The state of Washington sits in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States. It’s bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Canada to the north, Oregon to the south, and Idaho to the east.
When you think of Washington, you might think of US President George Washington, Starbucks Coffee Company, and beautiful scenery. But these are just a handful of things the state is known for. To explore all the amazing features of this US region, here are the most interesting facts about Washington state.
Interesting Facts About Washington State
You may be familiar with some of these Washington State facts, but some might also surprise you. This list will leave you with a better understanding and appreciation for just how incredible this state is.
1. Washington is the 42nd State in the United States
Washington was the 42nd state in the US to join the union. It was founded on November 11, 1889. Montana, which is the 41st state, was admitted only three days earlier. Before statehood, it was known as Washington Territory.
2. Washington is Named in Honor of the First United States President
Washington is named after United States President George Washington. It’s the only state to be named after a president. The state flag also features a portrait of Washington.
3. Washington is Nicknamed The Evergreen State
Pioneer C.T. Conover coined the nickname due to the abundance of forests covering just over half the state.
One of Washington’s colleges is called “The Evergreen State College”. It’s located in Olympia, the capital city.
4. A Law Was Passed in Washington Making it Illegal to Kill Bigfoot
In 1969, Skamania County, Washington, passed a law against the slaying of Bigfoot (also called Sasquatch). They deemed it a felony punishable by five years in prison. However, the ordinance was originally an April Fool’s day joke, as it was created on April 1, 1969.
However, the idea of Bigfoot started to gain popularity. It began attracting more people to Washington to track down and hunt the massive mythical creature. That meant the area saw more visitors armed with deadly weapons.
To protect the local community, the law has since been amended. It now classifies Bigfoot as an endangered species, which means it’s illegal to hunt him.
5. Washington Has More Reported Bigfoot Sightings Than Any Other State
Since Bigfoot is said to inhabit forests of North America, it would make sense that Washington (the Evergreen State) has more reported sightings than any other state.
One of the Washington State interesting facts is that the reported number of Bigfoot sightings in Washington is about 8.9 for every 100,000 people. Other states with similar supposed Bigfoot sightings include Oregon, California, West Virginia, Idaho, and Montana.
6. Washington is One Sweet State
Washington grows more apples than any other US state, producing more than half the nation’s domestically grown apples. It’s been the top apple-growing state since the 1920s. This makes one wonder why New York got the nickname ‘The Big Apple’ instead of Washington.
The state also leads in pear, sweet cherry, frozen raspberry, and spearmint oil production.
7. The Official State Fruit of Washington is the Apple
Going off of our last apple fact, it should come as no surprise that the official state fruit of Washington is the apple. With nutrient-rich soil, abundant water sources, and an arid climate, Washington’s apple orchards are able to thrive.
The most popular apple varieties in Washington are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Jonagold, and Cameo.
About 10 to 12 billion Washington apples are harvested each year. To avoid bruising, each one is picked by hand.
8. A Type of Cherry Was Invented in Washington
The Rainier Cherry was developed in Washington in 1952. It was named after Washington’s beautiful Mount Rainier. This cultivated variety is a cross between the Van and Bing cherry cultivars.
Rainier Cherries have creamy-yellow colored outer skin. They are exceptionally sweet and usually more watery than other cherry varieties. They are also grown in Oregon and California.
9. King County is Named in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
King County is the most populous county in Washington. It was initially named after the 13th Vice President of the United States, William Rufus DeVane King, who served under Franklin Pierce.
In 1986, a motion was put forth to change the county’s namesake. William King was a slave owner who maintained his well-off lifestyle by oppressing black Americans. On the other hand, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr represented attributes that the citizens of King Country felt proud of.
However, the change was not officially made until 2005, when Governor Christine Gregorie signed the namesake change into law.
10. If You’re From Washington, You’re Known as a Washingtonian
People who live in the state of Washington are known as Washingtonians, the third syllable is pronounced as “tone”. They are also called ‘Toners’, for short.
11. Several Famous Americans Were Born in Washington
Several famous Americans hail from the great state of Washington.
Musician Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle in 1942. Singer and actor Bing Crosby was born in Tacoma in 1903. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was born in Seattle in 1955. American game show host Bob Barker was born in Darrington in 1923.
12. The Official State Insect of Washington is the Green Darner Dragonfly
The green darner (also known as the common green darner) is one of the most common species of dragonfly in North America. Although, they’re also found from southern Canada to Central America.
The shape of this exciting bug resembles a darning needle. They have a short lifespan and only live for about four to seven weeks.
13. The World’s Biggest Coffee Chain Was Founded in Seattle, Washington
Starbucks was established in Seattle, Washington in 1971. It was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. The name for the store was inspired by ‘Starbuck’, the chief mate in the book ‘Moby-Dick’.
There is some mix-up over where the original store was located. Many believe it’s at Pike Place Market, in downtown Seattle. However, the first Starbucks cafe was actually opened at 2000 Western Avenue.
After five years, the store moved to the Pike Place Market. This Starbucks location usually gets the credit of being the first store in the city. The cafe still has its early design. It’s a major tourist attraction, especially for coffee lovers visiting the city.
Today, there are more than 33,000 Starbucks stores that operate in 80 different countries. In the US alone, there are more than 15,000 Starbucks stores. The state with the most stores is California.
14. There’s a Bridge Made For Squirrels in One Washington City
The city of Longview, in Washington, built a bridge to protect its local squirrel community. The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 to address the issue of squirrel safety. Many of the small creatures were being hit by cars as they tried to cross one of the city’s busy roads.
The squirrels didn’t take long to catch on to the concept. The bridge was such a success that several other squirrel bridges have also been built in the city.
The original bridge holds the title of the “World’s Narrowest Bridge” as well as the “World’s Narrowest Animal Crossing.
15. Father’s Day Was Thought up in Washington
Spokane resident Sonora Smart Dodd was the daughter of an American Civil War veteran. She is credited with founding the official American national holiday. Dodd had the idea while listening to a church sermon about Mother’s Day.
The first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane, Washington, on June 19, 1910. Over time, the holiday celebration became popular and adopted across the nation. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that US President Richard Nixon designated a permanent national observance of the holiday.
16. Washington Contains the World’s Longest Floating Bridge
In Seattle, Washington you’ll find the world’s longest floating bridge. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, known locally as the 520 Bridge, and officially as the Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge, is a six-lane bridge that spans 7,710 feet (2,350 meters).
It crosses over Lake Washington and links Seattle with the next-door city of Bellevue. The lake below is very deep and has a silty bottom. For this reason, solid supporting columns are practically impossible to position. This required the bridge to be supported by pontoons.
The bridge opened in 2016. It replaced the city’s other floating bridge which was built in 1963 and deteriorating. The old bridge, which had the same name as the new bridge, previously held the title as the world’s longest floating bridge. It was 130 feet (40 meters) shorter.
17. The Official State Dance of Washington is the Square Dance
More than 30 US states have official state dances, and Washington is one of them.
This west coast state named ‘The Square Dance’ their official dance in April 1979. It’s known for its easy-to-learn footwork and sequences.
Twenty-two other US states have also declared the square dance as their official state dance.
18. The Northwesternmost Point of the Contiguous US is in Washington
Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost point of the contiguous US. It’s located on the Olympic Peninsula in Clallam County, Washington. This oceanside area is known for its natural beauty, which is best admired from the walking paths and hiking trails around the cape.
A hiking trail takes you to the tip of the Cape. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is a wonderful area to see marine mammals, including sea lions, sea otters, and occasionally, whales.
19. Washington Contains the Largest Man-Made Island in the US
Washington contains the largest artificial island in the US. Harbor Island is located in Seattle, at the mouth of the Duwamish River. It was built in 1909 by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company.
When it was built, it was the largest man-made island in the world. However, it lost this title in 1938 when Treasure Island was built in San Francisco Bay. It then regained the title in 1967 after more area was added onto it. But today, it’s been far surpassed by other artificial islands around the world.
20. Washington Has the Largest Ferry System in the US
Washington State Ferries is the United States’ most extensive ferry fleet. The company operates a passenger and automobile ferry service as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The vessels travel around Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. They carry about 25 million passengers every year.
21. Washington is One of Eight States Without a State Income Tax
Currently, eight states don’t levy a state income tax. These are Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Florida, South Dakota, Nevada, Texas, and Tennessee. New Hampshire also refrains from taxing earned income, but they impose a small tax on dividends and interest.
22. Washington is Home to Five Active Volcanoes
The names of Washington’s active volcanoes are Mount St. Helens, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams. Each is listed as having a high, or very high threat potential.
They are part of the Cascade Range, a major mountain range in western North America that spans from British Columbia, Canada to northern California.
You might enjoy reading my articles on facts about Mississippi, Hawaii Facts, Fun Facts about Alaska and Facts about California.
23. The Eruption of Mount St Helens Caused Mass Devastation
Mount St. Helens erupted in Skamania County, Washington on May 18, 1980. The Volcanic Explosivity Index, which measures from 0 to 8, recorded the explosion as a level 5. As a result, 57 people, and thousands of animals were killed.
The eruption was the most powerful to occur in the contiguous US since the eruption of Lassen Peak, in California, in 1915. The blast also triggered the largest landslide ever recorded. Volcanic ash was also scattered across 11 states and several Canadian provinces.
24. Mount Rainier is the Highest Point in Washington
Mount Rainier, (another one of Washington’s active volcanoes) is the highest point in the state. It sits 14,410 feet above sea level. It’s set in Mount Rainier National Park, which is about 60 miles from Seattle
Due to its size and location, it’s considered one of Washington’s most hazardous volcanoes.
The volcano was named in honor of Admiral Peter Rainier, an English soldier who fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War.
25. Kennewick Man Was Discovered in Washington
The Pacific Northwest was one of the first areas in North America inhabited by animals and humans.
Kennewick Man (also known as “The Ancient One”) is the name given to the skeletal remains of a prehistoric Paleoamerican man. He was discovered in 1996 by two college students next to the Columbia River, in Kennewick, Washington.
The remains are one of the most complete ancient skeletons ever found. Radiocarbon tests date the bones to be from 8,900 to 9,000 calibrated years before present (BP).
26. Washington Has a Bike Embedded in a Tree
As you know by now, there are plenty of trees in Washington. They come in all shapes and sizes, and one even comes with a bicycle in it. Known locally as ‘Bicycle Eaten By A Tree’, this is a quirky and unique Washington attraction.
Located on Vashon Island, in King County, you’ll find a bike that has grown into a tree trunk. It’s a bit uncertain how the bike ended up there. No one knows for sure, but many theories say that a boy chained his bike to the tree, either forgot about it, or went off to war and left it there.
As the tree continued to grow, it enveloped the bike with it. The 1950s-era bicycle now rests about seven feet off the ground. If you want to see this strange sight, it’s located just off of Vashon Highway, in a forest, about 50 feet from the road.
27. Washington Created a Fake Neighborhood During WWII
During World War II, a bomber-making factory was set up just south of Seattle. It needed to be hidden to keep the factory a secret and protect it against unexpected aerial attacks.
Boeing decided to entirely camouflage the factory by covering it with a fake neighborhood scene. Hollywood set designer John Stewart Detlie created it.
The simulated neighborhood spanned 23 acres. It included fake houses, buildings, cars, and trees. It looked exactly like a normal neighborhood from the air, but thousands of WWII bombers were being produced underneath.
Fun Facts About Washington State | Final Thoughts
There you have it, the most interesting facts about Washington state. From Bigfoot sightings to squirrel bridges and active volcanoes, many of Washington State fun facts exist.
Whether you’re about to take a trip to this gorgeous region of the pacific northwest or looking for fun state trivia to impress your friends with, hopefully, you’ve enjoyed learning more about this fascinating state.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.