Capital: Olympia
Largest City: Seattle
Abbreviation: WA
Joined the Union: November 11, 1889
Nickname: The Evergreen State

With a temperate and rainy western half and an arid, farm-rich eastern half, Washington is split by the majestic Cascade Range that defines the landscape for residents all across the state. Characterized by an impressive series of stratovolcanoes, ages-old glaciers and expansive river valleys, the Cascades are just one of nature’s many playgrounds in the Evergreen State. Whether it’s trekking through a lush rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula or skimming the waters of the Puget Sound in search of orca whales, there’s truly no shortage of natural wonders waiting to be explored. The beauty of Washington – from the rolling Palouse to the hilly streets of Seattle – has long drawn people to its frontier of duality, making it the posterchild of the Pacific Northwest.