Politics of Washington in 1985
In 1985, Washington politics were largely dominated by the Reagan administration. The Republican president Ronald Reagan, who was first elected in 1980, had won a second term in 1984 and his policies – including his goal of reducing the size of government and cutting taxes – had a major influence on Washington politics. During this period, the Republican Party held both houses of Congress, with the Senate being controlled by Republicans from 1981 to 1987 and the House from 1983 to 1987. Reagan’s economic policy of supply-side economics was popular among many Republicans at this time, though it was criticized by some Democrats as being too focused on tax cuts for wealthy Americans.
According to Homethodology, Reagan’s foreign policy also played an important role in Washington politics during this time. Reagan sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union and worked hard to build trust between the two countries. He also supported anti-communist forces in Central America and opposed Soviet expansionism around the world. His policies were generally supported by most Republicans, while Democrats criticized them for not doing enough to ensure peace or protect human rights abroad. Additionally, Reagan’s support of increased military spending during this period created tension between him and some members of Congress who wanted to cut back on defense spending in order to reduce the deficit.
Population of Washington in 1985
In 1985, the population of Washington was estimated at 4.4 million people. The majority of the population was white, accounting for about 78 percent of residents. African Americans made up 12 percent of the population, with Hispanics accounting for 7 percent and Asian Americans making up around 3 percent. The largest cities in Washington were Seattle and Spokane, with Seattle having a population of around 518,000 and Spokane having a population of about 168,000. The city of Tacoma had an estimated population of approximately 250,000 people while Bellevue’s population was estimated to be around 81,000.
According to Usvsukenglish, Washington was also home to many Native American tribes including the Yakama Nation, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe and more. During this period there were also many immigrants from various countries living in Washington state as well as refugees from Vietnam and other countries seeking asylum in America. In addition to this diverse demographic makeup, there were also many military personnel living in the state due to its numerous military bases throughout the state such as Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma and Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane.
Economy of Washington in 1985
In 1985, Washington’s economy was largely based on the production of timber, agriculture and fishing. The state was home to a number of large timber companies such as Weyerhaeuser and Georgia-Pacific, which provided jobs for thousands of Washingtonians. Agriculture was also a major industry in the state with farmers growing a variety of crops including apples, cherries, potatoes and wheat. Fishing was also an important part of the economy with numerous salmon runs providing employment for many fishermen in the state.
In addition to these industries, Washington’s economy was heavily reliant on aerospace technology. Boeing had been headquartered in Seattle since 1916 and employed over 50,000 people in 1985. This company produced aircrafts such as the 747 jumbo jet which helped to make Seattle one of the most important cities for aerospace manufacturing in the world.
The tech industry also began to take off during this period as Microsoft established its headquarters in Redmond and other companies such as Amazon, Expedia and Adobe were founded during this time period. This helped to diversify Washington’s economy and provided additional job opportunities for residents of the state.
According to Acronymmonster, Washington also had a strong tourism industry with millions of visitors coming from around the US each year to visit attractions such as Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park as well as popular cities like Seattle and Spokane. In 1985, tourism contributed billions of dollars to Washington’s economy each year which helped to create more jobs for residents while providing essential revenue for local businesses.
Events held in Washington in 1985
In 1985, Washington was home to a number of events that attracted visitors from all over the world. One of the most popular events held in the state that year was the Seattle Seafair, an annual summer festival that celebrates Seattle’s maritime heritage. The festival included a number of events including hydroplane races, air shows, parades and live music concerts.
The Seattle International Film Festival was also held in 1985 and featured films from around the world. This event ran for 10 days in May and drew more than 20,000 people to watch hundreds of films from different countries.
The Washington State Fair also took place in 1985 and attracted over one million visitors during its three-week run in September. This event featured a variety of attractions such as carnival rides, agricultural displays, livestock competitions and live entertainment from popular bands such as Huey Lewis & The News and The Go-Go’s.
In addition to these events, there were several large music festivals held in Washington during 1985 such as Bumbershoot Music Festival in Seattle which featured performances by artists like Peter Gabriel, Cyndi Lauper and Duran Duran; Sasquatch Music Festival at The Gorge Amphitheater which included acts like R.E.M., Depeche Mode and Sonic Youth; and Rock Against Reagan at the Kingdome which showcased punk bands like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Minor Threat.
Finally, Washington hosted many sporting events throughout 1985 including numerous professional baseball games at Kingdome Stadium featuring teams like the Seattle Mariners, NFL football games at Husky Stadium between teams like the Seahawks and 49ers as well as college basketball games featuring teams like the University of Washington Huskies.