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Washington becomes the 42nd state!
Washington (Evergreen State) is the only state to be named after a president. The state currently has 6.8 million people living in it. Many technology firms such as Microsoft and Boeing support its economy. Agriculture also plays a large role. -
Klondike Gold Rush begins!
A steamship called Portland arrived in Seattle with gold from the Klondike River. Seattle grew rapidly because it was a place of departure for miners to go in to the gold fields. -
A law is passed that women can vote in state eletions!
Women’s suffrage was a big problem in the 19th and part of the 20th century. Women held campaigns and marches for women’s rights. -
The Boeing Company is incorporated!
Boeing is a company that employs more Washingtonians that any other company and manufactures aircraft, one of Washington’s leading products. -
The Grand Coulee Dam is finished!
The Grand Coulee Dam took nine years to complete and is the largest concrete structure in North America! It’s about 1 mile long! -
Starbucks is founded in Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA!
Starbucks was named after a character in Moby Dick and started out as a small shop selling high quality coffee in Seattle but now it has 15,000 stores around the world! -
Dixie Lee Ray takes office!
Dixie Lee Ray was the first woman governor of Washington and was born in Tacoma, WA. She also was director of Pacific Science Center in Seattle and never ran for any other office before she became the governor of WA! -
Microsoft moves to Bellevue, WA from Albuquerque, NM!
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, the world’s leading producer in computer software. Bill Gates grew up in Seattle and went to Harvard but dropped out in his junior year. -
Mt. Saint Helens erupts!
Mt. Saint Helens is an active volcano in the Cascade Range of WA. It is very well known know because its destructive eruption where it destroyed the top of the volcano and reduced the height of Mt Saint Helens by 1,300 feet! -
Gary Locke takes office!
Gary Locke was the first Chinese governor of any U.S. state. When he was young he worked in a grocery store owned by his parents. He became involved in politics and was elected to the House of Representatives. After that he was elected governor of Washington.
