Information and history of the state of Washington

As part of the vast Oregon Country, Washington territory was visited by Spanish, American, and British explorers.

Rival American and British settlers and conflicting territorial claims threatened war in the early 1840s. However, in 1846 the Oregon Treaty set the boundary at the 49th parallel and war was averted.

It was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889.

Some Washington Symbols

1. State Bird	2. State Mammal	3. State Flower	4. State Fish	5. State Insect
6. State Tree	7. State Gem	8. State Fossil	9. State Beverage	10. State Amphibian

1. Willow Goldfinch - Washington designated the willow goldfinch as the official state bird in 1951. Also called American goldfinch or wild canary.
2. Orca Whale - Washington designated the orca whale as the official marine mammal in 2005
3. Coast Rhododendron - Washington officially designated the coast rhododendron as the state flower in 1959.
4. Steelhead Trout - Washington designated steelhead trout as the official state fish in 1969.
5. Green Darner Dragonfly - Washington designated the green darner dragonfly as the official state insect in 1997. Native to North America, the green darner is one of the largest and fastest-flying dragonflies.
6. Western Hemlock - Washington designated the western hemlock as the official state tree in 1947.
7. Petrified Wood - Wahington designated petrified wood as the state gem in 1975 (though rock-hard and beautiful, petrified wood is not actually a gem but a fossil).
8. Columbian Mammoth - Washington designated the Columbian Mammoth as the official state fossil in 1998.
9. Apple - Washington designated the apple as the official state fruit in 1989. Washington produces about 42 percent of the apples grown in the United States.
10. Pacific Chorus Frog - Washington designated the Pacific chorus frog as the official state amphibian in 2007.

Did you know?

• The state of Washington is the only state to be named after a United States president.
• Washington state has more glaciers than the other 47 contiguous states combined.
• Before it became a state, the territory was called Columbia (named after the Columbia River). When it was granted statehood, the name was changed to Washington, supposedly so people wouldn't confuse it with The District of Columbia.
• In 1980, the northeast face of Mount St. Helens exploded outward, destroying a large part of the top of the volcano.
• Starbucks, the biggest coffee chain in the world was founded in Seattle.
• Washington is the birthplace of both Jimi Hendrix (Seattle) and Bing Crosby (Tacoma).
• The percentage of non-religious people in Washington is the highest of any state, and church membership is among the lowest of all states.
• The state of Washington is one of only seven states that does not levy a personal income tax.