State of Washington

Olympia is proud to be Washington State's Capital City.

When the Washington Territory was formed in 1853, Olympia was chosen as the provisional territorial capital by Isaac Stevens, Washington's first territorial governor.

On November 11, 1889, Washington became the 42nd state to enter the Union. It is named for George Washington, the first President of the United States, and is the only state in the Union (United States) that is named for a President. Washington is commonly called Washington State or the State of Washington to distinguish it from the District of Columbia (Washington, DC).

Washington was nicknamed "The Evergreen State" by C.T. Conover, pioneer Seattle realtor and historian, for its abundant evergreen forests. Although the nickname is commonly used to refer to Washington State, it has never been officially adopted by the Legislature.

Governor: Christine Gregoire

Population  (2000 Census)  6,894,121

State Size   Washington is about 360 miles long and 240 miles wide.

Time Zone   Pacific

State Symbols

• Bird - Willow Goldfinch
• Fish - Stealhead Trout
• Flower - Coast Rhododendron
• Fruit - Apple
• Gem - Petrified Wood
• Grass - Bluebunch Wheatgrass
• Insect - Green Darner Dragonfly
• Marine Mammal - Orca
• Tree - Western Hemlock