Capital: Olympia

Governor: Gary Locke, D (to Jan. 2005)

Lieut. Governor: Brad Owen, D (to Jan. 2005)

Senators: Patty Murray, D (to Jan. 2005); Maria Cantwell, D (to Jan. 2007)

Secy. of State: Sam Reed, R (to Jan. 2005)

Treasurer: Michael J. Murphy (to Jan. 2005)

Atty. General: Christine Gregoire, D (to Jan. 2005)

Auditor: Brian Sonntag, D (to Jan. 2005)

Organized as territory: March 2, 1853

Entered Union (rank): Nov. 11, 1889 (42)

Present constitution adopted: 1889

Motto: Al-Ki (Indian word meaning "by and by")

State Symbols:

As part of the vast Oregon Country, Washington territory was visited by Spanish, American, and British explorers-Bruno Heceta for Spain in 1775, the American Capt. Robert Gray in 1792, and Capt. George Vancouver for Britain in 1792-1794. Lewis and Clark explored the Columbia River region and coastal areas for the U.S. in 1805-1806.

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.

Washington is a leading lumber producer. Its rugged surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa and white pine, spruce, larch, and cedar. The state holds first place in apples, lentils, dry edible peas, hops, pears, red raspberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries, and ranks high in apricots, asparagus, grapes, peppermint oil, and potatoes. Livestock and livestock products make important contributions to total farm revenue and the commercial fishing catch of salmon, halibut, and bottomfish makes a significant contribution to the state's economy.

Manufacturing industries in Washington include aircraft and missiles, shipbuilding and other transportation equipment, lumber, food processing, metals and metal products, chemicals, and machinery.

Washington has over 1,000 dams, including the Grand Coulee, built for a variety of purposes including irrigation, power, flood control, and water storage. Its abundance of electrical power makes Washington one of the nation's major producers of refined aluminum.

Among the major points of interest: Mt. Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks. Mount St. Helens, a peak in the Cascade Range, erupted in May 1980. Also of interest are Whitman Mission and Fort Vancouver National Historic Sites; and the Pacific Science Center and the Space Needle, in Seattle.

Nickname: Evergreen State

Origin of name: In honor of George Washington

10 largest cities (1999 est.): Seattle, 537,150; Spokane, 184,323; Tacoma, 180,020; Vancouver, 118,743; Bellevue, 105,521; Everett, 87,352; Federal Way, 74,398; Yakima, 72,483; Kent, 66,233; Lakewood, 66,158

Land area: 66,582 sq mi. (172,447 sq km)

Geographic center: In Chelan Co., 10 mi. WSW of Wenatchee

Number of counties: 39

Largest county by population and area: King, 1,664,846 (1999 est.); Okanogan, 5,268 sq mi.

State forest lands: 2.1 million ac.

State parks: 215 (260,000 ac.)1

Residents: Washingtonian

1999 resident population est.: 5,756,361

1990 resident census population (rank): 4,866,692 (18). Male: 2,413,747; Female: 2,452,945. White: 4,308,937 (88.5%); Black: 149,801 (3.1%); American Indian: 81,483 (1.7%); Other race: 115,513 (2.4%); Hispanic: 214,570 (4.4%). 1990 percent population under 18: 25.9; 65 and over: 11.8; median age: 33.0.