Washington, Iowa

History

Washington was founded in 1839 as the county seat of the newly established Washington County. In 1854 it became the home of a United Presbyterian College, which was dissolved in 1864. As of 2014, the town has celebrated its 175th anniversary, only 5 years behind the oldest city in Iowa, Dubuque, Iowa.

In 2016, the Guinness World Book of Records certified the State Theatre in Washington, Iowa, as the "world's oldest continually operating cinema theatre".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.92 sqmi, all land.

Climate

|Jan record high F = 70 |Feb record high F = 76 |Mar record high F = 89 |Apr record high F = 94 |May record high F = 103 |Jun record high F = 107 |Jul record high F = 113 |Aug record high F = 109 |Sep record high F = 102 |Oct record high F = 96 |Nov record high F = 82 |Dec record high F = 74

|Jan avg record high F = 53.3 |Feb avg record high F = 58.3 |Mar avg record high F = 72.7 |Apr avg record high F = 82.0 |May avg record high F = 87.9 |Jun avg record high F = 92.6 |Jul avg record high F = 94.9 |Aug avg record high F = 94.0 |Sep avg record high F = 91.2 |Oct avg record high F = 83.8 |Nov avg record high F = 70.4 |Dec avg record high F = 57.6 |year avg record high F = 96.8

|Jan avg record low F = -10.7 |Feb avg record low F = -4.6 |Mar avg record low F = 6.3 |Apr avg record low F = 23.2 |May avg record low F = 35.0 |Jun avg record low F = 47.7 |Jul avg record low F = 52.8 |Aug avg record low F = 50.2 |Sep avg record low F = 37.3 |Oct avg record low F = 24.7 |Nov avg record low F = 12.1 |Dec avg record low F = -2.1 |year avg record low F = -14.8

|Jan record low F = -32 |Feb record low F = -29 |Mar record low F = -16 |Apr record low F = 7 |May record low F = 23 |Jun record low F = 35 |Jul record low F = 45 |Aug record low F = 39 |Sep record low F = 23 |Oct record low F = 6 |Nov record low F = -7 |Dec record low F = -25

|access-date = March 4, 2023 |access-date = March 4, 2023

Demographics

|1870|2575 |1880|2949 |1890|3235 |1900|4255 |1910|4380 |1920|4697 |1930|4814 |1940|5227 |1950|5902 |1960|6037 |1970|6317 |1980|6584 |1990|7074 |2000|7047 |2010|7266 |2020|7352

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 7,352 people, 3,071 households, and 1,840 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,397.1 inhabitants per square mile (539.4/km2). There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 623.3 per square mile (240.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.1% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 6.7% from other races and 6.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 13.8% of the population.

Of the 3,071 households, 28.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 7.5% were cohabitating couples, 30.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 19.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 40.1% of all households were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 25.9% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.2% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 and 44; 22.6% were from 45 and 64; and 23.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,266 people, 3,048 households, and 1,861 families living in the city. The population density was 1476.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,301 housing units at an average density of 670.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% White, 1.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.7% of the population.

There were 3,048 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,047 people, 2,928 households, and 1,903 families living in the city. The population density was 1,454.3 PD/sqmi. There were 3,132 housing units at an average density of 646.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.20% White, 0.57% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.72% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.71% of the population.

There were 2,928 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

Age spread: 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,067, and the median income for a family was $44,497. Males had a median income of $29,961 versus $20,706 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,145. About 5.4% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Washington is governed by a six-member city council headed by a mayor. The mayor and council members are elected for four-year terms. The city council consists of four ward counselors and two at-large members. , the mayor is Jaron Rosien and council members are Bethany Glinsmann (1st Ward), Ivan Rangel (Ward 2), Illa Earnest (Ward 3), Fran Stigers (Ward 4), Elaine Moore (at-large), and Millie Youngquist (at-large).

Education

The Washington Community School District operates local schools, including Washington High School.

Notable people

• Harry W. Bolens, Wisconsin State Senator
• Smith Wildman Brookhart, United States Senator
• Eva Carter Buckner, poet, suffragist, songwriter
• Charles Almon Dewey, United States federal judge
• Matt Fish, basketball player
• Owen Gingerich, astronomer
• Mike Hennigan, NFL player and coach
• Pierce Knox, blind xylophonist
• John F. McJunkin, Iowa state senator
• Keith Molesworth, basketball player and coach
• Pam Roth, Illinois state representative
• John M. Work, Socialist and newspaper editor

Footnotes

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2397207
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". United states Census Bureau.
5. (1880). "The History of Washington County, Iowa: Its Cities, Towns, Etc.". Union Historical Company.
6. "State Theater - Washington, Iowa {{!}} Travel Iowa {{!}} #ThisIsIowa".
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
9. "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
11. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. (3 August 2023). "City Council & Mayor".
13. "FY20_WASHINGTON". Iowa Department of Education.