Famous citizens

Washington's most distinguished public figure was US Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (b.Minnesota, 1898–1980), who grew up in Yakima and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla. In addition to his 37-year tenure on the Court, an all-time high, Douglas was the author of numerous legal casebooks as well as 27 other volumes on various subjects. Other federal officeholders from Washington include Lewis B. Schwellenbach (b.Wisconsin, 1894–1948), secretary of labor under Harry Truman, and Brockman Adams (b.Georgia, 1927), secretary of transportation under Jimmy Carter. Serving in the US Senate from 1945 to 1981), Warren G. Magnuson (b.Minnesota, 1905–89) held the chairmanship of the powerful Appropriations Committee. A fellow Democrat, Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (1912–83) was first elected to the House in 1940 and to the Senate in 1952. Influential on the Armed Services Committee, Jackson ran unsuccessfully for his party's presidential nomination in 1976. William E. Boeing (b.Michigan, 1881–1956) pioneered Washington's largest single industry, aerospace technology.

 

Singer-actor Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (1904–77), born in Tacoma, remained a loyal alumnus of Spokane's Gonzaga University. Modern dance choreographers Merce Cunningham (b.1919) and Robert Joffrey (1930–88) are both Washington natives. Photographer Edward S. Curtis (b.Wisconsin, 1868–1952) did most of the work on the North American Indian series while residing in Seattle. Modern artists Mark Tobey (b.Wisconsin, 1890–1976) spent much of his productive life in Seattle, and Robert Motherwell (1915–91) was born in Aberdeen. Washington's major contribution to popular music is rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix (1943–70).

Industry

The 1990s were Washington's busiest years in terms of technology company start-ups. Software and computer-related businesses accounted for most of the activity but more traditional manufacturing companies were also emerging. Even today, computers, software, and related activities make up the largest single portion of Washington companies. Manufacturing of all types is another strong element.

 

Washington technology companies cross borders and many are world leaders. Boeing's airplane sales make that company one of the nation's leading exporters. Microsoft has offices around the world and its products are in use on every continent. However, even small firms benefit from foreign trade and over half of Washington's technology companies are in overseas markets. Aerospace/transportation equipment is the largest industry in Washington State, run primarily by Boeing.

 

 

The state's biotechnology firms are growing at a phenomenal rate, but many are still in the research and development stage. More than two-thirds are developing products for human health care. Most of the firms not focused on medical treatment are developing products and processes for the state's natural resource sectors: agriculture, food processing, forestry, veterinary medicine, marine industries, and environmental waste clean-up and management.

Cities

Washington Cities by Population:

• Seattle - 592,800
• Spokane - 204,400
• Tacoma - 202,700
• Vancouver - 162,400
• Bellevue - 119,200.

Olympia capital city
Olympia images

Seattle principal city
Seattle images

Interest places

Parks and activities

The Snake and Columbia rivers flow through eastern Washington before joining to cut a passage through the Cascades.

 

Columbia Trail

 

The mountain that dominates the centre of the state, rising to 4,392m (14,411ft) is Mount Rainier and in the south, Mount St. Helens 2,550 m (8,365 ft)
 

Washington State boasts many fine beaches and small resorts on the Pacific coast, and much of the state is covered by coniferous forest.

Other activities include yachting on Puget Sound, hiking along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, and mountain climbing in the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains.

Olympic peninsula waterfall trail

 

Rejuvenate your senses with living color in Washington. Eat fresh food, rich coffee, plants, gardening, beautiful handmade things and of course, flowers.

Tulip festival

 

Food in washington

 

Wine in Washington

 

Location, history and climate.

Washington, the Evergreen State, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, is located north of Oregon, west of Idaho and south of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean; It offers some of the USA's finest scenery for active holidays in the great outdoors.

 

Map

Washington, My Home

 

 

The history of Washington includes thousands of years of Native American history before Europeans arrived and began to establish territorial claims. The region was part of Oregon territory from 1848 to 1853, after which it was separated from Oregon and established as Washington Territory. In 1889, Washington was admitted to the Union and became the 42nd state of the United States.

Climate

Washington has two distinct climate zones. Mild, humid, summer days west of the Cascades rarely rise above 26°C (79°F), and winter days seldom drop below 8°C (46°F) while the east of the state has warm summers and cool winters. Western Washington experiences frequent cloud cover, fog and drizzle, and the western slopes of the Cascades receive up to 508cm (200 inches) annual snowfall. In the rain shadow east of the Cascades, the annual precipitation is only 15cm (6 inches).

Warm winter clothes are needed in the coldest months. Light-to-medium weights are advised for the summer. An umbrella can come in handy any time of year.

Washington is unique and will surprise anyone with its forest lands. The wilderness helps define the state’s identity and culture. Along with wheat fields, orchards, vineyards, bustling ports, salmon, microchips, jet airplanes, and coffee shops, its forests help others to know who Washington residents are, and their values. Its diverse forest lands have been constantly changing, both before and throughout human history.