Washington County, Idaho

Last updated

Washington County, Idaho
Washington County Courthouse, Weiser.jpg
Washington County, Idaho seal.png
Map of Idaho highlighting Washington County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Coordinates: 44°27′N116°47′W / 44.45°N 116.78°W / 44.45; -116.78
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Idaho.svg Idaho
FoundedFebruary 20, 1879
Named after George Washington
Seat Weiser
Largest cityWeiser
Area
  Total
1,474 sq mi (3,820 km2)
  Land1,453 sq mi (3,760 km2)
  Water21 sq mi (54 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
10,500
  Estimate 
(2024)
11,539 Increase2.svg
  Density7.23/sq mi (2.79/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website www.co.washington.id.us

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,500. [1] The county seat and largest city is Weiser, [2] with over half of the county's population. The county was established in 1879 when Idaho was a territory and named after U.S. President George Washington.

Contents

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,474 square miles (3,820 km2), of which 1,453 square miles (3,760 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (1.4%) is water. [3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Rivers

Reservoirs

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 879
1890 3,836336.4%
1900 6,88279.4%
1910 11,10161.3%
1920 9,424−15.1%
1930 7,962−15.5%
1940 8,85311.2%
1950 8,576−3.1%
1960 8,378−2.3%
1970 7,633−8.9%
1980 8,80315.3%
1990 8,550−2.9%
2000 9,97716.7%
2010 10,1982.2%
2020 10,5003.0%
2024 (est.)11,539 [4] 9.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1790–1960, [6] 1900–1990, [7]
1990–2000, [8] 2010 [9]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,500 and a median age of 46.0 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over. [10]

The 2020 census recorded 4,087 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [10]

The 2020 census recorded 4,514 housing units, of which 9.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.2% were owner-occupied and 24.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%. [10]

The racial makeup recorded by the 2020 census was 81.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.6% from some other race, and 8.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 15.8% of the population. [11]

The 2020 census reported that 52.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.6% lived in rural areas. [12]

Racial and ethnic composition

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.

Washington County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic) [13] [14]
RacePop 2010Pop 2020% 2010% 2020
White (NH)8,1668,11880.07%77.31%
Black or African American (NH)10170.1%0.16%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)75740.74%0.7%
Asian (NH)90810.88%0.77%
Pacific Islander (NH)370.03%0.07%
Some Other Race (NH)12530.12%0.5%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)1264881.24%4.65%
Hispanic or Latino 1,7161,66216.83%15.83%
Total10,19810,500

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 10,198 people, 4,034 households, and 2,803 families living in the county. [15] The population density was 7.0 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km2). There were 4,529 housing units at an average density of 3.1 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). [16] The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 9.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.8% of the population. [15] In terms of ancestry, 20.0% were English, 18.2% were German, 14.8% were Irish, and 9.6% were American. [17]

Of the 4,034 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 43.6 years. [15]

The median income for a household in the county was $30,625, and the median income for a family was $35,542. Males had a median income of $27,222 versus $18,053 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,464. About 10.00% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over. [18]

Education

The county is served by three school districts based in the county: [19]

Additionally Payette Joint School District 371 includes a portion of Washington County. [22]

Washington County is in the area (but not the taxing region) of the College of Western Idaho, which has its main campus in Nampa. [23]

Communities

Cities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Idaho [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
%%%
1892 31736.15%00.00%56063.85%
1896 20419.62%82879.62%80.77%
1900 1,19446.95%1,34953.05%00.00%
1904 1,89460.69%93129.83%2969.48%
1908 1,81951.56%1,45241.16%2577.28%
1912 72425.32%1,06537.25%1,07037.43%
1916 1,54544.43%1,80251.83%1303.74%
1920 1,86459.59%1,26440.41%00.00%
1924 1,18341.33%62321.77%1,05636.90%
1928 1,97366.39%97432.77%250.84%
1932 1,21334.65%2,12260.61%1664.74%
1936 1,23434.70%2,14760.38%1754.92%
1940 1,90345.27%2,29654.61%50.12%
1944 2,00251.95%1,84947.98%30.08%
1948 1,71349.21%1,70048.84%681.95%
1952 2,61664.91%1,41135.01%30.07%
1956 2,27257.89%1,65342.11%00.00%
1960 2,25155.86%1,77944.14%00.00%
1964 1,73046.99%1,95253.01%00.00%
1968 2,02057.65%1,03329.48%45112.87%
1972 2,26461.99%93525.60%45312.40%
1976 2,04453.47%1,69344.28%862.25%
1980 2,91563.58%1,42130.99%2495.43%
1984 3,01571.99%1,11926.72%541.29%
1988 2,38061.98%1,35935.39%1012.63%
1992 1,80242.09%1,12226.21%1,35731.70%
1996 2,31854.90%1,31431.12%59013.97%
2000 2,89971.23%98024.08%1914.69%
2004 3,27475.11%1,03323.70%521.19%
2008 3,16870.31%1,24127.54%972.15%
2012 3,12872.22%1,10425.49%992.29%
2016 3,28373.69%77617.42%3968.89%
2020 4,15477.70%1,07320.07%1192.23%
2024 4,42979.73%1,01018.18%1162.09%

Healthcare

The county is served by the Southwest Idaho Health District. [25]

See also

References

  1. "Washington County, Idaho". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  11. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  12. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  17. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  18. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  19. 1 2 Education, Idaho State Department of (April 15, 2009). "Idaho Educational Directory 2008-09" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  20. District, Weiser School (2008). "Welcome to Weiser Schools!" . Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  21. District, Midvale School (2009). "Home" . Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washington County, ID" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022. - Text list
  23. "College of Western Idaho, pg. 1-77" (PDF). Idaho Legislature. January 26, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2024. - See the map. Also see area 3 in: "TITLE 33 EDUCATION CHAPTER 21 JUNIOR COLLEGES". Idaho Legislature . Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  25. Luchetta, Julie; Oppie, Troy (October 23, 2024). "Southwest Idaho Health District Board pulls COVID vaccines from its clinics". Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved October 27, 2024.

44°27′N116°47′W / 44.45°N 116.78°W / 44.45; -116.78