What is the abbreviation for Washington, and what region is it in?

Washington's two-letter postal abbreviation is WA. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the West region, in the Pacific division, and about 7.71 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When was the state of Washington founded?

Washington became the 42nd state on November 11, 1889. Congress created the Washington Territory in 1853 from the northern part of the Oregon Territory, and the 1846 Oregon Treaty with Great Britain had already set the border with Canada at the 49th parallel.

Is Washington State the same as Washington, D.C.?

No. Washington State is in the Pacific Northwest, about 2,300 miles from Washington, D.C., the nation's capital on the East Coast, which is a federal district and not part of any state. Both are named for George Washington, and Washington is the only state named for a U.S. president.

What is the capital of Washington, and has it always been the capital?

Olympia has been the capital since the Washington Territory was organized in 1853, and voters confirmed it as the state capital after statehood. Its Legislative Building, completed in 1928, has one of the tallest masonry domes in the world. Seattle is the state's largest city.

What states and countries border Washington?

Washington borders Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south, much of it along the Columbia River. To the north it borders the Canadian province of British Columbia, and its western edge is Pacific Ocean coastline and the inland waters of Puget Sound.

What happened when Mount St. Helens erupted?

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in southwestern Washington erupted after a massive landslide removed its north face, killing 57 people and flattening about 230 square miles of forest. It was the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history, and the area is now Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

What are Washington's nickname, motto, and symbols?

Washington is known as "The Evergreen State," for its vast forests. Its motto is "Al-ki," a Chinook Jargon word meaning "by and by." Its state bird is the willow goldfinch, its flower is the coast rhododendron, and its tree is the western red cedar.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Washington have?

Based on the 2020 census, Washington has 10 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 12 votes in the Electoral College.

State Guide42nd StateEst. 1889

Washington WA

"The Evergreen State"

Ancient rainforests and volcanic peaks. The world's two largest tech companies. Sixty percent of America's apples. The eruption that blew a mountain apart. Boeing, Starbucks, Amazon, and the salmon that have shaped this land for ten thousand years. Washington is where the Pacific meets the continent, and where the future has been built more than once.

State Debt - FY2024

$30.6 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$37.3 billion

Total Washington state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Washington has no general income tax, so collections are led by the state sales and use tax ($23B) and the business and occupation gross receipts tax, plus a newer tax on large capital gains.

Borrowing

Washington issues general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit, sold to investors in the municipal bond market, along with motor vehicle fuel tax bonds for transportation. The state constitution caps how much it can spend on debt service as a share of general revenues. The state reported about $1.2 billion in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

1889

Year of statehood

7.9M

People (2025 est.)

Apple producer in the U.S.

$4T+

Combined market cap, Amazon & Microsoft

Washington's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hey there, Washington. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing your member of the U.S. House and your state legislators, plus three statewide initiatives and local races.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. There's no governor or U.S. Senate race in Washington this year.

Washington uses a top-two system: the two candidates with the most votes in August, regardless of party, face off in November. Candidates list a party preference, which doesn't mean the party nominated or endorsed them.

Your ballot comes in the mail. Key dates and how voting works are right below. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Ballots mailed to every voter by	Friday, October 16
Deadline to register or update your address online or by mail	Monday, October 26
Election Day: drop boxes close and in-person registration ends at 8 p.m.; mailed ballots must be postmarked by today	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Washington

Every registered voter gets a ballot in the mail. Sign the envelope and return it to an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or by mail with no stamp needed.

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day; the state recommends mailing yours more than a week early. Ballots in a drop box by 8 p.m. are guaranteed on time.

After October 26, you can still register and vote in person at a county voting center through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Check your registration, track your ballot, and find drop boxes and voting centers at VoteWA.gov.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Washington's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hey there, Washington. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing your member of the U.S. House and your state legislators, plus three statewide initiatives and local races.

Your ballot comes in the mail. Key dates and how voting works are right below. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Ballots mailed to every voter by

Friday, October 16

Deadline to register or update your address online or by mail

Monday, October 26

Election Day: drop boxes close and in-person registration ends at 8 p.m.; mailed ballots must be postmarked by today

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Washington

Every registered voter gets a ballot in the mail. Sign the envelope and return it to an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or by mail with no stamp needed.

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day; the state recommends mailing yours more than a week early. Ballots in a drop box by 8 p.m. are guaranteed on time.

After October 26, you can still register and vote in person at a county voting center through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Check your registration, track your ballot, and find drop boxes and voting centers at VoteWA.gov.

Washington's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Washington

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Washington's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Washington

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading