The Washington State song was adopted in March of 1959 and the final verse is: There's peace you feel and understand In this, our own beloved land.  We greet the day with head held high, And forward ever is our cry. We'll happy ever be As people always free. For you and me a destiny; Washington my home.

So, how are things on the home front?  According to the personal-finance website WalletHub, which conducted an in-depth analysis of 2016’s States with the Best & Worst Economies, Washington state is one of the nation’s Top Economic Performers compared to its 49 brother and sister states!

WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia in term of: Economic Activity, Economic Health and Innovation Potential and only Utah edged out Washington for overall economic excellence.

Economy of Washington (1=Best-Performing; 25=Avg.)

  • 8th – GDP Growth
  • 1st – % of Fast-Growing Firms
  • 1st – Exports per Capita
  • 8th – Business Startup Activity
  • 4th – % of Jobs in High-Tech Industries
  • 12th – Annual Median Household Income
  • 9th – Nonfarm Payrolls Change
  • 13th – Immigration of U.S. Knowledge Workers

As is often the case in these comparative studies, Mississippi rolls in last just behind West Virginia and Arkansas.

More From News Talk KIT