Area, 68,192 sq mi (176,617 sq km), including 1,483 sq mi (3,841 sq km) of inland water surface.
Pop.(2000) 5,894,121, a 21.1% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital, Olympia.
Largest city, Seattle. 
Motto,Alki [By and By].
State bird,willow goldfinch.
State flower, Western rhododendron.
State tree, Western hemlock.

Much of the land in Eastern Washington is used for dry farming. Irrigation, however, has converted many of the river valleys east of the Cascades (especially the Yakima and Wenatchee) into garden areas. This region contains most of Washington's vineyards; from the 1980s the state has developed an important wine industry. Washington leads the country in the production of apples, sweet cherries, and pears and is a major wheat producer, chiefly in the hilly southeastern Palouse area. Washington is also a major producer of corn, onions, potatoes, apricots, grapes (including those made into wine), and other fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Cattle, dairy goods, sheep, and poultry are also economically important. 

Despite the vast semiarid expanse East of the Cascades, more than half of the state's area is forested, and the lumber and wood-products industry, so important in the early development of the state, remains one of its largest.  Thus the nickname the Evergreen State.  Many of Washington's cities (among them Tacoma, Bellingham, Everett, and Anacortes) began as sawmill centers. Seattle itself was home to the original “Skid Road” and lumber, pulp, paper, and related items are still among their major products. 

Among the industries Washington is known for, farming and lumber, Boeing and Microsoft also call Washington home and add to the diverse economic base.  Washington also has the privilege to be home to some of our country's military.  87% of our nations 1,171,302 active military are stationed in the United States and U.S. Territories.  Washington has the 7th highest population of military at over 56,500.  There are two Air Force bases, an Army Base, and four Naval Installations. 

Visitors are attracted to Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, Fort Vancouver and Whitman Mission national historic sites, and Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Mt. Saint Helens , which erupted in 1980, is now a national monument.

Olympia is the Washington state capital and is one of the fastest growing cities in America.  According to CNN Money, May 18, 2006, Washington is the next "hot market".  It has five of the top ten fastest growing cities for the 12 month period between June 2006 and June 2007, Olympia being 6th.  Lennox Scott, who runs John L. Scott Real Estate, attributes much of the market strength in Washington to job growth.  Mircosoft announced it's hiring 10,000 more people and Boeing, which finish 2006 with a large order and is starting 2007 with another major contract, is also hiring.  The job growth in the area was 3 percent last year, double the national average. 

Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.

CNN Money online, May 18, 2006