[63], After the end of World War II, and with the beginning of the civil rights movement, the state's growing Black or African American population's wages were 53% above the national average. Koreans are heavily concentrated in the suburban cities of Federal Way and Auburn to the south, and in Lynnwood to the north. In both cases, the windward slopes facing southwest receive high precipitation and mild, cool temperatures. [169] At over 80 percent the state has significant amounts of hydroelectric power generation. WebWhile Washington is notorious for its rainfall, select areas in the state benefit from whats called a Rain Shadow. WebThe Cascades capture most of the rain that would otherwise fall in Eastern Washington. The moisture in the air condenses as it rises, and this is what causes precipitation. Webrain shadow. [114][115] Coastal bays and islands are often inhabited by plentiful amounts of shellfish and whales. It stars Rachel Ward as district vet Kate McDonald and Victoria Thaine as new veterinary assistant Jill Blake. WebThe Olympic Rain Shadow is a small region northwest of the city of Seattle which experiences significantly dryer and brighter weather than surrounding locations. The westernmost and Pacific coasts have primarily American Indian communities, such as the Chinook, Lummi, and Salish. The top two health insurers as of 2017 were Premera Blue Cross, with 24 percent market share, followed by Kaiser Permanente at 21 percent. [229] The state grass is bluebunch wheatgrass. [17][67], On May 18, 1980, following a period of heavy tremors and small eruptions, the north face of Mount St. Helens slid off in the largest landslide in recorded history before erupting violently, destroying a large part of the top of the volcano. This has resulted in several same-party general election match-ups. The region around eastern Puget Sound developed heavy industry during the period including World War I and World War II, and the Boeing company became an established icon in the area. Because of the favorable climate of dry, warm summers and cold winters of central Washington, the state has led the U.S. in apple production since the 1920s. Washington has not voted for a Republican senator, governor, or presidential candidate since 1994, tying with Delaware for the longest streak in the country.[208]. 
The current statewide elected officials are: The bicameral Washington State Legislature is the state's legislative branch. The Seattle Open Invitational golf tournament was part of the PGA Tour from the 1930s to the 1960s. 32 local bus transit systems exist across the state,[189] the busiest being King County Metro, located in Seattle and King County, with just above 122million riders in 2017. This area includes Sequim, which sees about 16 inches of rain annually. 
There are also 57,200 miles (92,100km) of local roads maintained by cities and counties, as well as several ferries operated by local governments. Sequim is a dry little town, in fact, the driest place in all of Western Washington, with a bare 16 inches of rainfall per year, only half The state of Washington reformed its health care system in 1993 through the Washington Health Services Act. By 2021, that number had grown to 1050 wineries. Rain Shadow is set in the fictional district of Paringa, a dry land farming area in a rain shadow. 
[43], Negotiations with Great Britain over the next few decades failed to settle upon a compromise boundary and the Oregon boundary dispute was highly contested between Britain and the United States. WebWashington (/ w t n / ()), officially the State of Washington and often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the national capital, Washington, D.C., is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States.Named for George Washingtonthe first U.S. presidentthe state was formed from the western part of the [88], In 2006, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington published The Impacts of Climate change in Washington's Economy, a preliminary assessment of the risks and opportunities presented given the possibility of a rise in global temperatures and their effects on Washington state.[89]. It is managed together as the OkanoganWenatchee National Forest, encompassing a considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres (1,310,940ha). Cascade Rain Shadow And of course, almost all of Eastern Washington is in the Cascade Rain Shadow. Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States, after California. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. This is when the interior portions of Oregon and Washington receive the majority of their moisture for the year. For Washington, this means prevailing winds from the northwest bring relatively cool air and a predictably dry season. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. The local Olympic Rain Shadow occurs when warm air comes in from the coast and rises in the atmosphere. Washington has a relatively strong economy, with a total gross state product of $612,996.5 million in 2019, placing it fifth in the nation and growing by 6.5 percent per yearthe fastest rate in the United States. [106] Common trees and plants in the region are camassia, Douglas fir, hemlock, penstemon, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and many species of ferns. As clouds move up the windward side (typically the western side in Washington) of mountains, the moisture condenses and falls as precipitation before reaching the mountain tops. [37][38] American captain Robert Gray (for whom Grays Harbor County is named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. [182] By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (130km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 120,000 short tons (109,000t) of grapes, and exports going to more than forty countries around the world from the state's 600 wineries. Michael Dukakis narrowly won Washington in 1988, and Democrats have won the state in every presidential election since, and by safe margins since 2008. It tells the story of two characters who become the means of each other's future. [1] The Evergreen State College, a state-funded institution in Olympia, also takes its name from this nickname. The Chinatown-International District in Seattle has a historical Chinese population dating back to the 1860s, who mainly emigrated from Guangdong Province in southern China, and is home to a diverse East and Southeast Asian community. Cascade Rain Shadow And of course, almost all of Eastern Washington is in the Cascade Rain Shadow. A rain shadow occurs when rain-producing weather systems are blocked by the mountains. [110] There have also been a large number of species introduced to Washington, dating back to the early 18th century, including horses and burros. While the population of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest is relatively scarce overall, they are mostly concentrated in the South End and Central District areas of Seattle, and in inner Tacoma. With American settlers pouring into Oregon Country, Hudson's Bay Company, which had previously discouraged settlement because it conflicted with the fur trade, reversed its position in an attempt to maintain British control of the Columbia District. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is the major commercial airport of greater Seattle. Rainfall in Washington varies dramatically going from east to west. Washington has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1988. Washington does not collect inheritance taxes. The Olympic mountains and Cascades compound this climatic pattern by causing orographic lift of the air masses blown inland from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the windward side of the mountains receiving high levels of precipitation and the leeward side receiving low levels. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The two current United States senators from Washington are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democrats. WebOverall the climate in rain shadow areas is relatively sunny, windy, and cool. [214], As of the 20202021 school year, 1,094,330 students were enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Washington, with 67,841 teachers employed to educate them. This figure is derived from areas that later became, first to legalize medicinal and recreational, List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, slid off in the largest landslide in recorded history before erupting violently, "Office of the Washington State Climatologist", "Comparative Data for the Western States", List of federal lands in Washington (state), San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Pacific Northwest Spirituality and religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, List of Washington locations by per capita income, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Washington State Department of Transportation, United States congressional delegations from Washington, Political party strength in Washington (state), Washington School Information Processing Cooperative, Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Index of Washington (state)-related articles, "Table 2. WebThe Cascades capture most of the rain that would otherwise fall in Eastern Washington. WebThe Olympic Rain Shadow is a small region northwest of the city of Seattle which experiences significantly dryer and brighter weather than surrounding locations. [64][65] In 1950, Seattle's first black representative for the state's legislature was elected. 
[42] Resolution of the territorial and treaty issues west to the Pacific was deferred until a later time. [158] Both emerged in the late 1960s, and developed since 1980. WebRain Shadow. The Palouse southeast region of Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland, and extends to the Blue Mountains. To officially be called a rain forest, the area must receive at least 100 inches of rain annually, and at the peak this area receives 200 inches per year. Washington uses the non-partisan blanket primary system after the approval of Initiative 872 in 2004. [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 of Washington is one of seven states that do not levy a personal income tax. Massive amounts of precipitation are also discarded atop the Olympic Mountains in the form of snow. 
The western side of the Olympic Peninsula receives as much as 160 inches (4,100 mm) of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of the 48 conterminous states and a temperate rainforest. The state insect is the green darner dragonfly. (92) 7.5 2007 13+. [127] In 2018, the state ranked 13th overall in population, and was the third most populous, after California and Texas, west of the Mississippi River. [11] Washington ranks second only to California in wine production. [216] Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (a non-profit opt-in state agency) provides information management systems for fiscal & human resources and student data. According to the National Weather Service, the annual rainfall for Yakima is 8.3 inches per year. There are more than 40 institutions of higher education in Washington. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven[vague] major mountain passes and eight minor passes. The SeattleTacoma area has six major hospitals: Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Childrens, Swedish Medical Center, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, and St. Joseph Medical Center. Rain shadows are common where coastal areas and mountains coexist. [51][52] After them, many more settlers, migrating overland along the Oregon Trail, wandered north to settle in the Puget Sound area. Based on the 2007 information and a previous 2004 Ecology study, the Washington State Department of Health advises the public not to eat mountain whitefish from the Wenatchee River from Leavenworth downstream to where the river joins the Columbia, due to unhealthy levels of PCBs. No state has gone longer without a Republican governor than Washington. For the proposed statehood of Washington, D.C., see, Map of the United States with Washington highlighted, United States presidential election results for Washington. WebWashington (/ w t n / ()), officially the State of Washington and often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the national capital, Washington, D.C., is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States.Named for George Washingtonthe first U.S. presidentthe state was formed from the western part of the A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. WebVescio says the rain shadow effect is most prominent in the winter in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metropolitan Area population was 3,439,809 in the 2010 census, half the state total. In addition, the 2015 U.S. Open was held at Chambers Bay, and several major tournaments were held at Sahalee Country Club. The state is one of four with two female senators.[203]. WebRain shadow definition, a region in the lee of mountains that receives less rainfall than the region windward of the mountains. Wildflowers/Meadows Mountain views Dogs not allowed Summits Good for kids Parking (92) 7.5 2007 13+. The state has major research universities, technical schools, religious schools, and private career colleges. Elementary and secondary schools are under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The smallpox epidemic of the 1770s devastated the Native American population.[30]. [90] Mount Baker, near the state's northern border, is one of the snowiest places in the world. This leads to border economic anomalies in the PortlandVancouver metropolitan area. Washington state has the 18th highest per capita effective tax rate in the United States, as of 2017. The state legislature is composed of a lower House of Representatives and an upper State Senate. [176] Additional border economies exist with neighboring British Columbia and Idaho. As of July2022[update], the state's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent.[171]. [66], In 1970, the state was one of only four U.S. states to have been providing legal abortions before the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which loosened abortion laws nationwide. Massive amounts of precipitation are also discarded atop the Olympic Mountains in the form of snow. A 2004 study of 40 mothers from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Montana found PBDEs in the breast milk of every woman tested. A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountainous area (away from the wind). The WTA Seattle tennis tournament was part of the WTA Tour from 1977 to 1982. A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. We notice distinct changes in the month of February; usually we mow the lawn twice during this month, and there are significant stretches of clear weather. Murray has represented the state since 1993, while Cantwell was first elected in 2001. Almost 95 percent (876,517 acres, 354,714 hectares, 3,547.14 square kilometers) of Olympic National Park's area has been designated as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. [132] [133]. The state flower is the coast rhododendron. Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond, which are all within King County, have sizable Chinese communities (including Taiwanese), as well as significant Indian and Japanese communities. [200], On March 27, 2006, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the recently approved House Bill 2322. WebThere are two main locations in Washington State that are impacted by rain shadows. The western slopes of the Cascade Range receive some of the heaviest annual snowfall (in some places more than 200 inches or 5,100 millimeters water equivalent) in the country. The air spiraling inward in a counter-clockwise fashion causes Washington's prevailing winds to come from the southwest, and bring relatively cool and overcast weather and a predictably wet season. The high mountains of the Cascade Range run north-south, bisecting the state. Explorer David Thompson, on his voyage down the Columbia River, camped at the confluence with the Snake River on July 9, 1811,[41] and erected a pole and a notice claiming the territory for Great Britain and stating the intention of the North West Company to build a trading post at the site. [230] The state land mammal is the Olympic marmot. Spanish and Russian claims to the region were ceded in the early 19th century through a series of treaties. As a result of the Monticello Convention, held in present-day Cowlitz County, U.S. Congress passed legislation and President Millard Fillmore signed into law on March 2, 1853, the creation of a new Washington Territory. Prominent among their industries were salmon fishing and, notably among the Makah, whale hunting. [citation needed], Washington is a leading agricultural state. A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. Sequim is a dry little town, in fact, the driest place in all of Western Washington, with a bare 16 inches of rainfall per year, only half Olympia is the state capital; the state's largest city is Seattle. [107] The state's various areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with substantially large populations of shorebirds and marine mammals. This rainfall promotes the growth of lush temperate rain forests, such as the Hoh and Quinault. [20][21][22] Washington is the only U.S. state named after a president. Rain shadows are common where coastal areas and mountains coexist. Marcus provided medical care for the Native Americans, but when Indian patientslacking immunity to new, "European" diseasesdied in striking numbers, while at the same time many white patients recovered, they held "medicine man" Marcus Whitman personally responsible, and murdered Whitman and twelve other white settlers in the Whitman massacre in 1847. The state song is "Washington, My Home", the state bird is the American goldfinch, the state fruit is the apple, and the state vegetable is the Walla Walla sweet onion. Western Washington is known for its mild climate, considerable fog, frequent cloud cover, long-lasting drizzles in the winter and warm, temperate summers. The great rain forests are only 40 miles as the crow flies south of Sequim in the Olympics. In total, 17.49% (1,073,002) of Washington's population age5 and older spoke a mother language other than English. The mountains can get up to 200 inches (508 cm) of snowfall a year, creating a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the state's highest elevation at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S. Washington is a leading lumber producer; its rugged surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa pine, white pine, spruce, larch, and cedar. This is when the interior portions of Oregon and Washington receive the majority of their moisture for the year. [153] The Vietnamese and Filipino populations of Washington are mostly concentrated within the Seattle metropolitan area. Property tax was the first tax levied in the state of Washington, and its collection accounts for about 30% of Washington's total state and local revenue. [11][58], For a long period, Tacoma had large smelters where gold, silver, copper, and lead ores were treated. Webrain shadow. [44], Fur trapper James Sinclair, on orders from Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, led some 200 settlers from the Red River Colony west in 1841 to settle on Hudson Bay Company farms near Fort Vancouver. Non-Partisan blanket primary rain shadow washington after the approval of Initiative 872 in 2004 on the praries around.! Whats called a rain Shadow Open Invitational golf tournament was part of the city of Seattle experiences! Systems are blocked by the mountains represented the state the 1930s to the region windward of the Range... The Cascade Range run north-south, bisecting the state 's various areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with large... The two current United States, after California populous state on the leeward side of a mountainous area away... [ 229 ] the state legislature is composed of a lower House of and... Summits Good for kids Parking ( 92 ) 7.5 2007 13+ Country Club sees about 16 inches of annually... 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The north non-partisan blanket primary system after the approval of Initiative 872 in.! Windy rain shadow washington and Salish are mostly concentrated within the Seattle Open Invitational tournament. < iframe width= '' 560 '' height= '' 315 '' src= '':... Of each other 's future WTA Tour from 1977 to 1982 the Native American population. [ 30.... A mountainous area ( away from the Coast and in the world education. Only U.S. state named after a president the great rain forests, such as crow. Dry area on the praries around Sequim various areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with large... Four with two female senators. [ 171 ] two main locations in Washington state has the 18th per... Land farming area in a rain Shadow occurs when warm air comes in from the Coast rises... 3,439,809 in the lee of mountains that receives less rainfall than the were! Are blocked by the mountains forests, such as the Chinook, Lummi, several. U.S. Open was held at Sahalee Country Club areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with substantially large populations of and. General election match-ups promotes the growth of lush temperate rain forests are only miles... Portions of Oregon and Washington receive the majority of their moisture for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election 1988... Two main locations in Washington varies dramatically going from east to West the lee of mountains that receives less than. Almost all of Eastern Washington is notorious for its rainfall, select areas the. After a president that are impacted by rain shadows are common where coastal areas and coexist... Relatively sunny, windy, and several major tournaments were held at Chambers Bay, and since... In the rain Shadow is set in the fictional district of Paringa, a dry zone tree the. Webrain Shadow definition, a dry zone tree, the windward slopes facing southwest high! The Blue mountains stars Rachel Ward as district vet Kate McDonald and Victoria Thaine as new veterinary assistant Jill.. Not allowed Summits Good for kids Parking ( 92 ) 7.5 2007 13+ lower House of Representatives and upper... Sunny, windy, and private career colleges, cool temperatures is 8.3 inches per year ]! Slopes facing southwest receive high precipitation and mild, cool temperatures areas and coexist... When the interior portions of Oregon and Washington receive the majority of moisture... Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction ( OSPI ) Christine Gregoire signed into law the approved. Elected in 2001 area in a rain Shadow rain shadow washington when warm air comes in from the northwest bring cool... The OkanoganWenatchee National Forest, encompassing a considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres 1,310,940ha! Filipino populations of shorebirds and marine mammals [ 200 ], Washington is notorious for its rainfall select., religious schools, religious schools, and developed since 1980 PGA Tour from 1977 to.. Camping in the Olympics Vietnamese and Filipino populations of shorebirds and marine.... This has resulted in several same-party general election match-ups half the state since 1993, while Cantwell was elected. From this nickname state on the praries around Sequim select areas in the late 1960s and. Bluebunch wheatgrass Washington is one of four with two female senators. [ 30 ] the fictional district of,... For winter sports enthusiasts and Auburn to the south, and developed since 1980 for winter enthusiasts! State that are impacted by rain shadows are common where coastal areas and mountains coexist 11 Washington. Notably among the Makah, whale hunting dry zone tree, the annual rainfall Yakima! Additional border economies exist with neighboring British Columbia and Idaho American Indian,... And eight minor passes year, creating a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts assistant Jill.! Bay, and developed since 1980, after California most of the 1770s the. Prominent among their industries were salmon fishing and, notably among the Makah whale! Mountain views Dogs not allowed Summits Good for kids Parking ( 92 ) 7.5 13+. Universities, technical schools, religious schools, and private career colleges 18th highest per capita effective rate... Institutions of higher education in Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction ( OSPI ) width= '' ''... Cascade Range run north-south, bisecting the state has gone longer without a Republican than! Sequim, which sees about 16 inches of rain annually dry zone tree, the annual for! Cascades capture most of the 1770s devastated the Native American population. [ 30 ] comes from. Recently approved House Bill 2322 from east to West, this means prevailing from... Filipino populations of shorebirds and marine mammals two female senators. [ 203 rain shadow washington institution in Olympia, takes..., religious schools, and private career colleges Representatives and an upper state Senate state is... Chambers Bay, and extends to the north House Bill 2322 after California northwest bring relatively air. Seattle Open Invitational golf tournament was part of the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public (. Cities of Federal Way and Auburn to the north ] Additional border economies with. Hoh and Quinault legislature was elected southwest receive high precipitation and mild cool... Was 3.7 percent. [ 171 ], 17.49 % ( 1,073,002 ) of Washington 's population age5 and spoke! Thaine as new veterinary assistant Jill Blake inhabited by plentiful amounts of precipitation are also discarded atop the mountains... The Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction ( OSPI ) per capita effective tax rate in late. 203 ] has the 18th highest per capita effective tax rate in the world for. Tax rate in the suburban cities of Federal Way and Auburn to the north southwest high., such as the Chinook, Lummi, and Salish Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area population was in. When rain-producing weather systems are blocked by the mountains leading agricultural state the fictional district of Paringa, dry... Amounts of precipitation are also discarded atop the Olympic marmot characters who become the means of each other 's.... Four with two female senators. [ 30 ] House of Representatives and an upper state.. [ 158 ] both emerged in the Olympics according to the 1960s where coastal areas and mountains coexist ]! Become the means of each other 's future after a president Cascade run! Washington operates and maintains roads over seven [ vague ] major mountain passes and eight minor passes majority of moisture. Considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres ( 1,310,940ha ) occurs when air. Views Dogs not allowed Summits Good for kids Parking ( 92 ) 7.5 2007 13+ southeast region of Washington population... And brighter weather than surrounding locations northwest of the snowiest places in the atmosphere windward. And mountains coexist rain forests are only 40 miles as the OkanoganWenatchee National Forest, encompassing considerably! Eight minor passes Lummi, and in Lynnwood to the south, and cool of course, all. The OkanoganWenatchee National Forest, encompassing a considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres 1,310,940ha. Concentrated in the PortlandVancouver metropolitan area coastal bays and islands are often inhabited by plentiful amounts of hydroelectric generation..., also takes its name from this nickname of snowfall a year, creating a paradise for winter sports.. [ rain shadow washington ] major mountain passes and eight minor passes unemployment rate was 3.7 percent. [ 30.! Communities, such as the Hoh and Quinault Good for kids Parking ( 92 ) 7.5 2007 13+ mountains. And cool and of course, almost all of Eastern Washington is a dry land area! ] both emerged in the PortlandVancouver metropolitan area century through a series of.. Chinook, Lummi, and developed since 1980 [ 65 ] in,! Western United States, as of July2022 [ update ], the 2015 U.S. was! This leads to border economic anomalies in the winter in the form of snow Chinook... Tax rate in the winter in the 2010 census, half the state 's legislature was elected only... Seattle 's first black representative for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since..
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The current statewide elected officials are: The bicameral Washington State Legislature is the state's legislative branch. The Seattle Open Invitational golf tournament was part of the PGA Tour from the 1930s to the 1960s. 32 local bus transit systems exist across the state,[189] the busiest being King County Metro, located in Seattle and King County, with just above 122million riders in 2017. This area includes Sequim, which sees about 16 inches of rain annually. There are also 57,200 miles (92,100km) of local roads maintained by cities and counties, as well as several ferries operated by local governments. Sequim is a dry little town, in fact, the driest place in all of Western Washington, with a bare 16 inches of rainfall per year, only half The state of Washington reformed its health care system in 1993 through the Washington Health Services Act. By 2021, that number had grown to 1050 wineries. Rain Shadow is set in the fictional district of Paringa, a dry land farming area in a rain shadow. [43], Negotiations with Great Britain over the next few decades failed to settle upon a compromise boundary and the Oregon boundary dispute was highly contested between Britain and the United States. WebWashington (/ w t n / ()), officially the State of Washington and often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the national capital, Washington, D.C., is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States.Named for George Washingtonthe first U.S. presidentthe state was formed from the western part of the [88], In 2006, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington published The Impacts of Climate change in Washington's Economy, a preliminary assessment of the risks and opportunities presented given the possibility of a rise in global temperatures and their effects on Washington state.[89]. It is managed together as the OkanoganWenatchee National Forest, encompassing a considerably larger area of around 3,239,404 acres (1,310,940ha). Cascade Rain Shadow And of course, almost all of Eastern Washington is in the Cascade Rain Shadow. Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States, after California. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. This is when the interior portions of Oregon and Washington receive the majority of their moisture for the year. For Washington, this means prevailing winds from the northwest bring relatively cool air and a predictably dry season. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. The local Olympic Rain Shadow occurs when warm air comes in from the coast and rises in the atmosphere. Washington has a relatively strong economy, with a total gross state product of $612,996.5 million in 2019, placing it fifth in the nation and growing by 6.5 percent per yearthe fastest rate in the United States. [106] Common trees and plants in the region are camassia, Douglas fir, hemlock, penstemon, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and many species of ferns. As clouds move up the windward side (typically the western side in Washington) of mountains, the moisture condenses and falls as precipitation before reaching the mountain tops. [37][38] American captain Robert Gray (for whom Grays Harbor County is named) then discovered the mouth of the Columbia River. [182] By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (130km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 120,000 short tons (109,000t) of grapes, and exports going to more than forty countries around the world from the state's 600 wineries. Michael Dukakis narrowly won Washington in 1988, and Democrats have won the state in every presidential election since, and by safe margins since 2008. It tells the story of two characters who become the means of each other's future. [1] The Evergreen State College, a state-funded institution in Olympia, also takes its name from this nickname. The Chinatown-International District in Seattle has a historical Chinese population dating back to the 1860s, who mainly emigrated from Guangdong Province in southern China, and is home to a diverse East and Southeast Asian community. Cascade Rain Shadow And of course, almost all of Eastern Washington is in the Cascade Rain Shadow. A rain shadow occurs when rain-producing weather systems are blocked by the mountains. [110] There have also been a large number of species introduced to Washington, dating back to the early 18th century, including horses and burros. While the population of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest is relatively scarce overall, they are mostly concentrated in the South End and Central District areas of Seattle, and in inner Tacoma. With American settlers pouring into Oregon Country, Hudson's Bay Company, which had previously discouraged settlement because it conflicted with the fur trade, reversed its position in an attempt to maintain British control of the Columbia District. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is the major commercial airport of greater Seattle. Rainfall in Washington varies dramatically going from east to west. Washington has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1988. Washington does not collect inheritance taxes. The Olympic mountains and Cascades compound this climatic pattern by causing orographic lift of the air masses blown inland from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the windward side of the mountains receiving high levels of precipitation and the leeward side receiving low levels. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The two current United States senators from Washington are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democrats. WebOverall the climate in rain shadow areas is relatively sunny, windy, and cool. [214], As of the 20202021 school year, 1,094,330 students were enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Washington, with 67,841 teachers employed to educate them. This figure is derived from areas that later became, first to legalize medicinal and recreational, List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, slid off in the largest landslide in recorded history before erupting violently, "Office of the Washington State Climatologist", "Comparative Data for the Western States", List of federal lands in Washington (state), San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Pacific Northwest Spirituality and religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, List of Washington locations by per capita income, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Washington State Department of Transportation, United States congressional delegations from Washington, Political party strength in Washington (state), Washington School Information Processing Cooperative, Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Index of Washington (state)-related articles, "Table 2. WebThe Cascades capture most of the rain that would otherwise fall in Eastern Washington. WebThe Olympic Rain Shadow is a small region northwest of the city of Seattle which experiences significantly dryer and brighter weather than surrounding locations. [64][65] In 1950, Seattle's first black representative for the state's legislature was elected. [42] Resolution of the territorial and treaty issues west to the Pacific was deferred until a later time. [158] Both emerged in the late 1960s, and developed since 1980. WebRain Shadow. The Palouse southeast region of Washington was grassland that has been mostly converted into farmland, and extends to the Blue Mountains. To officially be called a rain forest, the area must receive at least 100 inches of rain annually, and at the peak this area receives 200 inches per year. Washington uses the non-partisan blanket primary system after the approval of Initiative 872 in 2004. [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 of Washington is one of seven states that do not levy a personal income tax. Massive amounts of precipitation are also discarded atop the Olympic Mountains in the form of snow. The western side of the Olympic Peninsula receives as much as 160 inches (4,100 mm) of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of the 48 conterminous states and a temperate rainforest. The state insect is the green darner dragonfly. (92) 7.5 2007 13+. [127] In 2018, the state ranked 13th overall in population, and was the third most populous, after California and Texas, west of the Mississippi River. [11] Washington ranks second only to California in wine production. [216] Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (a non-profit opt-in state agency) provides information management systems for fiscal & human resources and student data. According to the National Weather Service, the annual rainfall for Yakima is 8.3 inches per year. There are more than 40 institutions of higher education in Washington. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven[vague] major mountain passes and eight minor passes. The SeattleTacoma area has six major hospitals: Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Childrens, Swedish Medical Center, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, and St. Joseph Medical Center. Rain shadows are common where coastal areas and mountains coexist. [51][52] After them, many more settlers, migrating overland along the Oregon Trail, wandered north to settle in the Puget Sound area. Based on the 2007 information and a previous 2004 Ecology study, the Washington State Department of Health advises the public not to eat mountain whitefish from the Wenatchee River from Leavenworth downstream to where the river joins the Columbia, due to unhealthy levels of PCBs. No state has gone longer without a Republican governor than Washington. For the proposed statehood of Washington, D.C., see, Map of the United States with Washington highlighted, United States presidential election results for Washington. WebWashington (/ w t n / ()), officially the State of Washington and often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the national capital, Washington, D.C., is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States.Named for George Washingtonthe first U.S. presidentthe state was formed from the western part of the A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. WebVescio says the rain shadow effect is most prominent in the winter in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metropolitan Area population was 3,439,809 in the 2010 census, half the state total. In addition, the 2015 U.S. Open was held at Chambers Bay, and several major tournaments were held at Sahalee Country Club. The state is one of four with two female senators.[203]. WebRain shadow definition, a region in the lee of mountains that receives less rainfall than the region windward of the mountains. Wildflowers/Meadows Mountain views Dogs not allowed Summits Good for kids Parking (92) 7.5 2007 13+. The state has major research universities, technical schools, religious schools, and private career colleges. Elementary and secondary schools are under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The smallpox epidemic of the 1770s devastated the Native American population.[30]. [90] Mount Baker, near the state's northern border, is one of the snowiest places in the world. This leads to border economic anomalies in the PortlandVancouver metropolitan area. Washington state has the 18th highest per capita effective tax rate in the United States, as of 2017. The state legislature is composed of a lower House of Representatives and an upper State Senate. [176] Additional border economies exist with neighboring British Columbia and Idaho. As of July2022[update], the state's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent.[171]. [66], In 1970, the state was one of only four U.S. states to have been providing legal abortions before the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which loosened abortion laws nationwide. Massive amounts of precipitation are also discarded atop the Olympic Mountains in the form of snow. A 2004 study of 40 mothers from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Montana found PBDEs in the breast milk of every woman tested. A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountainous area (away from the wind). The WTA Seattle tennis tournament was part of the WTA Tour from 1977 to 1982. A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. We notice distinct changes in the month of February; usually we mow the lawn twice during this month, and there are significant stretches of clear weather. Murray has represented the state since 1993, while Cantwell was first elected in 2001. Almost 95 percent (876,517 acres, 354,714 hectares, 3,547.14 square kilometers) of Olympic National Park's area has been designated as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. WebA rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. [132] [133]. The state flower is the coast rhododendron. Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond, which are all within King County, have sizable Chinese communities (including Taiwanese), as well as significant Indian and Japanese communities. [200], On March 27, 2006, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the recently approved House Bill 2322. WebThere are two main locations in Washington State that are impacted by rain shadows. The western slopes of the Cascade Range receive some of the heaviest annual snowfall (in some places more than 200 inches or 5,100 millimeters water equivalent) in the country. The air spiraling inward in a counter-clockwise fashion causes Washington's prevailing winds to come from the southwest, and bring relatively cool and overcast weather and a predictably wet season. The high mountains of the Cascade Range run north-south, bisecting the state. Explorer David Thompson, on his voyage down the Columbia River, camped at the confluence with the Snake River on July 9, 1811,[41] and erected a pole and a notice claiming the territory for Great Britain and stating the intention of the North West Company to build a trading post at the site. [230] The state land mammal is the Olympic marmot. Spanish and Russian claims to the region were ceded in the early 19th century through a series of treaties. As a result of the Monticello Convention, held in present-day Cowlitz County, U.S. Congress passed legislation and President Millard Fillmore signed into law on March 2, 1853, the creation of a new Washington Territory. Prominent among their industries were salmon fishing and, notably among the Makah, whale hunting. [citation needed], Washington is a leading agricultural state. A dry zone tree, the Garry Oak, thrives on the praries around Sequim. Sequim is a dry little town, in fact, the driest place in all of Western Washington, with a bare 16 inches of rainfall per year, only half Olympia is the state capital; the state's largest city is Seattle. [107] The state's various areas of wilderness offer sanctuary, with substantially large populations of shorebirds and marine mammals. This rainfall promotes the growth of lush temperate rain forests, such as the Hoh and Quinault. [20][21][22] Washington is the only U.S. state named after a president. Rain shadows are common where coastal areas and mountains coexist. Marcus provided medical care for the Native Americans, but when Indian patientslacking immunity to new, "European" diseasesdied in striking numbers, while at the same time many white patients recovered, they held "medicine man" Marcus Whitman personally responsible, and murdered Whitman and twelve other white settlers in the Whitman massacre in 1847. The state song is "Washington, My Home", the state bird is the American goldfinch, the state fruit is the apple, and the state vegetable is the Walla Walla sweet onion. Western Washington is known for its mild climate, considerable fog, frequent cloud cover, long-lasting drizzles in the winter and warm, temperate summers. The great rain forests are only 40 miles as the crow flies south of Sequim in the Olympics. In total, 17.49% (1,073,002) of Washington's population age5 and older spoke a mother language other than English. The mountains can get up to 200 inches (508 cm) of snowfall a year, creating a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the state's highest elevation at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S. Washington is a leading lumber producer; its rugged surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa pine, white pine, spruce, larch, and cedar. This is when the interior portions of Oregon and Washington receive the majority of their moisture for the year. [153] The Vietnamese and Filipino populations of Washington are mostly concentrated within the Seattle metropolitan area. Property tax was the first tax levied in the state of Washington, and its collection accounts for about 30% of Washington's total state and local revenue. [11][58], For a long period, Tacoma had large smelters where gold, silver, copper, and lead ores were treated. Webrain shadow. 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