Economy of Washington State

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 30 June 2010

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Demography And Social Indicators

Washington is situated in the pacific northwest of the United States being bordered by Idaho; Oregon; the Pacific Ocean; and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The state has a total geographical area of 71,300 sq mi; with total land area of 66,544 sq mi; and total acres forested 21.8 mil.
The food processing and growing tourism industry are considered as the major sources of revenues for the economy.

Demography And Social Indicators
The estimated population of the state as of 2005 is calculated at 6,287,759 in comparison to 6,203,788 in July 2004. The net change in population 2002-03 is 1.1%. According to the US Census 2000, the total population in the state was 5,894,121. The population density is estimated at 92.1 per sq mi.

With regards to the Racial Distribution 2000, White 81.8%; black 3.2%; Asian 5.5%; Native American 1.6%.

Business and Economy of Washington

The Gross state product in 2001 was $223.0 billion. The per capita personal income in 2003 was $33,332.

Among the various sectors in the economy, Chief industries include advanced technology, aerospace, biotechnology, trade, forestry, tourism, recycling agriculture and food processing.

Important manufacturing goods are computer software, aircraft, pulp and paper, lumber and ply wood, aluminum, processed foods and vegetables, machinery and electronics.

Major crops are apples, potatoes, hay and farm forest products.

Livestock (Jan 2004): 1.12 mil Cattle/calves; 46,000 sheep/lambs; (Jan 2003): 24,000 hogs/pigs; (Dec 2003): 6.2 mil chickens.

Apart from this, the chief mineral products in the state are sand and gravel, cement, stone, and diatomite.

Energy Production In Washington
Electricity Production (est. 2003, kwh by source):

Petroleum 8 mil; Gas 2.2 bil; Hydroelectric 70.1 bil; Nuclear 7.6 bil; Other 490 mil.

Tourist Attraction Of Washington
The important tourist places in the state are as follows

  • Seattle Waterfront, Seattle;
  • Seattle Center and space Needle, Seattle;
  • Museum of Flight, Seattle;
  • Under ground Tour, Seattle;
  • Mt. Rainer, Olympic, and north cascades Natl. parks;
  • Mt. St. Helens;
  • Puget Sound;
  • San Juan Islands;
  • Grand Coulee Dam;
  • Spokane's River Front Park.

Colleges, Schools and Universities In Washington

  • Antioch University Seattle
  • Argosy University/Seattle
  • Art Institute of Seattle
  • Bastyr University
  • City University
  • Cornish College of the Arts
  • Central Washington University
  • Eastern Washington University
  • The Evergreen State College
  • University of Washington
  • Washington State University
  • Western Washington University
  • DeVry University
  • Gonzaga University
  • Henry Cogswell College
  • Heritage College
  • School of Visual Concepts
  • Seattle Bible College
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Seattle University
  • Trinity Lutheran College
  • University of Puget Sound
  • Walla Walla College

Further Readings



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