Washington County | |
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Washington County Courthouse in Washington (2015) | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Kansas | |
![]() Kansas's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 39°48′N97°06′W / 39.800°N 97.100°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | February 20, 1857 |
Named for | George Washington |
Seat | Washington |
Largest city | Washington |
Area | |
• Total | 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
• Land | 895 sq mi (2,320 km2) |
• Water | 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 0.4% |
Population | |
• Total | 5,530 |
• Estimate (2023) [2] | 5,504 ![]() |
• Density | 6.2/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.
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.
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]
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]
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]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 383 | — | |
1870 | 4,081 | 965.5% | |
1880 | 14,910 | 265.4% | |
1890 | 22,894 | 53.5% | |
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 | [2] | −0.5% |
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790-1960 [12] 1900-1990 [13] 1990-2000 [14] 2010-2020 [1] |
As of the census [15] 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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 2,363 | 81.96% | 475 | 16.48% | 45 | 1.56% |
2016 | 2,194 | 79.35% | 387 | 14.00% | 184 | 6.65% |
2012 | 2,316 | 80.17% | 524 | 18.14% | 49 | 1.70% |
2008 | 2,248 | 75.44% | 659 | 22.11% | 73 | 2.45% |
2004 | 2,498 | 78.31% | 643 | 20.16% | 49 | 1.54% |
2000 | 2,446 | 74.87% | 687 | 21.03% | 134 | 4.10% |
1996 | 2,397 | 67.39% | 804 | 22.60% | 356 | 10.01% |
1992 | 1,740 | 47.00% | 893 | 24.12% | 1,069 | 28.88% |
1988 | 2,269 | 67.13% | 1,063 | 31.45% | 48 | 1.42% |
1984 | 2,979 | 75.69% | 889 | 22.59% | 68 | 1.73% |
1980 | 3,058 | 74.90% | 784 | 19.20% | 241 | 5.90% |
1976 | 2,543 | 60.36% | 1,564 | 37.12% | 106 | 2.52% |
1972 | 3,301 | 75.13% | 996 | 22.67% | 97 | 2.21% |
1968 | 3,177 | 68.29% | 1,131 | 24.31% | 344 | 7.39% |
1964 | 2,654 | 56.41% | 2,015 | 42.83% | 36 | 0.77% |
1960 | 3,707 | 68.09% | 1,706 | 31.34% | 31 | 0.57% |
1956 | 4,220 | 74.81% | 1,389 | 24.62% | 32 | 0.57% |
1952 | 5,135 | 81.39% | 1,148 | 18.20% | 26 | 0.41% |
1948 | 3,894 | 66.19% | 1,894 | 32.19% | 95 | 1.61% |
1944 | 5,040 | 77.11% | 1,455 | 22.26% | 41 | 0.63% |
1940 | 5,792 | 73.29% | 2,061 | 26.08% | 50 | 0.63% |
1936 | 4,809 | 58.70% | 3,355 | 40.95% | 28 | 0.34% |
1932 | 3,324 | 43.43% | 4,234 | 55.32% | 95 | 1.24% |
1928 | 4,781 | 67.37% | 2,267 | 31.94% | 49 | 0.69% |
1924 | 4,120 | 60.98% | 1,528 | 22.62% | 1,108 | 16.40% |
1920 | 4,390 | 76.06% | 1,287 | 22.30% | 95 | 1.65% |
1916 | 3,766 | 51.72% | 3,316 | 45.54% | 200 | 2.75% |
1912 | 1,326 | 28.41% | 1,914 | 41.01% | 1,427 | 30.58% |
1908 | 2,711 | 57.51% | 1,904 | 40.39% | 99 | 2.10% |
1904 | 3,066 | 68.13% | 1,259 | 27.98% | 175 | 3.89% |
1900 | 2,960 | 56.02% | 2,252 | 42.62% | 72 | 1.36% |
1896 | 2,514 | 50.67% | 2,391 | 48.19% | 57 | 1.15% |
1892 | 2,323 | 44.80% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,862 | 55.20% |
1888 | 2,999 | 62.28% | 1,511 | 31.38% | 305 | 6.33% |
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.
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. [17]
The county is served by:
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Washington County. [18]
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
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.
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.
Wilson County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Fredonia. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,624. The county was named after Hiero Wilson, a colonel in the American Civil War.
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.
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.
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.
Norton County is a county located 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.
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.
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.
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.
Linn County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas, located in along the eastern edge of Kansas, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its county seat is Mound City, and its most populous city is Pleasanton. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,591. The county was named for Lewis Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri.
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.
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.
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.
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Howard. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,483. The county was named for the Elk River.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Towanda is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,447.
Hollenberg is a city in Washington County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 10. It is located 1.5 miles south of the Nebraska state line.