Washington County
County
Washington County Courthouse in Washington (2015)
Washington County Courthouse in Washington (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Washington County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 97°06′W / 39.800°N 97.100°W / 39.800; -97.100
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1857
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatWashington
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total5,530
 • Density6.2/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
WebsiteWashingtonCountyKS.gov

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Washington.[2] 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.

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.[3][4]

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.[5][6] The pipeline was shutdown on December 7, 2022, after a leak was detected near the community of Washington.[7] It reopened on December 29, 2022.[8]

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.[9]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860383—
18704,081965.5%
188014,910265.4%
189022,89453.5%
190021,963−4.1%
191020,229−7.9%
192017,984−11.1%
193017,112−4.8%
194015,921−7.0%
195012,977−18.5%
196010,739−17.2%
19709,249−13.9%
19808,543−7.6%
19907,073−17.2%
20006,483−8.3%
20105,799−10.6%
20205,530−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[14] 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[15]
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.

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.[16]

Education

The county is served by:

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Washington County from KDOT (map legend)

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Cities

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 from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
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″N 96°51′41″W / 39.69972°N 96.86139°W / 39.69972; -96.86139
Brantford08250911 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°42′0″N 97°19′19″W / 39.70000°N 97.32194°W / 39.70000; -97.32194
Charleston12625991 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°52′36″N 96°58′54″W / 39.87667°N 96.98167°W / 39.87667; -96.98167
Clifton142254595 (13)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°35′19″N 97°18′11″W / 39.58861°N 97.30306°W / 39.58861; -97.30306
Coleman14750641 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°46′39″N 97°11′24″W / 39.77750°N 97.19000°W / 39.77750; -97.19000
Farmington232751922 (5)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°51′52″N 97°6′1″W / 39.86444°N 97.10028°W / 39.86444; -97.10028
Franklin245251392 (4)92 (36)0 (0)0.24%39°57′33″N 96°59′20″W / 39.95917°N 96.98889°W / 39.95917; -96.98889
Grant28175250 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°46′24″N 97°19′21″W / 39.77333°N 97.32250°W / 39.77333; -97.32250
Greenleaf286504505 (13)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°42′33″N 96°59′5″W / 39.70917°N 96.98472°W / 39.70917; -96.98472
Haddam294252463 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°51′51″N 97°18′28″W / 39.86417°N 97.30778°W / 39.86417; -97.30778
Hanover299008849 (25)93 (36)0 (0)0.05%39°52′54″N 96°52′10″W / 39.88167°N 96.86944°W / 39.88167; -96.86944
Highland32025220 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.45%39°57′16″N 97°5′30″W / 39.95444°N 97.09167°W / 39.95444; -97.09167
Independence339501692 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°57′28″N 96°51′50″W / 39.95778°N 96.86389°W / 39.95778; -96.86389
Kimeo36850751 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°36′11″N 96°57′57″W / 39.60306°N 96.96583°W / 39.60306; -96.96583
Lincoln41250841 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°37′2″N 96°51′12″W / 39.61722°N 96.85333°W / 39.61722; -96.85333
Linn414505996 (17)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°41′5″N 97°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″N 96°51′59″W / 39.77722°N 96.86639°W / 39.77722; -96.86639
Logan423001091 (3)92 (36)0 (0)0.05%39°47′11″N 96°57′56″W / 39.78639°N 96.96556°W / 39.78639; -96.96556
Lowe43025761 (2)92 (36)0 (0)0%39°57′29″N 97°12′5″W / 39.95806°N 97.20139°W / 39.95806; -97.20139
Mill Creek467502743 (8)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°52′4″N 97°11′20″W / 39.86778°N 97.18889°W / 39.86778; -97.18889
Sheridan647751191 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°37′3″N 97°11′19″W / 39.61750°N 97.18861°W / 39.61750; -97.18861
Sherman651252493 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°37′2″N 97°6′3″W / 39.61722°N 97.10083°W / 39.61722; -97.10083
Strawberry685501301 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°41′32″N 97°12′30″W / 39.69222°N 97.20833°W / 39.69222; -97.20833
Union724751612 (5)92 (36)0 (0)0.04%39°57′58″N 97°19′30″W / 39.96611°N 97.32500°W / 39.96611; -97.32500
Washington758502182 (6)91 (35)0 (0)0.04%39°47′12″N 97°4′38″W / 39.78667°N 97.07722°W / 39.78667; -97.07722

See also

Community information for Kansas

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. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Hollenberg Way Station". December 19, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Pony Express - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
  5. ↑ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Keystone pipeline shut after 14,000-barrel oil spill in Kansas", reuters.com, December 9, 2022
  8. ↑ "Milepost 14 Incident".
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  16. ↑ "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.

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