Moving to Washington?
Tucked in the Pacific Northwest region of United States, Washington State with its rich,
varied culture and climate is the only state that has been named after a U.S. president. Due to its huge tracts of forested
lands that have contributed both to the timber industry and the ecosystem alike, the state has been nicknamed the “Evergreen
State.”
Puget Sound - the seat of Washington's commercial and industrial development – is comprised of navigable
bays over which cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett are situated. Seattle and Everett have two firsts to their
credit - the former is famous for the first revolving restaurant while the latter is the site for the world's largest
building, Boeing's final assembly plant.
Native Americans inhabited Washington State long before the arrival
of the Europeans, whose livelihood consisted of hunting, salmon fishing, food gathering and some forms of agriculture.
These indigenous tribes were famous for their totem poles, which are sculptures carved from large Red Cedar trees. Makah,
another indigenous tribe is famous for their whaling skills in their canoes.
If you’re moving to Washington,
there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to Washington
Washington Climate
Washington is characterized by an oceanic climate which varies considerably from the west to east. The low pressure
system in the Pacific Ocean results in a wet season in Washington that has often been described by the term “Pineapple
Express.” Sometimes western Washington experiences deep freeze winters where subzero temperatures prevail. The
region east of the Cascade Mountains fall in the rain shadow region where they experience semi-arid conditions.
The precipitation increases as you travel towards the regions near the Rockies. The geographical extant of Washington
is quite varied with the Columbia Plateau, Columbia River and its tributaries in the east, while the Cascades
form a north-south divide and to the west of these Cascades lie the lowlands, Puget Trough and Puget Sound.
Registering your Car
You have 30 days to register your car in Washington from the date of the beginning
of your residency in the state of Washington. Registration is done at a local vehicle licensing office, by mail,
or in person. If your vehicle is 2009 or newer it must meet California emission standards to get registered in
the state of Washington.
Obtaining a Washington Driver's License
A driver’s license should be obtained within 30 days of becoming
a resident of the state of Washington. If you are in possession of a valid license from another state, then there
is no need for you to take the knowledge or driving test unless you have a medical condition. An expired license
from another state may require you to pass both the knowledge and the driving test. A person visiting Washington
State from another country may use his/her valid out-of-country driver license for up to one year.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, Washington was ranked 24th out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than
25 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
Washington boasts of a wide variety of industries such as aerospace, forest products, clean energy, information
and communication technology, and marine technology. Washington is a leading producer of various agricultural products
such as raspberries, strawberries, apples, concord grapes and cranberries. It is the second leading producer of wines,
second only to California.
Employment Statistics
The unemployment rate as of March 2012 in Washington was 8.3% after seasonally adjusting it, while nationally it
was 8.2%.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of Washington is $55,500, while the average per capita income
for the state is $43,564.
Moving and Storage
If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything,
you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or
with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in Washington is $327,152, while the median sales price is
just over $305,950. The Washington Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Washington.
Major landmarks and attractions
Fort Worden; Seattle Space Needle; Grand Coulee Dam; Pike Place Market Side
Street; Museum of Glass; Olympic National Park.
Largest Cities: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellevue, Bellingham
Schools
The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the management of elementary and
secondary schools. The state legislature has introduced the Running Start program, which allows students to get
higher education at public expense, while earning school and college credit. Washington offers some of the finest
higher education through its 60 public and private Universities, colleges and technical training schools. Some
of the collegiate institutions located in Washington include the University of Washington, Washington State University,
Gonzaga University, Western Washington University, and Eastern Washington University.
National Parks
Mount Rainier National Park
North Cascades National Park
Olympic National Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park
State park System
Washington State has a great number of national parks, national forests, federally protected
wildernesses, and national wildlife refuges which offer numerous outdoor activities such as bird-watching, boating,
mushing sled dogs, digging for clams and salmon fishing. Olympia National Park enjoys the distinction of being
an UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. And provides many opportunities to appreciate
the natural wonders of Washington by hiking, fishing, biking and hunting.
Major Airports
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Bellingham International Airport
William R. Fairchild International Airport
King County International Airport
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport