Last updated on October 7th, 2022
31. The first father’s day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, by its creator – Spokane citizen – Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father was a civil war veteran who was a single parent and raised six children.[17]
32. Washington is the second most populous state in the west coast and in the western United States after California. The state is a leading lumber producer.
33. Washington is one of the thirty six states to legalize same-sex marriage.
34. The name of the nation’s capital “Washington D.C.” may confuse some with “Washington state.” To avoid this, the name of the state was to be changed and instead the territory was to be named Tacoma. However, the proposal failed to garner support, and the name remains unchanged.[18]
35. There is no tax on personal income in the state.
36. Washington has 3,101 glaciers (covering 450.5 square kilometers), making it the most glaciated state in the contiguous continental states of the United States of America. Its largest glacier is 10.59 square kilometers in size.[19]
About the Flag of Washington
1. Design and Symbolism
The flag of Washington honors its namesake, George Washington. He was a commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the first president of the United States.
The simple flag design features the state seal on a dark green background that represents the verdant fields of Western Washington. Meanwhile, the gold border represents the wheat areas of Eastern Washington.
Within the seal is a portrait of George Washington, while the border contains the text, “The Seal of the State of Washington.” The date of admission to the Union, “1889,” appears at the bottom.
2. Adoption
Washington adopted the flag on March 5, 1923, and standardized it in 1967.
3. Technical Details
The flag has a proportion of 5:8. The state seal diameter must be one-third of the flag length. Place it at the center of the green field.
The colors follow the Pantone Matching System and the Standard Color Reference of America. The background is Irish Green (PMS 348), the border is Spanish Yellow (PMS 116), the letters are Black (PMS Process Black), the interior is Oriental Blue (PMS 311), and the president’s face is Eggshell (PMS 169).
4. History
In 1889, Washington adopted the state seal during a constitutional convention. The original concept was a scene from Mount Rainier, but the jeweler Charles Talcott proposed a design featuring the former president.
The state did not have an official flag for several years. Various military flags served as alternatives across the state and in engagements overseas. Some had a gold profile of George Washington on blue bunting, while others had a gold seal on a green background.
In 1913, Rep. William Hughes pushed for a state flag through a commission led by the governor, adjutant general, and secretary of state. Gov. Ernest Lister supported the idea, but patriotic groups opposed it, saying this would be detrimental to the US flag.
In 1914, the national office of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) asked the Washington chapter to send them a state flag for an exhibit. They formed a design committee led by Emma Chadwick, the wife of a Washington Supreme Court Justice.
In 1915, DAR came up with a flag featuring the state seal on a green field. Manufacturing the original flag cost them $48 – roughly $1,300 when adjusted to 2021 values. The group lobbied for the flag’s adoption in the following years.
In 1923, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the flag bill to the delight of DAR. Washington was one of the last four states to adopt a state flag. Willis Bloom, who worked under the Secretary of State, took care of the manufacturing.
5. Flag Revisions
In 1925, the state legislature changed the fringe color from green to gold to match the seal. The governor used the first flag with this design in 1927 while touring Fort Lewis.
In 1955, the Secretary of State issued standard colors for the flag. It reduced confusion and ensured uniformity across all state flags.
In 1967, the seal underwent a redesign under Dick Nelms. He used a more recognizable George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart. The flag reflected the change soon after.
6. Flag Facts
The flag of Washington is the only US state flag with a green background and an identifiable figure from history.
Charles Talcott made the most of what he had to design the seal. He used an ink bottle and silver dollar to draw the rings, then pasted a postage stamp in the middle for the picture of George Washington. His brothers helped him with the lettering and the cutting of the printing dye.
Washington – Quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | WA |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Olympia |
| Largest City | Seattle |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 71,300 sq miles; Land Only: 66,544 sq miles |
| Population | 7,812,880 (Estimate July 1, 2023 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | November 11, 1889 |
| State rank by population | 13th |
| State rank by date of formation | 42nd |
| State rank by area | 18th |
| Number of Counties | 39 |
| Demonym | Washingtonian |
| Bordering States | Idaho, Oregon |
| Official Language | None |
| Highest Point | Mount Rainier 14,411 ft (4,392 m) |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean Sea level |
| Length | 240 miles (400 km) |
| Width | 360 miles (580 km) |
| National Parks | Mount Rainier National Park North Cascades National Park Olympic National Park |
| Governor | Jay Inslee (D) |
| Lieutenant Governor | Denny Heck (D) |
| Electoral Votes | 12 |
| State Motto | Al-ki (By and by) |
| State Nickname | Evergreen State |
| % Water | 6.6 |
| Nobel Prize Winners | George J. Stigler (Economic Sciences, 1982) George H. Hitchings (Physiology or Medicine, 1988) Robert E. Lucas Jr. (Economic Sciences, 1995) Douglas D. Osheroff (Physics, 1996) Linda B. Buck (Physiology or Medicine, 2004) |
| Famous People | Jonathan Ogden (Pro Football Player) Ron Santo (Baseball Player) John Stockton (Basketball Player) Erika Christensen (Actress) Jennifer Warnes (Singer) |
| Dance | Square dance |
| State Song | "Washington, My Home" |
| State Flag |
|
| State seal |
|
| State Bird | American goldfinch
|
| Endemic mammal | Olympic marmot
|
| State Flower | Pacific rhododendron |
| State Oyster | Ostrea lurida |
| Gem | Petrified Wood
|
| State Ship | The Lady Washington |
| State Fossil | Columbian Mammoth |
| State Marine Mammal | Orca
|
| State Tree | Western hemlock
|
| State Fish | Steelhead Trout |
| State Insect | Green darner dragonfly
|
| State Grass | Bluebunch wheatgrass
|
| State Amphibian | Pacific chorus frog
|
| State Fruit | Apple
|
| Longitude | 116° 55′ W to 124° 46′ W |
| Latitude | 45° 33′ N to 49° N |
| Time Zone | Pacific Time Zone |
| Website | access.wa.gov |
| Area Codes | 206, 253, 360, 425, 509, 564 |
| Table last updated | December 21, 2023 |
