Washington County, Florida

Washington County
County
Washington County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°37′N85°40′W / 30.61°N 85.67°W / 30.61; -85.67
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	December 9, 1825
Named for	George Washington
Seat	Chipley
Largest city	Chipley
Area
• Total	616 sq mi (1,600 km2)
• Land	583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Water	33 sq mi (90 km2)  5.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,318
• Estimate  (2023)	25,602
• Density	41/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.washingtonfl.com

Washington County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida, in the Panhandle. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,318. ^[1] Its county seat is Chipley. ^[2] Washington County is included in the Panama City—Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Washington County Courthouse in Chipley

Washington County was created in 1825, and was nearly twice the size of the State of Delaware, stretching all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. After a century of boundary shifts, the county, with over 382,000 acres (1,546 km²) of rolling hills covered in thick, stately pines and mixed hardwood forests, now covers a large portion of the central Florida Panhandle.

Over a span of more than 150 years, Washington County has seen Native American, Spanish and English cultural influences. The county's historical lore is rich with stories of the exploits of Andrew Jackson. There are numerous Native American mounds and evidence of strong settlements still being discovered.

Named after George Washington, ^[3] the first US president, the area was first settled by those seeking both economic and political freedom in this frontier land of vast timber and mineral resources. Inland waterway transportation brought about heavy river settlements. The arrival of railroads in the late 1800s boosted economic, social and political developments.

Vernon, the geographical center of the county, is named for George Washington's Virginia home, Mt. Vernon. The pioneer town was also the site of a major Indian settlement.

The county courthouse was located in Vernon during the early part of this century, until a railroad town in northeastern Washington County, Chipley, became the new and present county seat in 1927.

Washington County was once a dry county, meaning that the sale of alcoholic beverages was banned in the county. In January 2022, this restriction was removed following a voter referendum in which about two-thirds of voters supported the removal. ^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 616 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 583 square miles (1,510 km²) is land and 33 square miles (85 km²) (5.4%) is water. ^[5]

The county became part of the Panama City metropolitan area in 2023. ^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Holmes County, Florida - north
• Jackson County, Florida - northeast
• Bay County, Florida - south
• Walton County, Florida - west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	978		—
1840	859		−12.2%
1850	1,950		127.0%
1860	2,154		10.5%
1870	2,302		6.9%
1880	4,089		77.6%
1890	6,426		57.2%
1900	10,154		58.0%
1910	16,403		61.5%
1920	11,828		−27.9%
1930	12,180		3.0%
1940	12,302		1.0%
1950	11,888		−3.4%
1960	11,249		−5.4%
1970	11,453		1.8%
1980	14,509		26.7%
1990	16,919		16.6%
2000	20,973		24.0%
2010	24,896		18.7%
2020	25,318		1.7%
2023 (est.)	25,602	[7]	1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2015 [1] 2019 [12]

Washington County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^[a]

Race	Pop 2010 [15]	Pop 2020 [16]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	19,551	19,484	78.53%	76.96%
Black or African American (NH)	3,698	3,236	14.85%	12.78%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	296	222	1.19%	0.88%
Asian (NH)	131	132	0.53%	0.52%
Pacific Islander (NH)	15	28	0.06%	0.11%
Some other race (NH)	14	87	0.06%	0.34%
Mixed/multi-racial (NH)	458	1,205	1.84%	4.76%
Hispanic or Latino	733	924	2.94%	3.65%
Total	24,896	25,318	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,318 people, 9,037 households, and 5,945 families residing in the county.

As of the census ^[17] of 2000, there were 20,973 people, 7,931 households, and 5,646 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 inhabitants per square mile (14/km²). There were 9,503 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.72% White, 13.69% Black or African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 2.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,931 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 105.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,922, and the median income for a family was $33,057. Males had a median income of $26,597 versus $20,198 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,980. About 15.40% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.90% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Washington County School District includes: ^[18]

• Kate Smith Elementary School
• Vernon Elementary School
• Roulhac Middle School
• Vernon Middle School
• Chipley High School
• Vernon High School

It is the sole school district in the county. ^[19]

Washington Public Library System

Washington County Public Library system has four branches:

• Washington County Public Library (Chipley Library)
• Sam Mitchell Public Library
• Wausau Public Library
• Sunny Hills Public Library

Media

• The Washington County News ^[20]
• Foster Folly News ^[21]
• The Chipley Bugle ^[22]

Communities

The Washington County sign at Ebro, Florida on Florida State Road 79

Cities

• Chipley
• Vernon

Towns

• Caryville
• Ebro
• Wausau

Unincorporated communities

• Crow
• Five Points
• Gilberts Mill
• Greenhead
• Hinson's Crossroads
• Holmes Valley
• New Hope
• Poplar Head
• Red Head
• Sunny Hills

Transportation

Airports

• Washington County is served by Tri-County Airport, a general aviation airport 5.3 miles northwest of central Chipley. It has a 5398-foot runway, passenger terminal and two instrument approaches. Washington County appoints three of the nine-member board of directors which governs the airport.

Major highways

See also: List of county roads in Washington County, Florida

• I-10 (Interstate 10)
• US 90 (U.S. Highway 90)
• SR 20
• SR 77
• SR 79
• SR 273
• SR 277

Politics

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Florida ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,370	82.14%	2,140	16.95%	115	0.91%
2020	9,876	80.06%	2,347	19.03%	112	0.91%
2016	8,637	77.04%	2,264	20.19%	310	2.77%
2012	8,038	72.79%	2,820	25.54%	184	1.67%
2008	8,178	73.23%	2,863	25.64%	126	1.13%
2004	7,369	71.09%	2,912	28.09%	85	0.82%
2000	4,995	62.24%	2,798	34.86%	233	2.90%
1996	3,524	44.83%	2,992	38.06%	1,345	17.11%
1992	3,695	46.94%	2,544	32.32%	1,632	20.73%
1988	4,374	66.64%	2,144	32.66%	46	0.70%
1984	4,608	70.62%	1,916	29.36%	1	0.02%
1980	3,251	49.92%	3,110	47.75%	152	2.33%
1976	2,313	38.58%	3,566	59.47%	117	1.95%
1972	3,777	86.11%	606	13.82%	3	0.07%
1968	528	10.71%	722	14.64%	3,682	74.66%
1964	2,725	64.50%	1,500	35.50%	0	0.00%
1960	1,230	36.96%	2,098	63.04%	0	0.00%
1956	1,027	32.18%	2,164	67.82%	0	0.00%
1952	1,100	32.71%	2,263	67.29%	0	0.00%
1948	297	13.43%	1,380	62.42%	534	24.15%
1944	507	22.98%	1,699	77.02%	0	0.00%
1940	643	25.14%	1,915	74.86%	0	0.00%
1936	486	17.51%	2,289	82.49%	0	0.00%
1932	345	12.46%	2,424	87.54%	0	0.00%
1928	1,672	69.72%	671	27.98%	55	2.29%
1924	206	24.76%	562	67.55%	64	7.69%
1920	307	25.37%	750	61.98%	153	12.64%
1916	159	15.85%	626	62.41%	218	21.73%
1912	82	7.61%	694	64.38%	302	28.01%
1908	288	24.64%	652	55.77%	229	19.59%
1904	202	26.03%	414	53.35%	160	20.62%

See also

• Buckley v. Haddock (2008)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Florida

Notes

1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. ^{[13] [14]}

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 35.
4. Wood, Tristan (January 23, 2022). "Washington County residents vote to end 'dry' law, allow hard liquor". Florida Politics. Extensive-Enterprises. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Guidance on the Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Executive Office of the President. July 21, 2023. p. 66. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
12. "QuickFacts. Florida counties" . Retrieved May 20, 2020.
13. https://www.census.gov/ ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
14. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
18. District, Washington County School. "Schools". Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washington County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 19, 2024. - Text list
20. The Washington County News
21. Foster Folly News
22. The Chipley Bugle
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018.

https://www.wjhg.com/2022/01/22/washington-county-dry-no-more/

External links

• Washington County News - newspaper that serves Washington County, Florida available in full-text with images in Florida Digital Newspaper Library
• Chipley Banner - newspaper that served Washington County, Florida from 1897 to 1900 available in full-text with images in Florida Digital Newspaper Library

Government links/Constitutional offices

• Washington County Board of County Commissioners
• Washington County Supervisor of Elections
• Washington County Property Appraiser
• Washington County Sheriff's Office
• Washington County Tax Collector

Special districts

• Washington District School Board
• Northwest Florida Water Management District

Judicial branch

• Washington County Clerk of Courts
• Circuit and County Court for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties

Community services

• Washington County Council on Aging - provides senior and elderly services including meals on wheels, case management, respite, workshops and more to residents throughout Washington County
• UF IFAS Extension Washington County - The Cooperative Extension Service is nationwide and was established by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. It is a partnership between state land grant universities, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the county governments throughout the nation. In Florida, the Cooperative Extension Service is administered by the University of Florida. Thus, the Washington County Extension Service is a partnership between the USDA, the University of Florida and Washington County government. All of these groups share in the planning, financing, and operation of extension programs in the areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, Family and Consumer Sciences and 4H Youth Development.

Tourism links

• Washington County Chamber of Commerce
• Washington County Tourist Development Council

30°37′N85°40′W / 30.61°N 85.67°W / 30.61; -85.67