Washington, Iowa Explained

Official Name:Washington, Iowa
Settlement Type:City
Nickname:City of Flowers and Trees
Motto:Onward! To the Salt Mines!
Image Blank Emblem:Washington, Iowa logo.png
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Washington
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Millie Youngquist
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:13.82
Area Land Km2:13.82
Area Water Km2:0.01
Area Total Sq Mi:5.34
Area Land Sq Mi:5.33
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:7352
Population Density Km2:532.15
Population Density Sq Mi:1378.33
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:758
Coordinates:41.2981°N -91.6931°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:52353
Area Code:319
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:19-82335
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2397207

Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Iowa, United States.[2] It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,352 at the time of the 2020 census.[3]

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.[4]

In 2016, the Guinness World Book of Records certified the State Theatre in Washington, Iowa, as the "world's oldest continually operating cinema theatre".[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.92sqmi, all land.[6]

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 7,266 people, 3,048 households, and 1,861 families living in the city. The population density was 1476.8PD/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[8] of 2000, there were 7,047 people, 2,928 households, and 1,903 families living in the city. The population density was 1454.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,132 housing units at an average density of 646.3sp=usNaNsp=us. 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).[9]

Education

The Washington Community School District operates local schools, including Washington High School.[10]

Notable people

See also

Footnotes

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 16, 2022.
  2. Web site: Find a County. 2011-06-07. National Association of Counties.
  3. Web site: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data . census.gov . United states Census Bureau . 12 August 2021.
  4. Book: The History of Washington County, Iowa: Its Cities, Towns, Etc. . Union Historical Company . 1880 . 542.
  5. Web site: State Theater - Washington, Iowa Travel Iowa #ThisIsIowa. 2021-10-05. www.traveliowa.com.
  6. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau. 2012-05-11. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt. 2012-01-25.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-05-11.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  9. Web site: City Council & Mayor . City of Washington, Iowa . 3 August 2023.
  10. Web site: FY20_WASHINGTON. Iowa Department of Education. 2020-08-05.

External links