Washington: The Evergreen State

The State of Washington joined the United States of America on November 11, 1889, making it the 42nd state accepted into the Union. The name of the state comes from America's first president, Gen. George Washington. Washington has come to be known as the Evergreen State because of its vast evergreen forests. Its highest point is Mt. Rainier, at 14,410 feet.

As of the year 2000 Washington was the 15th most populous state with 5,894,121 residents. Those residents have plenty of room, as this is also the 18th largest state with 71,303 square miles of land.

Washington is the home state of several celebrities. Rock stars Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix were both born in the state. Legendary game show host Bob Barker is also from Washington, as well as TV Batman Adam West. Several stars have also visited the state to film Oscar winning movies. "The Hunt For Red October," "The Deer Hunter" and "An Officer and a Gentleman" were all shot in Washington.

The state is symbolized by the coast rhododendron. The coastal area of the state is also embodied in the name of Washington's sporting teams. The Seattle Mariners represent Washington in Major League Baseball and the Seattle Seahawks play in the National Football League.

There are a number of high ranking colleges and universities in Washington state. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, located in Seattle, Washington, is one of the best culinary colleges in the world. Washington State University is ranked among the top ten college or universities in the state.

Tourism is one of Washington's major industries. Those visiting the state can go to Camlann Medieval Village in Carnation, Washington. This attraction is a living history museum that takes place in a replica of a rural village in nineteenth century England. The Northwest Maritime Center also attracts tourists. At the center, visitors can learn about both modern and old-fashioned marine techniques. To experience the artistic history of Washington, tourists can attend the Annas Bay Music Festival. The festival takes place on the state's first artist's colony and combines both live entertainment with interactive lessons on the state's creative history.

While tourism is the state's most well-known commerce, Washington has supported a successful farming industry for hundreds of years. Its major agricultural base is in cattle and fruits. Nuts and wheat are also harvested in the state.