Happy Fun Fact Friday! Today we’re diving into one of the most irony-filled naming stories in American history, plus a treasure trove of fascinating facts about the great state of Washington.
Did you know Washington state was originally meant to be named Columbia? When Washington Territory was created in 1853, “Columbia” was the planned name — a nod to the Columbia River and the Columbia District. But Kentucky representative Richard H. Stanton thought it was too close to the nation’s capital, the District of Columbia, and successfully proposed naming the territory after President Washington instead.
Here’s where the irony kicks in: even during Washington’s statehood process in 1889, people were already frustrated by the constant confusion between Washington state and Washington, D.C. There was even a proposal to rename the new state “Tacoma” — but it never gained traction. So Washington it stayed, making it the only U.S. state named after a president. And yes, people are still confusing it with D.C. to this day. The name change solved exactly none of the problem it was meant to fix.
Washington by the numbers: It’s the 18th-largest and 13th-most populous state, home to over 8 million people — more than half of whom live in the Seattle metropolitan area. And Seattle, as it turns out, has been quietly changing the world for decades. Starbucks opened its first store at Pike Place Market in 1971. The first Costco warehouse followed in 1983. Cinnabon debuted in a suburban Seattle mall in 1985. Then in 1994, Jeff Bezos launched a little website called Amazon.com out of a converted garage in nearby Bellevue. Their move into Seattle proper helped spark a golden era for Pacific Northwest startups. Microsoft, Nordstrom, Zillow, and Eddie Bauer all call the greater Seattle area home as well.
Washington’s deep history: In 1996, two college students stumbled upon the skeletal remains of Kennewick Man near Kennewick, Washington — one of the most complete ancient human skeletons ever discovered, believed to be around 9,000 years old. Long before that, the region had been home to many well-established indigenous tribes for thousands of years. The first European contact came by sea: Spanish explorer Bruno de Heceta landed on Washington’s coast in 1775, followed by British captain James Cook in 1778.
The great outdoors: Washington is 52 percent forest, earning it the nickname “the Evergreen State.” The Cascade Range runs north to south, cutting the state in two — and with it, creating two completely different worlds. The western side is a lush temperate rainforest; the eastern side is semi-arid. The Cascades are also home to several volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, the state’s tallest peak. Washington is the most glaciated of the 48 contiguous states, boasting more than 3,000 glaciers — 25 of them on Mount Rainier alone.
Washington grows (and makes) things: Washington is a leading lumber producer and the top U.S. producer of apples, hops, pears, blueberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries. It also ranks high in grapes, potatoes, lentils, asparagus, and more. Commercial fishing — especially salmon, halibut, and bottomfish — is a significant part of the economy. And wine lovers take note: Washington ranks second in U.S. wine production, right behind California.
Washington’s quirky claim to fame: Pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island in 1965, and Washington made it the state’s official sport in 2022. But the innovation doesn’t stop there. Washington also gave the world the electric bass guitar, the portable heart defibrillator, Pictionary, and the first automated doughnut machine. Oh, and Father’s Day — conceived by a Spokane resident in 1910.
Not bad for a state that almost ended up named Columbia.