Happy Birthday Washington! County Council recognizes 125th Anniversary of statehood

November 10, 2014

Summary

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Happy Birthday Washington State!

On November 11, 1889, at 3:09 p.m., representatives and citizens in the Territory of Washington received the telegram they had been waiting for: that President Benjamin Harrison had signed the proclamation admitting the Washington Territory into the union as the 42nd state in the United States of America.

The Metropolitan King County Council today celebrated our state’s quasquicentennial (125th) Birthday by proclaiming November 11, 2014 as Washington State’s 125th Anniversary Celebration Day.

“We live in such a wonderful and beautiful state. The state is a leader in many ways and home to nearly 7 million people as well as many companies,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, the sponsor of the proclamation. “How different things are today as compared to 125 years ago when only men were allowed to vote to approve our State Constitution! I look forward to the next 125 years.”

“A State that began with a telegram has, in the last 125 years, made the world smaller and more accessible with aircraft, more interlinked with cellular technology and more innovative with software, e-commerce and high tech advances,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague. “It is only appropriate that we celebrate these and other accomplishments via social media. Join me in wishing Washington a happy birthday via Twitter at
3:09 p.m. on November 11th.”

The proclamation signed by Harrison ended an odyssey that began when the Oregon Territory—which included what would become the state of Washington—became part of the United States in 1846. The Washington Territory split from the Oregon Territory in 1853 and started working on going from a territory to a state—which occurred on November 11, 1889.

On November 11 at 3:09 p.m. the territorial government received the telegram announcing the signing of the proclamation. In recognition of the date and time, all Washington citizens are encouraged to tweet Happy Birthday Washington #WA125 at the exact time in celebration of our state’s Birthday!!

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PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, 125 years ago, on November 11, 1889, U.S. President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation admitting Washington State to the Union; and

WHEREAS, this was the culmination of a long process that began when Washington became a separate territory from Oregon on March 2, 1853; and

WHEREAS, the year 1889 included several milestones in this process—February 22, 1989, when Congress passed the Enabling Act for Washington State; July 1889, when a Constitutional Convention was held in Olympia; and October 1, 1889, when male Washington residents voted to approve the State Constitution; and

WHEREAS, at 3:09 pm on November 11, 1889, a telegram delivery announced Washington’s statehood; and

WHEREAS, to mark the occasion and showcase Washington’s technological prowess, all residents are urged to send a Happy Birthday Washington #WA125 tweet at exactly 3:09 pm; and

WHEREAS, King County expresses its collective appreciation for the pioneers, businesses, and citizens that have made our state so remarkable;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, proclaim November 11, 2014, as

Washington State’s 125th Anniversary Celebration Day

in King County and encourage all residents to join in celebrating the quasquicentennial of our state.

DATED this tenth day of November, 2014.