Washington County, Kansas

Last updated

Washington County
County
Washington County, Kansas courthouse from W 2.JPG
Washington County Courthouse in Washington (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Washington County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas in United States.svg
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N97°06′W / 39.800°N 97.100°W / 39.800; -97.100
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kansas.svg  Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1857
Named for George Washington
Seat Washington
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total
899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020) [1]
 • Total
5,530
 • Estimate 
(2023) [2]
5,504 Decrease2.svg
 • Density6.2/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 785
Congressional district 1st
Website WashingtonCountyKS.gov

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Washington. [3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,530. [1] The county was named for George Washington, the 1st president of the United States.

Contents

History

Early history

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. Numerous tribes lived on the Great Plains including the: Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Sioux, Ute, Otoe, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Omaha, Ponca, Pawnee, and Wichita. These tribes were sustained by a seemingly inexhaustible supply of buffalo that then numbered in the tens of millions.

From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1857, Washington County was established. The Oregon-California Trail, the Overland Stage Line, and the Pony Express all ran through Washington County. The Hollenberg Way Station opened in 1857 and operated until 1872 in the northeast corner of the county. [4] [5]

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Washington County, with much concern over tax exemption and environmental issues when a leak occurs. [6] [7] The pipeline was shut down on December 7, 2022, after a leak was detected near the community of Washington. [8] It reopened on December 29, 2022. [9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 895 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.4%) is water. [10]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data USA Washington County, Kansas age pyramid.svg
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 383—
1870 4,081965.5%
1880 14,910265.4%
1890 22,89453.5%
1900 21,963−4.1%
1910 20,229−7.9%
1920 17,984−11.1%
1930 17,112−4.8%
1940 15,921−7.0%
1950 12,977−18.5%
1960 10,739−17.2%
1970 9,249−13.9%
1980 8,543−7.6%
1990 7,073−17.2%
2000 6,483−8.3%
2010 5,799−10.6%
2020 5,530−4.6%
2023 (est.)5,504 [11] −0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]
1790-1960 [13] 1900-1990 [14]
1990-2000 [15] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census [16] of 2000, there were 6,483 people, 2,673 households, and 1,780 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 3,142 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,673 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 4.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 25.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,363, and the median income for a family was $37,260. Males had a median income of $25,074 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,515. About 7.30% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Washington County, Kansas [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 2,22083.62%39414.84%411.54%
2020 2,36381.96%47516.48%451.56%
2016 2,19479.35%38714.00%1846.65%
2012 2,31680.17%52418.14%491.70%
2008 2,24875.44%65922.11%732.45%
2004 2,49878.31%64320.16%491.54%
2000 2,44674.87%68721.03%1344.10%
1996 2,39767.39%80422.60%35610.01%
1992 1,74047.00%89324.12%1,06928.88%
1988 2,26967.13%1,06331.45%481.42%
1984 2,97975.69%88922.59%681.73%
1980 3,05874.90%78419.20%2415.90%
1976 2,54360.36%1,56437.12%1062.52%
1972 3,30175.13%99622.67%972.21%
1968 3,17768.29%1,13124.31%3447.39%
1964 2,65456.41%2,01542.83%360.77%
1960 3,70768.09%1,70631.34%310.57%
1956 4,22074.81%1,38924.62%320.57%
1952 5,13581.39%1,14818.20%260.41%
1948 3,89466.19%1,89432.19%951.61%
1944 5,04077.11%1,45522.26%410.63%
1940 5,79273.29%2,06126.08%500.63%
1936 4,80958.70%3,35540.95%280.34%
1932 3,32443.43%4,23455.32%951.24%
1928 4,78167.37%2,26731.94%490.69%
1924 4,12060.98%1,52822.62%1,10816.40%
1920 4,39076.06%1,28722.30%951.65%
1916 3,76651.72%3,31645.54%2002.75%
1912 1,32628.41%1,91441.01%1,42730.58%
1908 2,71157.51%1,90440.39%992.10%
1904 3,06668.13%1,25927.98%1753.89%
1900 2,96056.02%2,25242.62%721.36%
1896 2,51450.67%2,39148.19%571.15%
1892 2,32344.80%00.00%2,86255.20%
1888 2,99962.28%1,51131.38%3056.33%

Washington County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Washington County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and Roosevelt remains the solitary Democrat to ever win a majority in the county. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 has reached forty percent of Washington County's vote for the Democratic Party.

Laws

Washington County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. [18]

Education

The county is served by:

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

2005 map of Washington County (map legend) Map of Washington Co, Ks, USA.png
2005 map of Washington County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Washington County. [19]

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Washington County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Washington is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer [20] from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township FIPS Population
center		PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water %Geographic coordinates
Barnes042752333 (6)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°41′59″N96°51′41″W / 39.69972°N 96.86139°W / 39.69972; -96.86139
Brantford08250911 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°42′0″N97°19′19″W / 39.70000°N 97.32194°W / 39.70000; -97.32194
Charleston12625991 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.03% 39°52′36″N96°58′54″W / 39.87667°N 96.98167°W / 39.87667; -96.98167
Clifton142254595 (13)94 (36)0 (0)0% 39°35′19″N97°18′11″W / 39.58861°N 97.30306°W / 39.58861; -97.30306
Coleman14750641 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0% 39°46′39″N97°11′24″W / 39.77750°N 97.19000°W / 39.77750; -97.19000
Farmington232751922 (5)94 (36)0 (0)0% 39°51′52″N97°6′1″W / 39.86444°N 97.10028°W / 39.86444; -97.10028
Franklin245251392 (4)92 (36)0 (0)0.24% 39°57′33″N96°59′20″W / 39.95917°N 96.98889°W / 39.95917; -96.98889
Grant28175250 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°46′24″N97°19′21″W / 39.77333°N 97.32250°W / 39.77333; -97.32250
Greenleaf286504505 (13)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°42′33″N96°59′5″W / 39.70917°N 96.98472°W / 39.70917; -96.98472
Haddam294252463 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°51′51″N97°18′28″W / 39.86417°N 97.30778°W / 39.86417; -97.30778
Hanover299008849 (25)93 (36)0 (0)0.05% 39°52′54″N96°52′10″W / 39.88167°N 96.86944°W / 39.88167; -96.86944
Highland32025220 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.45% 39°57′16″N97°5′30″W / 39.95444°N 97.09167°W / 39.95444; -97.09167
Independence339501692 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.03% 39°57′28″N96°51′50″W / 39.95778°N 96.86389°W / 39.95778; -96.86389
Kimeo36850751 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°36′11″N96°57′57″W / 39.60306°N 96.96583°W / 39.60306; -96.96583
Lincoln41250841 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°37′2″N96°51′12″W / 39.61722°N 96.85333°W / 39.61722; -96.85333
Linn414505996 (17)93 (36)0 (0)0.03% 39°41′5″N97°5′16″W / 39.68472°N 97.08778°W / 39.68472; -97.08778
Little Blue41500931 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.09% 39°46′38″N96°51′59″W / 39.77722°N 96.86639°W / 39.77722; -96.86639
Logan423001091 (3)92 (36)0 (0)0.05% 39°47′11″N96°57′56″W / 39.78639°N 96.96556°W / 39.78639; -96.96556
Lowe43025761 (2)92 (36)0 (0)0% 39°57′29″N97°12′5″W / 39.95806°N 97.20139°W / 39.95806; -97.20139
Mill Creek467502743 (8)94 (36)0 (0)0% 39°52′4″N97°11′20″W / 39.86778°N 97.18889°W / 39.86778; -97.18889
Sheridan647751191 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°37′3″N97°11′19″W / 39.61750°N 97.18861°W / 39.61750; -97.18861
Sherman651252493 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0% 39°37′2″N97°6′3″W / 39.61722°N 97.10083°W / 39.61722; -97.10083
Strawberry685501301 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0% 39°41′32″N97°12′30″W / 39.69222°N 97.20833°W / 39.69222; -97.20833
Union724751612 (5)92 (36)0 (0)0.04% 39°57′58″N97°19′30″W / 39.96611°N 97.32500°W / 39.96611; -97.32500
Washington758502182 (6)91 (35)0 (0)0.04% 39°47′12″N97°4′38″W / 39.78667°N 97.07722°W / 39.78667; -97.07722

See also

Community information for Kansas

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Clay Center. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,117. The county was named for Henry Clay, an influential U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Colby. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,930. The county was named after George Thomas, a general during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pottawatomie County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Westmoreland. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 25,348. The county was named for the Potawatomi tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillips County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Phillips County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Phillipsburg. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 4,981. The county was named after William Phillips, a free-state abolition journalist and colonel in the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osage County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Osage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Lyndon, and its most populous city is Osage City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,766. The county was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, then renamed in 1859 after the Osage tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Norton County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Norton. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,459. The county was established in 1867 and named for Orloff Norton, captain of Company L, 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neosho County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Neosho County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Erie. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,904. The county was named for the Neosho River, which passes through the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemaha County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Nemaha County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Seneca. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,273. The county was named for the Nemaha River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Marysville. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,038. The county was named after Frank J. Marshall, a state representative who operated the first ferry over the Big Blue River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leavenworth County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Leavenworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its county seat and most populous city is Leavenworth. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 81,881. The county was named after Henry Leavenworth, a general in the Indian Wars who established Fort Leavenworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lane County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Lane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Dighton, the only incorporated city in the county. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,574, making it the third-least populous county in Kansas. The county was named after James Lane, a leader of the Jayhawker abolitionist movement and served as one of the first U.S. senators from Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jefferson County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Oskaloosa. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 18,368. The county was named after Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Holton. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 13,232. The county, first named Calhoun County for pro-slavery South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun, was renamed in 1859 for President Andrew Jackson. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Indian Reservation, near the center of the county, comprises about 18.5% of the county's area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Harvey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Newton. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 34,024. The county was named for James Harvey, a U.S. senator and 5th governor of Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Gray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Cimarron. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,653. The county was named after Alfred Gray, a 19th century Kansas politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dickinson County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Dickinson County is a county in Central Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Abilene. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 18,402. The county was named in honor of Daniel Dickinson, a U.S. Senator from New York that was a Kansas statehood advocate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowley County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Cowley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Winfield, and its most populous city is Arkansas City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 34,549. The county was named after Matthew Cowley, first lieutenant in Company I, 9th Kansas Cavalry, who died during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffey County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Coffey County is a county located in Eastern Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Burlington. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,360. It was named after A.M. Coffey, a territorial legislator and Free-Stater during Bleeding Kansas era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butler County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Butler County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas and is the largest county in the state by total area. Its county seat is El Dorado and its most populous city is Andover. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 67,380. The county was named for Andrew Butler, a U.S. Senator from South Carolina who coauthored the Kansas–Nebraska Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Towanda, Kansas</span> City in Butler County, Kansas

Towanda is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,447.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Washington County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Hollenberg Way Station". December 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Pony Express - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
  6. ↑ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Keystone pipeline shut after 14,000-barrel oil spill in Kansas", reuters.com, December 9, 2022
  9. ↑ "Milepost 14 Incident".
  10. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  15. ↑ "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 29, 2014.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  18. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  19. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Washington County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). November 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html

Further reading

County
Maps
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.