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Washington State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#6 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

It is one of the most populous and largest states of the United States. It has over seven million citizens and 71,362 square miles of area. This region is often confused with the USA’s capital, so that’s why people usually call it the Washington state to make a difference between both terms. There are many reasons why this province is in position #6 on our list. This guide provides some of the most relevant and interesting facts about Washington, including its history, geography, and other resources.

Updated: April 21, 2021
  • Area
    71,362 SQ. MI.
  • Capital
    Olympia
  • Population
    7,614,893
  • Income
    $70,979
  • Home Value
    $470,304
  • Crime
    22,377
  • Unemployment
    6.3%
  • Education
    34.5%
  • Medicine
    13
  • Poverty
    10.1%
  • Environment
    15
  • Infrastructure
    10.70%

Washington (the abbreviation is WA) was founded on November 4th, 1861, and the state name was inspired by the first president in the history of the nation, George Washington. This region covers the northwest area of the country and shares borders with the Pacific Ocean, British Columbia to the north, Idaho to the east, and Oregon to the South. 
Its most populous and largest city is Seattle, which is also considered one of the country’s fastest-growing cities. The capital city is Olympia. The most important industry in the region is agriculture, which consists of $9.5 billion of the state economy. 

However, this province also has other leading industries such as tourism, aircraft, hydroelectric power, and technology. Although Seattle is not considered a tech hub in 2021, according to Business Journals, it still has many robust computer software companies such as Microsoft and Amazon. 

When it comes to agriculture, this territory is the largest producer of apples in the United States. This region also has a leading Lumber production, a hard/softwood used in furniture and heating processes. However, people can also see that this area is rich in other plants like white and ponderosa pines. Most of the land area in the territory is covered by forests. 

The black-tailed deer is one of the most common animals in the region, and they inhabit the Olympic National Park. There are also other animals like bobcats, grey wolves, and cougars. An interesting fact about this region is that it has more glaciers than all the other states combined. 

The climate varies depending on the zone. In the north, there is semi-permanently high and low-pressure weather. There is a Mediterranean climate in the west, and it’s dry on the east with the mountains. 

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States To Live In

Keep in mind that all the information in this guide comes from trustworthy resources like governmental sites, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the FBI, and the United Health Foundation. All the data was carefully selected to describe the most meaningful and accurate information. It mostly represents the vital metrics that outlined a list of the best states to live in.

Washington Rankings

  • Population
    #13
    Population
    Data: 7,614,893

    The population here has one of the highest density. 75.38% of them are white Americans, 3.80% are African American, and 5.85% have other races. Living in a populous province has many benefits. One of them is the significant intellectual capital, which means more business success.

  • Median Income
    #4
    Income in $
    Data: $70,979

    It has one of the highest median salaries in the United States. The leading industries are real estate, IT, and the government, where 17.6% of the citizens work. This province has 205,446 millionaire households. The state charges a property tax of 1%, which is relatively low but is around $3,600 on average.

  • Home Value
    #4
    Home Value
    Data: $470,304

    The average home value is among the most expensive ones in the country. It is the number four in the rate after Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts. The real estate prices are only going up. The cost might reach almost $500,000 by the end of 2021. The average rent price is $1,995.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #30
    Unemployment
    Data: 6.3%

    Washington’s unemployment rate is below average. Oregon and Alaska have the same exact rate. It is a relatively low percentage compared to other states like Hawaii or California. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics page, the current number of unemployed citizens in the area is 215,906.

  • Poverty
    #11
    Poverty
    Data: 10.1%

    The poverty rate is one of the lowest in the country. Females, who represent 11.66% of the poor population, are the largest group in the community compared to 9.94% of men. When it comes to race, native Americans are the most likely to live in poverty

  • Education
    #11
    Education
    Data: 34.5%

    The region has maintained a high educational attainment rate in the history of the country, and it’s rank is right below Minnesota. Women are more likely to go to college than men, according to a census. The number of people who obtained a bachelor’s degree is 1,955,632, and 750,904 continued with advanced education.

  • Medicine
    #8
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 13

    This region is positioned #8 in the rate when it comes to medicine and healthcare. The uninsured rate in the area is 6.6% which is low compared to the average percentage of 9.2%. According to several reports, the healthcare quality in this province is proficient and efficient in both public and private institutions.

  • Crime Rate
    #35
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 22,377

    The crime rate is higher than the average in the country. However, it is still lower than states like California or Texas, with over 100,000 violent crimes per year. The most common type of crime is the aggravated assault, which represents half of the total violent crimes in the area. Tukwila is the most dangerous city in the region, with a 1053.2 crime rate.

  • Natural Environment
    #37
    Environment
    Air: 15

    The most common air pollutants in contact with the environment are outdoor burning and vehicle contamination. Washington fires, on the other hand, have consumed 500,000 acres in the region. It has several green areas that make part of the territory clean and natural. However, urbanization has brought certain pollutant agents that affect the city’s environmental quality.

  • Infrastructure
    #31
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 10.70%

    Washington has 10.70% of roads in poor conditions. The infrastructure here isn’t terrible, but it is among the states with the poorest rate. However, other states like Rhode Island have a higher rate of bad roads with 24.60%. The most dangerous highway in WA is the SR 18. The average time to work is 27.90 mins.

Washington Facts

  • The flag and logo were designed in 1923. The background is green, with George W’s image.
  • The state bird is the Spinus Tristis or American goldfinch.
  • There are around 100 Washington state parks.
  • This state’s nickname is the Evergreen State.
  • Although it’s not official, the state motto is “Al-ki”, which means “By and by”.
  • The state tree is Western Hemlock.
  • The state flower is Coast Rhododendron.
  • This province’s governor is Jay Inslee.
  • When it comes to gun law, citizens can have guns in their vehicles only if they’re licensed.
  • The major sports played in this province are Ice hockey, football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. Most universities have their teams competing in national games, such as the WS Cougars, which logo contains a red cougar.
  • The demonym for citizens is Washingtonians.
  • The state fair is one of the largest in the world, and it’s officially considered the biggest fair in the Pacific Northwest.
  • This state’s zip codes are 585, according to a recent national census.
  • This province is also known for having the largest volcanic mudflow formation in the world.

Washington in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • What State Is Washington Dc In?

    Washington DC isn’t part of any state. However, it is located in District Columbia, and it is the United State’s capital. As for the geography, this city is bordered by Maryland to the east, west, and north. Virginia is to the south of this area.

  • What Time Zone Is Washington State?

    The time zone is UTC-8 (Pacific Time). This region has daylight saving time. In the spring, they have 1 hour reduced from their previous schedule (UTC-7).

  • What Is Minimum Wage In Washington?

    In 2021, the minimum wage per hour in this province is $13.69, according to the government’s website. The annual minimum salary in this region is $28,475, and the overtime pay rate is 1.5 times the hourly rate.

  • What Is WA Sales Tax?

    The sales tax is 6.5%. The statute determines it (RCW 82.08. 020). Keep in mind that cities and counties may have additional taxes. This tax rate has a medium level compared to other states.

  • How Many Counties In the Evergreen State?

    According to a recent census, there are 39 Washington counties, including Kitsap, Cowlitz, and King County. The latter is the largest in population (1,859,284 citizens) and home to the most populous city in the province: Seattle.