Washington Almanac: State Facts and Figures

Browse the state's symbols; state animal, state bird, state flower, state flag, state fossil, state insect, state motto, state seal, state tree, color, dance, fish, mammal, music, nut, reptile seal, and miscellaneous designations, emblems, and mascot of each state with pictures. Find origin of the state name. View the state almanacs, state timelines and peruse state facts and stats such as the capitol, location, and date admitted to the union.

Washington Almanac

Official Name

Washington

Capital

Olympia

Nick Name

Evergreen State

Motto

Al-ki (By and by)

Location & Region

47.04191 N, 122.89376 W

Pacific Northwest

Constitution Ratified

1889

Statehood

November 11, 1899

42nd state

Population

5,894,121

88.52 sq mi.

15th

Largest City
(by population)

Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue

Bordering States

Idaho - Oregon - Coastline: 157 mi.

Number of Counties

39 Counties in Washington

Largest County
(by population)

King County

1,737,034

2,126 sq mi.

Time Zone

Pacific Standard Time

Washington Climate and Weather

Washington's climate varies greatly from west to east.

The west is mild and humid, while east of the Cascades a cooler dry climate prevails.

The average annual temperature ranges from 51 degrees on the Pacific coast to 40 degrees in the northeast.

The climate in western Washington is mild because of the warm currents coming off of the North Pacific. This area has frequent cloud cover, considerable fog, and long-lasting drizzles. Summer is much sunnier, yet still mild. Average high temperatures here approach 70 degrees.

The western side of the Olympic Peninsula receives up to 160 inches of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of the 48 continental states. Weeks or even months may pass without a clear day.

Portions of the Puget Sound area, on the eastern side of the Olympic Mountains, are less wet, although still humid.

The western slopes of the Cascade Range receive some of the heaviest annual snowfall in the country (over 200 inches annually)

Highest Temperature

118 degrees
August 5, 1961 - Ice Harbor Dam

Lowest Temperature

-48 degrees
December 30, 1968 - Mazama and Winthrop

Avg Temp: High - Low

84.0 degrees

20.0 degrees

Washington Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet)

Mean Elevation

1,700

Highest Point

Mt. Rainier

14,410

Lowest Point

Pacific Ocean

Sea level

Washington Land Area (Square Miles)

Geographic Center

10 miles WSW of Wenatchee

Total Area

71,299.64

18th

Land Area¹

66,544.06

93.34%

Water Area²

4,755.58

6.66%

Forested Land Area³

51.4%

Dimensions
(Length - Width)

360 miles

240 miles

Source: (U.S. Census, April 1, 2000)
1. Dry land and land temporarily or partially covered by water, such as marshland, swamps, etc.; streams and canals under one-eighth statute mile wide; and lakes, reservoirs, and ponds under 40 acres.
2. Permanent inland water surface, such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds having an area of 40 acres or more; streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals one-eighth statute mile or more in width; deeply indented embayments and sounds, and other coastal waters behind or sheltered by headlands or islands separated by less than 1 nautical mile of water, and islands under 40 acres in area. Excludes areas of oceans, bays, sounds, etc. lying within U.S. jurisdiction but not defined as inland water.
3. 1997

Almanac Provided by SHG Resources