Washington Information and Facts

Official Website: http://access.wa.gov/

Income

The population of Washington in 2002 was 6,067,060. Its rank was 15th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Washington had a per capita personal income of $32,638. This per capita personal income ranked 14th in the United States and was 106 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 1.1 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Washington was $21,709 and ranked 15th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.2 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Washington had a total personal income of $198,017,690. This total personal income ranked 14th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Washington was $112,034,871 and ranked 15th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 2.4 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Washington. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 68.7 percent of total personal income (compared with 69.0 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.7 percent (compared with 18.0 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 13.6 percent (compared with 13.0 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 1.6 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.6 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 7.7 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.8 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 5.7 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.4 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Washington increased from $149,429,361 in 2001 to $152,253,958 in 2002, an increase of 1.9 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $87,726,633 to the 2002 estimate was 5.7 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Washington, the 19th largest state of the United States, has an area of 182,949 sq km (70,637 sq mi), including 4002 sq km (1545 sq mi) of inland water, and 6503 sq km (2511 sq mi) of coastal waters over which the state has jurisdiction. The state has an extreme length, from east to west, of 607 km (377 mi) and a maximum width, from north to south, of 385 km (239 mi). The mean elevation is about 520 m (about 1700 ft).

Climate - Average January temperatures in eastern Washington range from less than -7° C (20° F) to -1° C (30° F) and often drop down to -18° C (0° F). January averages in western areas range from less than 0° C (less than 32° F) at the higher elevations to more than 4° C (more than 40° F) along the Pacific Coast. July averages in the east are from 18° to 24° C (65° to 75° F). However, daytime temperatures are often above 32° C (90° F). By contrast, July averages in the west are mostly in the vicinity of 16° C (60° F). The western coast has mild temperatures throughout most of the year, with relatively few days below freezing. The Olympic Mountains receive more precipitation than any other area in the mid-continental United States, often more than 3600 mm (more than 140 in) yearly, much of it snow. The Cascades receive almost as much, and more than 7600 mm (more than 300 in) has been known to fall on the mountain peaks in one year. Precipitation in Seattle, in the Puget Trough, averages about 910 mm (about 36 in) per year, while the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range and much of the east receive only about 380 mm (about 15 in). In parts of the Columbia Plateau in south-central Washington, an average of only about 150 mm (about 6 in) falls annually.

State Flag

State Flower - Pink Rhododendron

State Capitol - Olympia
Washington's state constitution was adopted in 1889, at the time of statehood. Amendments to the constitution are adopted with the approval of a two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the state legislature and by a majority of the electorate. Proposed amendments may also be drawn up by a constitutional convention. Convention proposals must be ratified by the public. Provisions for initiative, referendum, and recall are the most important amendments to the constitution. They were adopted in 1912.

Famous People

Adam West actor, Walla Walla
Audrey Wurdemann poet, Seattle
Bill Gates software executive, Seattle
Bing Crosby singer, actor, Tacoma
Bob Barker TV host, Darrington
Bob Crosby musician, Spokane
Carol Channing actress, Seattle
Chester F. Carlson inventor, Seattle
Douglas Dorland Anderson archaeoligist, Olympia
Dyan Cannon actress, Tacoma
Frances Farmer actress, Seattle
Francis Scobee astronaut, Cle Elum
Guthrie McClinticproducer, director, Seattle
Gypsy Rose Lee entertainer, Seattle
Hank Ketcham cartoonist, Seattle
Howard Duff actor, Bremerton
Jimi Hendrix guitarist, Seattle
Jimmie Rogers singer, Camas
John Knowles author, Faumont
John McIntire actor, Spokane
John Walker Kendall scientist, Bellingham
Judy Collins singer, Seattle
Kenny Loggins singer, songwriter, Everett
Kurt Cobain grunge rock icon, Aberdeen
Martha Wright singer, Seattle
Mary McCarthy author, Seattle
Merce Cunningham choreographer, Centralia
Patrice Munsel soprano Spokane
Phil Mahre skier, Yakima
Robert Joffrey choreographer, Seattle
Robert Motherwell artist, Aberdeen
Seattle Dwamish Suquamish Smohalla Indian prophet and chief