1. Cities of the United States
  2. The West
  3. Washington

WASHINGTON

Bellingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523

Olympia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 535

Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549

Spokane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561

Tacoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571

Washington

The State in Brief

Nickname: Evergreen State

Motto: Al-Ki (By and by)

Flower: Coast rhododendron

Bird: Willow goldfinch

Area: 71,299 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 18th)

Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 14,410 feet above sea level

Climate: Generally mild and humid in the western region dominated by the Pacific Ocean; semi arid in the eastern region; heavy snows in higher elevation

Admitted to Union: November 11, 1889

Capital: Olympia

Head Official: Governor Christine Gregoire (D) (until 2009)

Population

1980: 4,132,000

1990: 4,866,692

2000: 5,894,121

2004 estimate: 6,203,788

Percent change, 1990–2000: 21.1%

U.S. rank in 2004: 15th

Percent of residents born in state: 47.2% (2000)

Density: 88.6 people per square mile (2000)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 309,931

Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000) White: 4,821,823

Black or African American: 190,267

American Indian and Alaska Native: 93,301

Asian: 322,335

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 23,953

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 441,509

Other: 228,923

Age Characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 394,306

Population 5 to 19 years old: 1,288,713

Percent of population 65 years and over: 11.2%

Median age: 35.3 years (2000)

Vital Statistics

Total number of births (2003): 80,091

Total number of deaths (2003): 44,736 (infant deaths, 416)

AIDS cases reported through 2003: 5,108

Economy

Major industries: Trade; manufacturing; finance, insurance, and real estate; government; services; agriculture

Unemployment rate: 5.5% (February 2005)

Per capita income: $33,264 (2003; U.S. rank: 13th)

Median household income: $45,960 (3-year average, 2001-2003)

Percentage of persons below poverty level: 10.6% (1999)

Income tax rate: None

Sales tax rate: 6.5% (food and prescription drugs are exempt)