Statehood The 42nd state Nov. 11, 1889 Captial Olympia State Motto Alki (Bye and bye) Origin of State Name Washington was named for the first president of the United States, George Washington. State Nickname The Evergreen State Washington is known for its extensive forests of evergreen trees. Interesting Facts On May 18, 1980, Mount Saint Helens erupted in Washington, resulting in 57 deaths and billions of dollars of damage. According to the 1990 census, more than half the residents of metropolitan Seattle were born outside Washington. In 1997 Gary Locke became the first Asian American governor in the continental United States.