Washington, Kansas

Washington, Kansas
City and County seat
Location within Washington County and Kansas
KDOT map of Washington County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°48′58″N97°02′55″W / 39.81611°N 97.04861°W / 39.81611; -97.04861 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Washington
Founded	1860
Incorporated	1875
Named for	George Washington
Area [2]
• Total	1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2)
• Land	0.97 sq mi (2.52 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation [1]	1,319 ft (402 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	1,071
• Density	1,100/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66968
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-75825
GNIS ID	485656 [1]
Website	washingtonks.net

Washington is a city in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,071. ^[3]

History

Washington was established in spring 1860, and in the same year named county seat. ^[4] Until the end of the American Civil War it was protected by two stockaded buildings, the Washington Company House and Woolbert's Stockade Hotel. ^{[5] [6]}

The first post office in Washington was established in November 1861. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.91 square miles (2.36 km²), of which 0.87 square miles (2.25 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) is water. ^[8]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Washington has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Washington was 112 °F (44.4 °C) on July 12, 1954, while the coldest temperature recorded was −29 °F (−33.9 °C) on December 23, 1989 and February 16, 2021. ^[9]

Climate data for Washington, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	75 (24)	85 (29)	90 (32)	98 (37)	103 (39)	107 (42)	112 (44)	110 (43)	107 (42)	97 (36)	84 (29)	73 (23)	112 (44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	60.8 (16.0)	67.3 (19.6)	78.9 (26.1)	86.2 (30.1)	91.9 (33.3)	96.8 (36.0)	101.6 (38.7)	100.0 (37.8)	95.2 (35.1)	88.0 (31.1)	73.3 (22.9)	62.6 (17.0)	102.8 (39.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	37.2 (2.9)	42.6 (5.9)	54.5 (12.5)	64.9 (18.3)	74.9 (23.8)	85.4 (29.7)	90.3 (32.4)	87.9 (31.1)	80.5 (26.9)	67.8 (19.9)	52.5 (11.4)	40.2 (4.6)	64.9 (18.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	26.1 (−3.3)	30.5 (−0.8)	41.5 (5.3)	52.1 (11.2)	63.3 (17.4)	73.9 (23.3)	78.8 (26.0)	76.0 (24.4)	67.6 (19.8)	54.6 (12.6)	40.4 (4.7)	29.6 (−1.3)	52.9 (11.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	15.0 (−9.4)	18.4 (−7.6)	28.4 (−2.0)	39.2 (4.0)	51.7 (10.9)	62.4 (16.9)	67.2 (19.6)	64.0 (17.8)	54.7 (12.6)	41.4 (5.2)	28.3 (−2.1)	19.0 (−7.2)	40.8 (4.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−4.4 (−20.2)	0.9 (−17.3)	11.0 (−11.7)	24.6 (−4.1)	36.6 (2.6)	50.1 (10.1)	56.1 (13.4)	53.9 (12.2)	39.5 (4.2)	25.3 (−3.7)	14.1 (−9.9)	1.9 (−16.7)	−8.4 (−22.4)
Record low °F (°C)	−24 (−31)	−29 (−34)	−18 (−28)	5 (−15)	28 (−2)	40 (4)	44 (7)	43 (6)	26 (−3)	13 (−11)	−6 (−21)	−29 (−34)	−29 (−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.79 (20)	1.14 (29)	1.80 (46)	3.14 (80)	4.44 (113)	4.74 (120)	4.13 (105)	4.26 (108)	3.07 (78)	2.18 (55)	1.49 (38)	1.23 (31)	32.41 (823)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	4.6 (12)	4.6 (12)	1.4 (3.6)	0.3 (0.76)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	1.0 (2.5)	2.4 (6.1)	14.4 (37.21)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.6	4.7	6.5	8.8	11.0	9.8	8.6	8.2	6.8	6.8	5.3	4.5	85.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	2.9	2.3	1.2	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.0	2.2	10.1
Source 1: NOAA [10]
Source 2: National Weather Service [9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	675		—
1890	1,613		139.0%
1900	1,575		−2.4%
1910	1,547		−1.8%
1920	1,406		−9.1%
1930	1,370		−2.6%
1940	1,598		16.6%
1950	1,527		−4.4%
1960	1,506		−1.4%
1970	1,584		5.2%
1980	1,488		−6.1%
1990	1,304		−12.4%
2000	1,223		−6.2%
2010	1,131		−7.5%
2020	1,071		−5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2010, there were 1,131 people, 512 households, and 311 families living in the city. The population density was 1,300.0 inhabitants per square mile (501.9/km²). There were 582 housing units at an average density of 669.0 per square mile (258.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 512 households, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.3% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the city was 46.8 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 25.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 1,223 people, 553 households, and 331 families living in the city. The population density was 1,395.3 inhabitants per square mile (538.7/km²). There were 644 housing units at an average density of 734.7 per square mile (283.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.94% White, 0.08% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.25% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 553 households, out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,529, and the median income for a family was $37,448. Males had a median income of $27,171 versus $17,938 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,760. About 8.6% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Washington County USD 108 public school district, ^[13] which formed in 2006 by the consolidation of North Central USD 221 and Washington USD 222. ^[14]

Notable people

• Charlie Becker (1887–1968), actor who portrayed the mayor of Munchkinland in 1939 The Wizard of Oz film
• Bill Pannbacker, former member of the Kansas House of Representatives

See also

• Kansas portal

• Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Washington, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Washington, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  890.
5. Historical Plat Book of Washington County, Kansas (Chicago: J. S. Bird, 1882),p. 30.
6. "Washington County History," Washington County Register, July 12, 1935, Sec. 2, p. 6.
7. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
9. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Topeka". National Weather Service. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
10. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Washington, KS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. "USD 108 Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation . Retrieved April 29, 2020.
14. "School consolidations in Kansas for past decade". The Topeka Capital-Journal . July 24, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2020.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

See also: List of books about Washington County, Kansas

External links

• City of Washington
• Washington - Directory of Public Officials
• Washington city map, KDOT