname, "The Evergreen State",[1][282] was proposed in 1890 by Charles T. Conover of Seattle. The name proved popular as the forests were full ofevergreen trees and the abundance of rain keeps the shrubbery and grasses green throughout the year.[283] Although the nickname is widely used by the state, appearing onvehicle license plates for instance, it has not been officially adopted.[1] A 2023 bill in the state legislature to formally recognize it as thestate nickname was passed by the senate but was returned to committee.[284][285]The Evergreen State College, a state-funded institution in Olympia, also takes its name from this nickname.
^Capitalization varies depending on whether or not "state" is considered part of the name of the state, aproper noun. For example, theAP Stylebook prefers the lowercase version, butThe Chicago Manual of Style prefers the uppercase version.
^Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.
^"Word list and common terms". University of Washington.Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 2, 2021.Lowercasestate: state of Washington or Washington state. Note that Washington State refers to the university in Pullman, Washington.
^"History". City of Longview, WA. Archived fromthe original on March 6, 2014. RetrievedApril 17, 2014.
^ab"Territorial Timeline".Washington History. Washington Secretary of State. Archived fromthe original on June 19, 2013. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2010.
^"House Resolution No. 2016–4662"(PDF). Washington State Legislature. February 15, 2016.Archived(PDF) from the original on February 15, 2017. RetrievedApril 4, 2017.
^McClintock, Thomas C. (Summer 1995). "James Saules, Peter Burnett, and the Oregon Black Exclusion Law of June 1844".Pacific Northwest Quarterly.86 (3): 122.JSTOR40491550.
^"The Pig War". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Archived fromthe original on January 10, 2007. RetrievedSeptember 7, 2012.
^"NOWData".Spokane Area monthly summarized data for 1981–2010: mean maximum, mean average, and mean minimum temperature. National Weather Service Forecast Office, Spokane, Washington,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 21, 2016.
^"Washington Herp Atlas". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. June 1, 2009. Archived fromthe original on April 9, 2012. RetrievedJuly 15, 2013.
^"Washington".United States National Park Service. 2013.Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. RetrievedJuly 15, 2013.
^Washington was not yet a legally recognized territory in 1850. This figure is derived from areas that later becameWashington Territory."Washington".Guide to State and Local Census Geography.United States Census Bureau. 2010. Archived fromthe original on October 17, 2012. RetrievedOctober 13, 2012.
^Martin, Joyce A.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Curtin, Sally C.; Mathews, T. J. (January 15, 2015)."Births: Final Data for 2013"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.64 (1):1–68.PMID25603115.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 11, 2017. RetrievedSeptember 4, 2017.
^Hamilton, Brady E.; Martin, Joyce A.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Curtin, Sally C.; Mathews, T. J. (December 23, 2015)."Births: Final Data for 2014"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.64 (12):1–64.PMID26727629.Archived(PDF) from the original on February 14, 2017. RetrievedSeptember 4, 2017.
^Martin, Joyce A.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Driscoll, Anne K.; Mathews, T. J. (January 5, 2017)."Births: Final Data for 2015"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.66 (1):1–70.PMID28135188.Archived(PDF) from the original on August 31, 2017. RetrievedSeptember 4, 2017.
^Martin, Joyce A.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Driscoll, Anne K.; Drake, Patrick (January 31, 2018)."Births: Final Data for 2016"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.67 (1):1–55.PMID29775434.Archived(PDF) from the original on June 3, 2018. RetrievedMay 7, 2018.
^Martin, Joyce A.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Driscoll, Anne K.; Drake, Patrick (November 2018)."Births: Final Data for 2017"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.67 (8):1–50.PMID30707672.Archived(PDF) from the original on February 1, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 22, 2019.
^Martin, Joyce A.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Driscoll, Anne K. (November 27, 2019)."Births: Final Data for 2018"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.68 (13):1–47.PMID32501202.Archived(PDF) from the original on November 28, 2019. RetrievedDecember 21, 2019.
^Martin, Joyce A.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Driscoll, Anne K. (March 23, 2021)."Births: Final Data for 2019"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.70 (2):1–51.doi:10.15620/cdc:100472.PMID33814033.Archived(PDF) from the original on June 23, 2021. RetrievedApril 9, 2021.
^Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Martin, Joyce A.; Driscoll, Anne K.; Valenzuela, Claudia P. (February 7, 2022)."Births: Final Data for 2020"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.70 (17):1–50.doi:10.15620/cdc:112078.PMID35157571.Archived(PDF) from the original on February 10, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 21, 2022.
^Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Martin, Joyce A.; Driscoll, Anne K.; Valenzuela, Claudia P. (January 31, 2023)."Births: Final Data for 2021"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.72 (1):1–53.doi:10.15620/cdc:122047.PMID36723449. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2022.
^Osterman, Michelle J. K.; Hamilton, Brady E.; Martin, Joyce A.; Driscoll, Anne K.; Valenzuela, Claudia P. (April 4, 2024)."Births: Final Data for 2022"(PDF).National Vital Statistics Reports.73 (2):1–56.doi:10.15620/cdc:145588.PMID38625869. RetrievedApril 5, 2024.
^Schwantes, Carlos (2000).The Pacific Northwest: An Interpretive History (Revised and enlarged ed.). University of Nebraska Press. p. 155.ISBN978-0-8032-9228-4.
^"Seattle Population and Demographics".Seattle City, Washington Statistics and Demographics (2000 U.S. Census). areaConnect.Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. RetrievedMay 10, 2013.
^"Tokul – Washington State Soil"(PDF). National Resources Conservation Service – United States Department of Agriculture. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on May 23, 2022. RetrievedJune 7, 2022.
Ritter, Harry (2018).Washington's History: The People, Land, and Events of the Far Northwest (Revised ed.). Berkeley, CA: WestWinds Press.ISBN978-1-5132-6169-0.
.jpg)
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg)
