The University of Washington (UW,[a] and informally U-Dub or U Dub[b]) is a publicresearch university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded 165 years ago in 1861, it is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast.The university has a 700-acre (2.8 km2) main campus in the city's University District, with satellite campuses in nearby cities of Tacoma and Bothell. Overall, UW encompasses more than 500 buildings and over 20 million gross square footage of space, including one of the largest library systems in the world with more than 26 university libraries, art centers, museums, laboratories, lecture halls, and stadiums.Washington is the flagship institution of the state's six public universities. Known for its medical, engineering, and scientific research, Washington is a member of the Association of American Universities. According to the National Science Foundation, UW spent $1.73 billion on research and development in 2024, ranking it fifth in the nation. Its 22 varsity sports teams compete as the Huskies in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I, and its athletes have represented the United States at the Olympic Games and other competitions.