Washington

Washington, Pacific Coast state in northwestern United States; bordered by Canada to the north, Idaho to the east, Oregon and the Columbia River to the south, and the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound to the west.

Land and climate

Washington has six main land regions. The Rocky Mountains, in the northeast, is an area of mineral-rich ridges and valleys. The Columbia Plateau, in central and eastern Washington, is a semiarid, treeless lava basin with many coulees (steep, dry canyons). The Cascade Mountains, which split the state in two, has high, rugged peaks and volcanoes (most long-extinct) covered by glaciers and snowfields. The Puget Sound Lowland, between the Cascades and the Pacific coast, is a fertile, low-lying plain. The Olympic Mountains region, in the northwestern corner, has high, rugged, snowcapped peaks, many of which are still unexplored. The hilly, heavily forested Coast Range lies in the southwestern corner. The vast Puget Sound, dotted with more than 170 islands, cuts deep into western Washington. The Columbia is the state's major river. Forests cover more than 50% of the state. Western Washington has cool summers and relatively mild winters; eastern Washington has warmer summers and colder winters. Principal cities are Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma.

Economy

Manufacturing and service industries lead Washington's economy. Chief manufactured goods are transportation equipment (aircraft, aerospace vehicles, and ships), processed foods, lumber and wood products, aluminum, paper products, and chemicals. Agriculture and mining account for a small share of the state's economy. Lumber is the most valuable agricultural product; chief crops are wheat, apples, potatoes, hops, hay, and flower bulbs; chief livestock products are dairy and beef cattle. Chief mining products are sand and gravel and coal.

Government

Washington's constitution was adopted in 1889. The governor serves a 4-year term. The state legislature consists of 49 senators serving 4-year terms and 98 representatives serving 2-year terms. In the U.S. Congress, Washington is represented by 2 senators and 9 representatives.

History

The area was long-populated by various Native American peoples, including Nez Percé, Spokane, and Chinook, before the first Europeans—Spanish and English explorers—sailed along the coast in the 1500s. The first recorded European landing was in 1775, by the Spanish. The Lewis and Clark expedition explored the area in 1805; fur traders gradually moved in. In 1846, the 49th-parallel boundary with Canada was established. The area was included in the Oregon Territory (1848); Washington Territory (larger than present-day Washington) was created in 1853. War raged between European-American settlers and the area's Native Americans (1855–58); the coming of the railroad (1883) brought new white settlement. In 1889 Washington became the 42nd state. The Alaska and Klondike gold rushes (1897–98) brought new prosperity, as did World War I. The Great Depression (1930s) caused economic collapse, but World War II and new hydroelectric plants attracted the airline, aerospace, and other new industries. An economic slump in the 1970s forced state leaders to seek more diverse industries. In 1980 a devastating volcanic eruption at Mt. St. Helens killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage. In recent years, Washington has worked to attract new industries, and to conserve its natural resources without damaging valuable lumber-related industries.