Washington Almanac: Facts and Figures

Quick Facts and Figures on the State

Washington Almanac furnishes quick facts and figures on the state, its geography, climate and weather, elevation, land area, bordering states, electoral votes, number of senators and representatives to the US Congress, and other statistical data. Use this almanac of Washington for information on local issues, politics, events, celebrations, people and business pertaining to the state of Washington that can be found online.

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Washington is one of the Pacific states of the US. Washington formerly known primarily for its agricultural and forestry products, Washington had, by the early 1990s, a highly diversified economy. Although the state remained a leading national producer of such products as apples, wheat, and timber, manufacturing had become a leading sector of the economy. Tourism and other services were also important; visitors are attracted by the state's diverse scenic wonders.

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	North: Canadian province of British Columbia East: Idaho South: Oregon (Columbia River forms much of the S boundary) West: Pacific Ocean (Channels in the North West: Juan de Fuca Strait, Haro Strait, and the Strait of Georgia separate the state from Canada's Vancouver Island) (Puget Sound deeply indents the Northwestern part of the state) All bodies of water contain numerous islands that form part of the state. Coastline: 157 mi.
Number of Counties	39 Counties in Washington
Largest County (by population)	King County	1,737,034		2,126 sq mi.
Electoral Votes	11
US Congress	2 Senators; 9 Representatives
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 Area	66,544.06			93.34%
Water Area	4,755.58			6.66%
Forested Land Area			51.4%
Dimensions (Length - Width)	360 miles		240 miles
Source:(US Census, April 1, 2000)

Almanac Online

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Almanac: Facts and Figures

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