Washington

Washington became the 42nd state on November 11, 1889.

Its civic life reflects Pacific trade, technology, aerospace, agriculture, forests, ports, tribal nations, military installations, and debates over housing, transportation, climate, water, and wildfire risk. Public decisions can look very different in Seattle, Spokane, the Yakima Valley, coastal communities, tribal lands, and rural counties. This page exists to get residents from background context to Washington’s actual representatives and the primary sources that document state government.