[1] The state folk song is "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" by Woody Guthrie. Washington was considered a part of the 1994 Republican Revolution, and had the biggest pick-up in the house for Republicans, who picked up seven of Washington's nine House seats. Prominent among their industries were salmon fishing and, notably among the Makah, whale hunting. The term "Pineapple Express" is used colloquially to describe atmospheric river events, where repeated storm systems are directed by this persistent cyclone from the tropical Pacific regions a great distance into the Pacific Northwest. Precipitation then increases again eastward toward the Rocky Mountains (about 120 miles (190km) east of the Idaho border). [46] Vague wording in the treaty left the ownership of the San Juan Islands in doubt; during the so-called Pig War, both nations agreed to a joint military occupation of the islands. Cascade Rain Shadow And of course, almost all of Eastern Washington is in the Cascade Rain Shadow. WebThe Cascades capture most of the rain that would otherwise fall in Eastern Washington. [11] Washington ranks second only to California in wine production. [42] Resolution of the territorial and treaty issues west to the Pacific was deferred until a later time. The state tree is the western hemlock. Irish (10.8%), English (10.4%), Norwegian (5.4%), and American (4.6%). Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the state's highest elevation at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S. Washington is a leading lumber producer; its rugged surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa pine, white pine, spruce, larch, and cedar. WebRain Shadow. The Palouse southeast region of Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland, and extends to the Blue Mountains. Oregon is to the south, with the Columbia River forming the western part and the 46th parallel forming the eastern part of the OregonWashington border. In addition, the 2015 U.S. Open was held at Chambers Bay, and several major tournaments were held at Sahalee Country Club. All property taxes are paid to the county treasurer's office where the property is located. The eruption flattened the forest up to 20 km north of the volcano, killed 57 people, flooded the Columbia River and its tributaries with ash and mud, and blanketed large parts of Washington eastward and other surrounding states in ash, making day look like night.[68][69]. WebA rain shadow is a dry area on the downwind side of a mountain range. [4] Residents of Washington (known as "Washingtonians") and the Pacific Northwest simply refer to the state as "Washington", and the nation's capital "Washington, D.C.", "the other Washington",[25] or simply "D.C.", The 9,300-year-old skeletal remains of Kennewick Man, one of the oldest and most complete human remains found in North America, were discovered in Washington in the 1990s. Spring arrives early and lasts long. Washington became the 42nd state of the United States on November 11, 1889. Wildflowers/Meadows Mountain views Dogs not allowed Summits Good for kids Parking [53] Kaiser Wilhelm I of the German Empire was selected as an arbitrator to end the dispute, with a three-man commission ruling in favor of the United States in 1872. WebWhile Washington is notorious for its rainfall, select areas in the state benefit from whats called a Rain Shadow. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. [62] In Eastern Washington, the Hanford Works atomic energy plant was opened in 1943 and played a major role in the construction of atomic bombs. [61], During World War II, the state became a focus for war industries. A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. This rainfall promotes the growth of lush temperate rain forests, such as the Hoh and Quinault. [116] The three national parks were established between 1899 and 1968. Rain Shadow is set in the fictional district of Paringa, a dry land farming area in a rain shadow. While the Puget Sound lowlands are known for clouds and rain in the winter, the western slopes of the Cascades receive larger amounts of precipitation, often falling as snow at higher elevations. WebA rain shadow is a dry area on the downwind side of a mountain range. Because of the favorable climate of dry, warm summers and cold winters of central Washington, the state has led the U.S. in apple production since the 1920s. Despite the limited amount of rainfall, agriculture is an extremely important business throughout much of Eastern Washington, as the soil is highly productive and irrigation, aided by dams along the Columbia River, is fairly widespread. Pacific Northwest swelters in record temperatures", "The 'Big Snow of 1880' is still the biggest Seattle has ever seen", "Snow and Other WeathersSeattle and King County", "Record low temperatures and heavy snow plague Washington state for three weeks beginning on January 12, 1950", "United States Extreme Record Temperatures & Differences", "Washington could see La Nia winter with wetter, colder weather than normal", "Washington officially has a new all-time maximum temperature record: 120 degrees", "118?!?! Pacific Raceways is a motorsports venue that has hosted the Northwest Nationals of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and a round of the Trans-Am Series. [37][38] American captain Robert Gray (for whom Grays Harbor County is named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. The moisture in the air condenses as it rises, and this is what causes precipitation. [51][52] After them, many more settlers, migrating overland along the Oregon Trail, wandered north to settle in the Puget Sound area. [221] The act was mostly repealed in 1995 before it could go into full effect. [180] Washington produces seven principal varieties of apples which are exported to more than sixty countries. Eastern Washingtonthe part of the state east of the Cascadeshas a relatively dry climate, in distinct contrast to the west side. A Washington state constitution was drafted and ratified in 1878, but it was never officially adopted. In the spring and summer, a high-pressure anticyclone system dominates the north Pacific Ocean, causing air to spiral out in a clockwise fashion. We notice distinct changes in the month of February; usually we mow the lawn twice during this month, and there are significant stretches of clear weather. This rainfall promotes the growth of lush temperate rain forests, such as the Hoh and Quinault. [44], Fur trapper James Sinclair, on orders from Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, led some 200 settlers from the Red River Colony west in 1841 to settle on Hudson Bay Company farms near Fort Vancouver. Due to Congressional redistricting as a result of the 2010 Census, Washington gained one seat in the United States House of Representatives. Begun by the state legislature in 1990, it allows students to attend institutions of higher education at public expense, simultaneously earning high school and college credit.[218]. [24] Washington, D.C.'s, own statehood movement in the 21st century has included a proposal to use the name "State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth", which would conflict with the current state of Washington. The rain shadow encompasses the towns of Sequim, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Coupeville, and Victoria BC, as well as much of the San Juan Islands. Resident Population for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census", "Dear D. C., you can't call yourself 'State of Washington'. The westernmost and Pacific coasts have primarily American Indian communities, such as the Chinook, Lummi, and Salish. Murray has represented the state since 1993, while Cantwell was first elected in 2001. [198] The radioactive materials are known to be leaking from Hanford into the environment.[199]. [23], Confusion over the state of Washington and the city of Washington, D.C., led to renaming proposals during the statehood process for Washington in 1889, including David Dudley Field II's suggestion to name the new state "Tacoma"; these proposals failed to garner support. Western Washington's Driest Zone: the Sequim Rain Shadow. Annual precipitation ranges from 100-170 inches of rain along the coast and western-facing valleys. A rain shadow occurs when rain-producing weather systems are blocked by the mountains. [43], Negotiations with Great Britain over the next few decades failed to settle upon a compromise boundary and the Oregon boundary dispute was highly contested between Britain and the United States. [176] Additional border economies exist with neighboring British Columbia and Idaho. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours (on average, two more hours a day than in California during the growing season) and consistent temperatures.[184]. The average annual temperature ranges from 51F (11C) on the Pacific coast to 40F (4C) in the northeast. .mw-parser-output .largestCities-table-background{background:#f9f9f9}.mw-parser-output .largestCities-cell-background{background:#f0f0f0}, Washington's population was 7,705,281 in the 2020 census,[2] a 14.6% increase since the 2010 census. It is managed together as the OkanoganWenatchee National Forest, encompassing a considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres (1,310,940ha). The first is associated with the Olympic mountains, shown in the circled region. The state soil is Tokul soil. Elementary and secondary schools are under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). While the Boeing Company produced many heavy bombers, ports in Seattle, Bremerton, Vancouver, and Tacoma were available for the manufacture of warships. Sequim is a dry little town, in fact, the driest place in all of Western Washington, with a bare 16 inches of rainfall per year, only half Rain shadows are common where coastal areas and mountains coexist. [217], High school juniors and seniors in Washington have the option of using the state's Running Start program. Washington's proportion of residents under the age of five was 6.7%, 25.7% under 18, and 11.2% 65 or older. [75], Western Washington also is home of the Olympic Mountains, far west on the Olympic Peninsula, which support dense forests of conifers and areas of temperate rainforest. Our interactive map allows you to see the local & national weather Go Back The state fish is the steelhead. WebRain Shadow. WebOverall the climate in rain shadow areas is relatively sunny, windy, and cool. It continues to be the most important revenue source for public schools, fire protection, libraries, parks and recreation, and other special-purpose districts. Our interactive map allows you to see the local & national weather Go Back [213], In 2019 the legislature passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act, which requires all electricity sales to be from zero-carbon sources by 2045 and net-zero by 2030. n. An area having relatively little precipitation due to the effect of a barrier, such as a mountain range, that causes the prevailing winds to lose their moisture before reaching it. The smallpox epidemic of the 1770s devastated the Native American population.[30]. [200], On March 27, 2006, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the recently approved House Bill 2322. WashingtonRace and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990", "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010United StatesMetropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico 2010 Census National Summary File of Redistricting Data", "The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress", "Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census", "Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States", "2016 American Community SurveyDemographic and Housing Estimates", "2016 American Community SurveySelected Social Characteristics", "Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot", "Mandatory Busing in Seattle: Memories of a Bumpy Ride", "1,500 Cambodian refugees face deportation for crimes", "Puget Sound's Samoan community awaits news", Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 more information 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, "Ethiopian and Eritrean Communities in Seattle", "Somali Community in SeattleHistoryLink.org", "Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life (2014)", "LDS Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership", "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report", "Wicca more prevalent in the Pacific Northwest than most realize", "Fast-growing Washington state knocks Massachusetts out of the top 10 largest state economies", "Ports on East Coast, Gulf Coast Outgain West Coast Peers in Second-Annual CBRE Seaports Index", "Local Sales and Use Tax Rates by City/County", "Sound Transit 3 sales-tax increase takes effect Saturday", "Border-hopping shoppers cost state millions in lost revenue", "AGRICULTURE: A CORNERSTONE OF WASHINGTON'S ECONOMY", "WSDOT Washington State Ferries Our Fleet", "Transportation 101: Moving People and Goods", Washington State Transportation Commission, "King County International Airport/Boeing Field", "Idaho Gets a Seaport, Capping a Costly 10Year Effort", "Cascade Tunnel still going strong in 90th year", "Ridership Annual MeasuresAccountability CenterKing County Metro TransitKing County", "Welcome to 'the Most Toxic Place in America', "Nation's most ambitious project to clean up nuclear weapons waste has stalled at Hanford", "Inside America's most toxic nuclear waste dump, where 56 million gallons of buried radioactive sludge are leaking into the earth", "Toxics Persist in Washington Rivers, Lakes and Fish", "Phosphate Ban Signed Into Law In Washington State", "Historical Perspecitve (sic) Of The Phosphate Detergent Conflict", "Six States Will Boast All-Women Senate Delegations in 2019", "Presidential General Election Results Comparison Washington", "The 15 Best-Educated Districts in the U.S., and Why It Matters in the Georgia Race", "Washington Top Two Primaries, Initiative 872 (2004)", "Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020", "Colorado, Washington OK Recreational Marijuana Use", "Paid Sick LeaveLabor & Industries (L&I), Washington State", "Washington joins West Coast bloc of sanctuary states", Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, "Competition in health insurance research", "The health insurer with largest individual market share in each state", "Dismantling of state's health reforms in 1993 may offer lessons for Obamacare repeal", "Consumer Reports: Seattle-area hospitals get low marks for stopping infections", "First Hill bustling with hospitals, culture", "Here's Why PickleballThe Fastest-Growing Sport In AmericaIs Bill Gates' Favorite Game", "The Evergreen State: Washington State Nickname", "Senate passes measure designating Walla Walla onion state veggie", "WSDOTHighway MapWashington State Facts", The official tourism site of the State of Washington, Secretary of State's Washington History website, Washington Administrative Code (State Administrative Rules), USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Washington, U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts: Washington, Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, Police Scanner Information for Washington state, CWU Brooks Library Edward W. 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March 27, 2006, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the approved!