21 Interesting Washington State Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published March 26, 2024

Washington produces more apples than any other state in America._[7]
Washington state is the only state named after a U.S. president. It also has the only state flag with a picture of a president._[7]
Washington state produces more red raspberries, pears, apples, and sweet cherries than any other state in America._[6]
Famous people from Washington include Bill Gates, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Bing Crosby, Chris Cornell, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Macklemore._[3]
Washington is second after California in wine production for the United States._[13]

Green represents the "verdant fields" of western Washington

Washington is the only state with a green state flag._[6]
Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry system in the United States. The WSF transports around 20 million people each year to different ports of call._[11]
In 1889, several large cities in Washington vied to become the capital. Ultimately, Olympia won when two brothers built a three-story governor's mansion and hosted a delicious clambake for delegates._[5]
The town where the book Twilight takes place—Forks, Washington—is a real town in Washington state. The population is about 3000, and, as in the books, it is very cloudy. While Twilight wasn't actually filmed in Forks, it was filmed in adjacent areas._[14]
Washington's Mount Saint Helens' eruption on May 18, 1989, was one of the greatest volcanic explosions ever recorded in North America. It went from being the fifth tallest peak in Washington to the 35th in just 9 hours._[2]
Washington's nickname is the Evergreen State because of its many forests._[7]

Mount Shuksan in Washington is one of the most photographed peaks in the Cascades

Snoqualmie Falls in Washington is over 286 feet tall, which is more than twice as high as Niagara Falls._[8]
Mount Rainer, also known as Tahoma, Tacoma, or Tacobet, is the tallest mountain in Washington, with a summit of 14,411 feet._[6]
Seattle's Pike Place Market is the largest continuously operating public market in the United States._[1]

The Space Needle can withstand wind speeds of

200 mph and earthquakes with a magnitude of 9.1

Approximately 1.3 million people visit the privately owned Space Needle every year. Its design was influenced by both a flying saucer and the feminine form._[9]
Washington is the second most glaciated state in America, after Alaska._[6]
Washington state's Boeing factory is the largest manufacturing facility in the world and the largest building in the world by volume._[10]
Inventions from Washington include Father's Day, bread clips, and pickleball._[12]
Washington is home to the world's largest freezer. The 2800 Polar Way cold storage facility can hold over 350 million pounds of frozen food._[4]
Over 60% of Washington residents live in the Seattle area._[7]
The most visited spot in Washington state is Olympic National Park. Around 3 million people visit the park annually._[7]