State Symbols of Washington

By | Updated on January 22, 2023

Reviewed by Rittika

Washington, officially known as the State of Washington, is a constituent state of the United States of America. It is located in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. 

Washington is named after President George Washington. The Territory of Washington was established on March 2, 1853, with congressional approval and presidential approval from Millard Fillmore. Because of its abundant forests, which cover more than half of the state, Washington was nicknamed The Evergreen State. The state is a major lumber and plywood manufacturer in the United States. Despite being well-known and frequently used, the nickname has never been formally adopted.

The British and Americans split control of the area for a while in the early 19th century. By the Oregon Treaty, which resolved the Oregon boundary issue, the state was created from the western portion of the Washington Territory, which had been ceded by the British Empire in 1846. The state of Washington was created on November 11th, 1889. 

The Pacific Ocean borders the state on the west, Oregon on the south, Idaho on the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia on the north.

With a total area of 71,298 sq mi (184,661 sq km), Washington is the eighteenth largest state by area. The recorded population of the state, according to the United States Census 2020, is 7,705,281 making it the thirteenth most populous.

Olympia serves as the state’s capital and Seattle is the largest city.

A fun fact about the state is the famous observation tower in Seattle known as the Seattle Space Needle. The Space Needle is 605 feet tall and has a flying saucer-like appearance. The tower was given historic monument status by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Board on April 19, 1999.

Manufacturing in Washington includes the production of machinery, food processing, metals, metal products, chemicals, aircraft, missiles, ships, and other forms of transportation equipment. The state is the nation’s top producer of pears, sweet cherries, hops, apples, blueberries, and spearmint oil. In 1989, Washington declared apples to be the state fruit. 42% of the apples grown in the United States come from Washington. In addition, it is the origin of Rainier cherries, a pink-and-gold variety with a reputation for being extremely sweet. 

In 1951, the Willow goldfinch was named the state bird of Washington. In 1959, the Coast rhododendron was formally named the state flower of Washington.

Washington’s motto is Alki, a Chinook Indian word that originally meant “bye and bye,”. The word Alki evolved to signify “into the future” or “I’ll see you again,”. 

In 1959, “Washington, My Home” was declared the state song of Washington. In 1987, Washington made “Roll On, Columbia, Roll On” its official state folk song.

Washington has no official language, however, English is the most widely spoken language in the state.

State Information

State seal

Motto of Washington

Al-ki or Alki, "by and by"

State symbols of Washington 👇

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  State capital
  Olympia
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  State bird
  American goldfinch
• 
  State flower
  Pacific Rhododendron
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  State fruit
  Apple
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  State tree
  Western hemlock
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  State dance
  Square Dance
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  State insect
  Green darner dragonfly
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  State vegetable
  Walla Walla sweet onion
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  State gemstone
  Petrified Wood
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  State animal
  Olympic Marmots
• 
  State fish
  Steelhead trout

State location

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