Washington

 Facts, Map, and State Symbols

Washington was the 42nd state in the USA; it became a state on November 11, 1889.

State Abbreviation - WA

State Capital - Olympia

Largest City - Seattle

Area - 71,303 square miles [Washington is the 18th biggest state in the USA]

Population - 5,894,121 (as of 2000) [Washington is the 15th most populous state in the USA]

Name for Residents - Washingtonians

Major Industries - farming (fruit, berries, nuts, cattle, wheat), lumber, tourism, hydroelectric power, computer software, aircraft, aluminum refining 

Major Rivers - Columbia River, Snake River, Yakima River

Major Lakes - Lake Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lake Washington

Highest Point - Mt. Rainier - 14,410 feet (4,392 m) above sea level

Number of Counties - 39

Bordering States - Idaho, Oregon 

Bordering Country - Canada

Bordering Bodies of Water - Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound 

Origin of the Name Washington - This state is named for George Washington, the first president of the USA.

State Nickname - The Evergreen State

State Motto - "Alki" (By and By)

State Song - Washington, My Home 

Washington State Symbols and Emblems:

State Flag

Washington's official flag was adopted in 1923. The flag has a deep green background with the state seal in the center. The state seal pictures George Washington, the first president of the United States. "THE SEAL OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON" is written in black on the yellow band surrounding George Washington. The state seal was designed in 1889 by Charles Talcott. This is the only US state flag that pictures a president and the only one with a green background.

New York

New York was the 11^th state in the USA; it became a state on July 26, 1788.

State Abbreviation - NY
State Capital - Albany
Biggest City - New York City
Area - 54,475 square miles [New York is the 27th largest state in the USA]
Population - 18,976,457 (as of 2000) [New York is the third most populous state in the USA, after California and Texas]
Name for Residents - New Yorkers
Major Industries - finance, communications, international trade, publishing, fashion, communications, farming (fruit and dairy), tourism

Presidential Birthplaces
Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook on December 5, 1782 (he was the 8th US President, serving from 1837 to 1841).

Millard Fillmore was born in Locke Township (now Summerhill) on January 7, 1800 (he was the 13th US President, serving from 1850 to 1853).

Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 27, 1858 (he was the 26th US President, serving from 1901 to 1909).

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park on January 30, 1882 (he was the 32th US President, serving from 1933 to 1945).

Main Rivers - Hudson River, Mohawk River, Genesee River
Highest Point - Mt. Marcy, 5,344 feet (1,629 m) above sea level
Number of Counties - 62
Bordering States - Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island (water border)
Bordering Country - Canada
Bordering Bodies of Water - Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Champlain, Atlantic Ocean

Origin of the Name New York - The English took over of the area that had been called "New Netherland" in 1664, and renamed it New York to honor the Duke of York (York is a city in England).
State Nickname - The Empire State
State Motto - Excelsior (Ever Upwards)
State Song - "I Love New York"

Dinosaur Fossils Found in New York - Coelophysis trackways (found in the Newark Basin)

New York State Symbols and Emblems:

State Flag New York's official flag was adopted in 1901. The flag has a deep blue background. It pictures Liberty (she symbolizes freedom) and Justice (she symbolizes justice before the law). Liberty is holding a pole with a liberty cap, and has a discarded crown at her feet (which represents freedom from Britain after the Revolutionary War). Justice is blindfolded and is holding the scales of justice. A shield between them pictures the sun, hills, and 2 boats sailing on the Hudson River. Over the shield there is a globe and a bald eagle. Under them all is a white, flowing ribbon that reads "EXCELSIOR."

Florida

 Florida was the 27^th state in the USA; it was admitted on March 3, 1845.

State Abbreviation - FL
State Capital - Tallahassee
Largest City - Jacksonville
Area - 65,758 square miles [Florida is the 22nd biggest state in the USA]
Population - 15,982,378 (as of 2000) [Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas]
Name for Residents - Floridians
Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatos), electronics

Major Rivers - St. Johns River, St. Marys River, Suwannee River
Major Lakes - Lake Okeechobee, Lake George
Highest Point - A hill in Walton County - 345 feet (105 m) above sea level
Number of Counties - 67
Bordering States - Georgia, Alabama
Bordering Bodies of Water - Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico

Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was first seen by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for Spain
State Nickname - The Sunshine State
State Motto - "In God we trust."
State Song - "Swanee River"

Florida State Symbols and Emblems:

State Flag Florida's official flag was adopted in 1900. Florida's flag has a red cross of St. Andrew on a white field; in the center is the state seal, which depicts a Native American (Seminole) woman scattering flowers, the sun with many rays, palm trees (the large one is a cabbage palm), a sailing steamboat, the land and the water.