- Nickname: Evergreen State
- Motto: Al-Ki (By and by)
- Flower: Coast rhododendron
- Bird: Willow goldfinch
- Area: 71,299 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 18th)
- Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 14,410 feet
above sea level
- Climate: Generally mild and humid in the western
region dominated by the Pacific Ocean; semi arid in the
eastern region; heavy snows in higher elevation
- Admitted to Union: November 11, 1889
- Capital: Olympia
- Head Official: Governor Christine Gregoire (D)
(until 2009)
- Population
- 1980: 4,132,000
- 1990: 4,866,692
- 2000: 5,894,121
- 2004 estimate: 6,203,788
- Percent change, 1990–2000: 21.1%
- U.S. rank in 2004: 15th
- Percent of residents born in state: 47.2% (2000)
- Density: 88.6 people per square mile (2000)
- 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 309,931
- Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
White: 4,821,823
- Black or African American: 190,267
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 93,301
- Asian: 322,335
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 23,953
- Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 441,509
- Other: 228,923
- Age Characteristics (2000)
- Population under 5 years old: 394,306
- Population 5 to 19 years old: 1,288,713
- Percent of population 65 years and over: 11.2%
- Median age: 35.3 years (2000)
- Vital Statistics
- Total number of births (2003): 80,091
- Total number of deaths (2003): 44,736 (infant
deaths, 416)
- AIDS cases reported through 2003: 5,108
- Economy
- Major industries: Trade; manufacturing; finance,
insurance, and real estate; government; services;
agriculture
- Unemployment rate: 5.5% (February 2005)
- Per capita income: $33,264 (2003; U.S. rank:
13th)
- Median household income: $45,960 (3-year average,
2001-2003)
- Percentage of persons below poverty level: 10.6%
(1999)
- Income tax rate: None
- Sales tax rate: 6.5% (food and prescription drugs
are exempt)
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