Washington

Washington, the only state named after a U.S. president, gained its statehood in 1889.

[SEE: What Washington Is Doing to Combat the Coronavirus]

The Evergreen State is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream with its geological diversity, ranging from mountains to deserts, rainforests and a Pacific coastline. It offers the Olympic Mountains, the San Juan Islands and Mount Rainier, one of the nation’s highest peaks in the Lower 48.

In addition to its scenic treasures, Washington is known as the birthplace of Starbucks coffee, The Boeing Co. and Microsoft Corp. Because of its coastal location, Washington is a key exporter for the U.S., particularly for transportation equipment. Additionally, Washington is crucial to the nation’s food and agriculture industry, generating 70% of the country’s apples, and also leading in milk, potato and cattle production.

The aerospace industry is a major economic driver for the state. The military and defense sector employs the second-largest number of people in Washington, with more than 127,000 active duty, reserve, guard and civilian personnel. Others successful industries include maritime, technology and clean energy.

Seattle – marked by its iconic Space Needle, which rests high above the rest of the city and lights up the night sky – is by far the state’s most populous city. Despite its reputation for rainy weather, Seattle has an average of 152 days of measurable rain per year.