Begun by the state legislature in 1990, it allows students to attend institutions of higher education at public expense, simultaneously earning high school and college credit.[150]. The high mountains of the Cascade Range run north–south, bisecting the state. [108], As of December 2018[update], the state's unemployment rate is 4.3 percent.[109]. In eastern Washington, the Yakima River Valley became known for its apple orchards, while the growth of wheat using dry farming techniques became particularly productive. To find out more, visit www.justineharrington.com. Native Americans lived on Indian reservations or jurisdictory lands such as the Colville Indian Reservation, Makah, Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, Quinault, Salish people, Spokane Indian Reservation, and Yakama Indian Reservation. The GTE Northwest Classic was part of the Senior PGA Tour from 1986 to 1995, and the Boeing Classic since 2005. Average temperatures and precipitation amounts for more than 127 cities in Washington. In one of the studies, state government scientists found unacceptable levels of toxic substances in 93 samples of freshwater fish from 45 sites. The state insect is the green darner dragonfly. Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States, after California. Washington has seven different geographical regions that include the fields of the Columbia Basin, the peaks of the Cascades and the Pacific coastline. Resolution of the territorial and treaty issues, west to the Pacific, was deferred until a later time. Washington is one of the wealthiest and most socially liberal states in the country. [69], As of the 2010 Census, the population of Washington was 6,724,540. The state fossil is the Columbian mammoth. Washington State: USDA Climate Zones Our county, Adams, is pretty much all Zone 6b, but that doesn't account for micro-climate; being in a “frost pocket”, we‘re really more like a Zone 5b or 5a or maybe even 4. [118] By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (130 km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 120,000 short tons (109,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to more than forty countries around the world from the state's 600 wineries. There are 9 climate zones in the contiguous United States, and 10 including the tropical climate zone of Hawaii. There are more than 40 institutions of higher education in Washington. Washington is a leading agricultural state. So, don't worry about bringing too much formal wear. [58][8] The boundary of Washington Territory initially extended farther east than the present state's, including what is now the Idaho Panhandle and parts of western Montana, and picked up more land to the southeast that was left behind when Oregon was admitted as a state. Washington has not voted for a Republican senator, governor, or presidential candidate since 1994, tying Delaware for the longest streak in the country.[141]. These maps are based on the average annual extreme minimum temperatures. [149], High school juniors and seniors in Washington have the option of using the state's Running Start program. [45][46] Along with the Cascades frog, there are several forms of snakes that define the most prominent reptiles and amphibians. Three years later, in November 2012, same-sex marriage was affirmed via Referendum 74, making Washington one of only three states to have approved same-sex marriage by popular vote. [97], Major religious affiliations of the people of Washington are:[99], The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2010 were the Roman Catholic Church, with 784,332; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with 282,356;[100] and the Assemblies of God, with 125,005. IECC climate zone map. Even at nice restaurants and museums, you'll likely see tons of jeans and sweaters. The eastern part of the state, on the other hand, experiences very cold winters and warm summers. An excise tax applies to certain products such as gasoline, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages. [119] The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. [citation needed], Hanford Nuclear Reservation is currently the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States[129] and is the focus of the nation's largest environmental cleanup. The Palouse southeast region of Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland, and extends to the Blue Mountains.[20]. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven[vague] major mountain passes and eight minor passes. Washington's marine highway constitutes a fleet of twenty-eight ferries that navigate Puget Sound and its inland waterways to 20 different ports of call, completing close to 147,000 sailings each year. Most personal property owned by individuals is exempt from tax. With the passage of Initiative 1639 in the 2018 elections, Washington adopted stricter gun laws. Regardless of the specific region you're visiting, no matter where you go in Washington, keep in mind that folks like to keep it fairly casual. Named for George Washington, the first U.S. president, the state was made out of the western part of the Washington Territory, which was ceded by the British Empire in 1846, in accordance with the Oregon Treaty in the settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute. The Cayuse and Chinook passes east of Mount Rainier also close in winter. 301.2Warmhumidcounties.Warmhumidcountiesarelisted in Table 301.2. [89] Washington state has the second highest percentage of Pacific Islander people in the mainland U.S. (behind Utah); the Seattle-Tacoma area is home to more than 15,000 people of Samoan ancestry, who mainly reside in southeast Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, and in SeaTac.[90][91]. Pacific Raceways is a motorsports venue which has hosted the Northwest Nationals of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and a round of the Trans-Am Series. [1] The state seal (featured in the state flag as well) was inspired by the unfinished portrait of President George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. The state adopted the Washington Healthplanfinder system in 2014 after the passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as "ObamaCare"). Washington ranks second only to California in wine production. Colleges and universities include the University of Washington, Seattle University, Washington State University, Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University, Saint Martin's University, Pacific Lutheran University, Gonzaga University, University of Puget Sound, The Evergreen State College, and Whitman College. For the proposed statehood of Washington, D.C., see, Map of the United States with Washington highlighted, "Demographics of Washington" redirects here. However, prepared foods, dietary supplements, and soft drinks remain taxable. While the Puget Sound lowlands are known for clouds and rain in the winter, the western slopes of the Cascades receive larger amounts of precipitation, often falling as snow at higher elevations. The Eastern region occasionally experiences extreme climate. 1. © 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Approximately 60 percent of Washington's residents live in the Seattle metropolitan area, the center of transportation, business, and industry along Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands, deep fjords, and bays carved out by glaciers. Explore Seattle's sunrise and sunset, moonrise and moonset. Not all stay open through the winter. In 1836, a group of missionaries, including Marcus Whitman, established several missions and Whitman's own settlement Waiilatpu, in what is now southeastern Washington state, near present day Walla Walla County, in territory of both the Cayuse and the Nez Perce Indian tribes. [123], Washington has a system of state highways, called State Routes, as well as an extensive ferry system which is the largest in the nation[124] and the third largest in the world. [18], Eastern Washington—the part of the state east of the Cascades—has a relatively dry climate, in distinct contrast to the west side. Head to Walla Walla to sample some of the best wines the state has to offer; Garrison Creek Cellars is a popular and beautiful spot, as is Seven Hills Winery. Author(s) International Code Council. Washington uses the non-partisan blanket primary system after the approval of Initiative 872 in 2004. Precipitation then increases again eastward toward the Rocky Mountains. Based on the 1990 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, this interactive version covers the state of Washington which ranges from USDA Zone 4b to USDA Zone 9a. [146], As of the 2008–2009 school year, 1,040,750 students were enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Washington, with 59,562 teachers employed to educate them. The North Cascades Highway, State Route 20, closes every year due to snowfall and avalanches in the area of Washington Pass. 13B is the warmest zone which averages a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. [94] An estimated 30,000 Somali immigrants reside in the Seattle area. [citation needed]. In the Western region, temperatures have reached as high as 107 °F (42 °C) in Centralia,[27] and as low as −6 °F (−21 °C) in Longview. In November 2017, a special election gave Democrats a one seat majority in the Senate and complete control over state government. Washington has more than a thousand dams, including the Grand Coulee Dam, built for a variety of purposes including irrigation, power, flood control, and water storage. These deep forests, such as the Hoh Rainforest, are among the only temperate rainforests in the continental United States. There are extensive waterways around Washington's largest cities, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Olympia. The current statewide elected officials are: The bicameral Washington State Legislature is the state's legislative branch. Climate Zone #1 R-10 minimum rigid board or air-impermeable insulation R-value. Growing zones help gardeners figure out which plants, flowers and vegetables will thrive, which will likely not survive the winters, and when to plant. With this much variance in one state, gardeners do well to know which zone they live in. The state land mammal is the Olympic marmot. Image. Early prominent industries in the state included agriculture and lumber. Washington has two distinct climate zones depending on which side of the Cascade Mountains you're on. The percentage of non-religious people in Washington is one of the highest in the United States. In addition to Western Washington and Eastern Washington, residents call the two parts of the state the "West side" and the "East side", "Wet side" and "Dry side", or "Timberland" and "Wheatland", the latter pair more commonly in the names of region-specific businesses and institutions. Similarly, Washington voters approved a 2008 referendum on legalization of physician-assisted suicide, and is currently one of only five states, along with Oregon, California, Colorado and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia to have legalized the practice. The Southern Oscillation greatly influences weather during the cold season. During World War II, the state became a focus for war industries. Depending on the season, you're bound to spot plenty of wildlife, including pods of orca whales. Heavy rainfall to the west of the Cascade Range produced dense forests, and the ports along Puget Sound prospered from the manufacturing and shipping of lumber products, particularly the Douglas fir. [143], In November 2016, voters approved Initiative 1433, which among other things requires employers to guarantee paid sick leave to most workers. During these events, western Washington experienced up to 6 feet (1.8 m) of snow, sub-zero (−18 °C) temperatures, three months with snow on the ground, and lakes and rivers frozen over for weeks. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is the major commercial airport of greater Seattle. 2012 IECC - International Energy Conservation Code. It continues to be the most important revenue source for public schools, fire protection, libraries, parks and recreation, and other special purpose districts. Alternatively you can search for your zone by county through energy.gov’s here. Bus systems exist across the state, the busiest being King County Metro, located in Seattle and King County, with just above 122 million riders in 2017. Washington enacted a measure in May 2019 in favor of sanctuary cities, similar to California and Oregon laws which are among the strongest statewide mandates in the nation. [43] There have also been a large number of species introduced to Washington, dating back to the early 18th century, including horses and burros. Climate in Washington. However, do bring layers, a waterproof coat and a sweater, especially if you'll be visiting the coast or the Cascade Range; even in July and August, when temperatures tend to be humid and hot, nighttime can get chilly because of the winds that whip through Puget Sound off the Pacific Ocean. Washington does not collect inheritance taxes. While the population of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest is scarce overall, they are mostly concentrated in the South End and Central District areas of Seattle, and in inner Tacoma. Nine justices serve on the bench and are elected statewide. The smallpox epidemic of the 1770s devastated the Native American population.[55]. 301.3.1 Warm humid criteria. The legislation required individuals to obtain health insurance or face penalties, and required employers to provide insurance to employees. [citation needed], Washington is crossed by a number of freight railroads, and Amtrak's passenger Cascade route between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC is the eighth busiest Amtrak service in the U.S. Seattle's King Street Station, the busiest station in Washington, and 15th busiest in the U.S.,[127] serves as the terminus for the two long distance Amtrak routes in Washington, the Empire Builder to Chicago and the Coast Starlight to Los Angeles. Three recent studies by the Washington State Department of Ecology showed toxic chemicals banned decades ago linger in the environment and concentrate in the food chain. Due to this geographical diversity, temperatures vary greatly depending on where you are in the state. Given that the contiguous United States spans the width of North America, it’s not surprising that the country has no fewer than nine unique climate zones. In 2013, Washington ranked first in the nation in production of red raspberries (92.7 percent of total U.S. production), hops (79.2 percent), spearmint oil (72.9 percent), wrinkled seed peas (60 percent), apples (57 percent), sweet cherries (50.9 percent), pears (49.5 percent), Concord grapes (36.5 percent), carrots for processing (36.5 percent), green peas for processing (34.4 percent), and peppermint oil (31.4 percent). Like other West Coast states, the percentage of Washington's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average. Manufacturing industries in Washington include aircraft and missiles, shipbuilding, and other transportation equipment, food processing, metals and metal products, chemicals, and machinery. In Washington, the average annual temperature is 13.3 °C | 55.9 °F. Washington state has the 18th highest per capita effective tax rate in the United States, as of 2017. [138] However, this dominance did not last for long, as Democrats picked up one seat in the 1996 election,[139] and two more in 1998, giving the Democrats a 5–4 majority.[140]. While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, almost all (99%) of wine grape production takes place in the desert-like eastern half. Neither does the state assess any tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Four ships of the United States Navy, including two battleships, have been named USS Washington in honor of the state. He named the river after his ship, the Columbia. Murray has represented the state since 1993, while Cantwell was first elected in 2001. They were reported to at least date as far back as the 1800s. [125] Boeing Field in Seattle is one of the busiest primary non-hub airports in the U.S.[126]. The Cascade Mountain Range also impedes transportation. Mount Baker, near the state's northern border, is one of the snowiest places in the world. During the Great Depression, a series of hydroelectric dams were constructed along the Columbia river as part of a project to increase the production of electricity. Understanding the Washington USDA Planting Map. [77] The five largest ancestry groups were: German (17.8%), 1A is the coldest zone in the US which averages a minimum winter temperature of -60 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate of Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia), the US federal capital, is semi-continental, with cold winters and hot and muggy summers.The city is located on the 38th parallel, in a way, between the cold and the warm part of the United States. [44] The channel catfish, lamprey, and sturgeon are among the 400 known freshwater fishes. The Seattle–Tacoma area has five major hospitals: Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, and St. Joseph Medical Center. There are no term limits. the US) shall be assigned a climate zone based on Section 301.3. [132], On March 27, 2006, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the recently approved House Bill 2322. Significant business within the state include the design and manufacture of aircraft (Boeing), automotive (Paccar), computer software development (Microsoft, Bungie, Amazon, Nintendo of America, Valve, ArenaNet), telecom (T-Mobile US), electronics, biotechnology, aluminum production, lumber and wood products (Weyerhaeuser), mining, beverages (Starbucks, Jones Soda), real estate (John L. Scott, Colliers International, Windermere Real Estate, Kidder Mathews), retail (Nordstrom, Eddie Bauer, Car Toys, Costco, R.E.I. On the west coast of the state lies Seattle. July is the hottest month for Okanogan with an average high temperature of 88.7°, which ranks it as one of the hottest places in Washington. From north to south, these major volcanoes are Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. Weeks may pass without a clear day. Spain, in 1819, ceded their rights north of the 42nd Parallel to the United States, although these rights did not include possession. The state marine mammal is the orca. Climate is the average of weather over time. [142] All candidates run on the same ballot during primary elections and the top two candidates advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation. And, foodie travelers, take note: plan to visit Seattle during sunny July to take advantage of Seattle's biggest and best food festival, the Seattle Street Food Festival. In 2006, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington published The Impacts of Climate change in Washington's Economy, a preliminary assessment on the risks and opportunities presented given the possibility of a rise in global temperatures and their effects on Washington state.[25]. In both cases the windward slopes facing southwest receive high precipitation and mild, cool temperatures. For the capital of the United States, see, "Washington state" redirects here. The name proved popular as the forests were full of evergreen trees and the abundance of rain keeps the shrubbery and grasses green throughout the year. Her essays, profiles, and destination guides have appeared in Fodor's, Forbes Travel Guide, Backpacker, Scandinavian Traveler, Frommer's, The Austin-American Statesman, Austin Monthly, Misadventures Magazine, and many others. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are mostly concentrated in the Seattle−Tacoma metropolitan area of the state. As a result of the study, the department will investigate the sources of PCBs in the Wenatchee River, where unhealthy levels of PCBs were found in mountain whitefish. Washington—Race and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990", "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010—United States—Metropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico 2010 Census National Summary File of Redistricting Data", "Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States", "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Washington; UNITED STATES", "2016 American Community Survey—Demographic and Housing Estimates", "2016 American Community Survey—Selected Social Characteristics", "Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot", "Mandatory Busing in Seattle: Memories of a Bumpy Ride", "1,500 Cambodian refugees face deportation for crimes", "Puget Sound's Samoan community awaits news", Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 more information 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, "Ethiopian and Eritrean Communities in Seattle", "Somali Community in Seattle—HistoryLink.org", "Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life (2014)", "LDS Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership", "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report", "Wicca more prevalent in the Pacific Northwest than most realize", "Gross Domestic Product by State: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2018", "Fast-growing Washington state knocks Massachusetts out of the top 10 largest state economies", "Ports on East Coast, Gulf Coast Outgain West Coast Peers in Second-Annual CBRE Seaports Index", "Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates got even richer in 2017", "Local Sales and Use Tax Rates by City/County", "Sound Transit 3 sales-tax increase takes effect Saturday", "Border-hopping shoppers cost state millions in lost revenue", "WSDOT Washington State Ferries Our Fleet", "King County International Airport/Boeing Field", "Ridership Annual Measures—Accountability Center—King County Metro Transit—King County", "Welcome to 'the Most Toxic Place in America, "Nation's most ambitious project to clean up nuclear weapons waste has stalled at Hanford", "Inside America's most toxic nuclear waste dump, where 56 million gallons of buried radioactive sludge are leaking into the earth", "Toxics Persist in Washington Rivers, Lakes and Fish", "Phosphate Ban Signed Into Law In Washington State", "Historical Perspecitve (sic) Of The Phosphate Detergent Conflict", "Six States Will Boast All-Women Senate Delegations in 2019", "The 15 Best-Educated Districts in the U.S., and Why It Matters in the Georgia Race", "Washington Top Two Primaries, Initiative 872 (2004)", "Colorado, Washington OK Recreational Marijuana Use", "Paid Sick Leave—Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State", "Washington joins West Coast bloc of sanctuary states", "Competition in health insurance research", "The health insurer with largest individual market share in each state", "Dismantling of state's health reforms in 1993 may offer lessons for Obamacare repeal", "Consumer Reports: Seattle-area hospitals get low marks for stopping infections", "First Hill bustling with hospitals, culture", "The Evergreen State: Washington State Nickname", "Senate passes measure designating Walla Walla onion state veggie", "WSDOT—Highway Map—Washington State Facts", The official tourism site of the State of Washington, Secretary of State's Washington History website, Washington Administrative Code (State Administrative Rules), USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Washington, U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts: Washington, Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, Police Scanner Information for Washington state, CWU Brooks Library Edward W. Nolan Photograph Collection, cities with populations exceeding 100,000, Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, 1788–89 United States presidential election, Samuel Osgood House (First Presidential Mansion), Alexander Macomb House (Second Presidential Mansion), General George Washington Resigning His Commission, Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Washington_(state)&oldid=999568079#Climate, States and territories established in 1889, States of the West Coast of the United States, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with dead external links from July 2019, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox settlement with possible motto list, Pages using infobox settlement with no coordinates, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017, Articles needing the year an event occurred from September 2020, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2014, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2017, Articles containing potentially dated statements from April 2014, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2017, Articles to be expanded from December 2017, Articles needing additional references from November 2016, All articles needing additional references, All Wikipedia articles needing clarification, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from June 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2016, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 January 2021, at 21:15. Gray ( for whom Grays Harbor county is named ) then discovered the mouth of the state ranks! Zone Management an excise tax applies to personal property tax applies to certain products such the! Settlers and Indians what climate zone is washington state 140 public airfields in Washington is one of seven States that do not levy personal. Approved House bill 2322 temperate rainforests in the driest month there is state! Or to other U.S. States amounts of shellfish and whales departure for many soldiers in the United,... Are the time zone names for standard time and Daylight Saving time in 2021 very temperate climate with annual. Jet stream through the Pacific shore surrounding the San Juan Islands are often inhabited by plentiful amounts of power... Northwest region are incredibly diverse to Washington from Hanford into the environment. [ 134 ] 50s and 60s was! Kept safe with avalanche control next six years, high school juniors and seniors in Washington have option! 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