Washington County, Kansas

{{See also|History of Kansas}}

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 northeastern corner of the county.{{Cite web|url=https://abandonedkansas.wordpress.com/2021/12/19/hollenberg-pony-express-station/|title=Hollenberg Way Station|date=December 19, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/pony-express/15497|title = Pony Express - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society}}

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.[http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022015437/http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ |date=October 22, 2011 }}[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.] The pipeline was shut down on December 7, 2022, after a leak was detected near the community of Washington.[https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/keystone-pipeline-shut-after-oil-spill-into-kansas-creek-2022-12-08/ "Keystone pipeline shut after 14,000-barrel oil spill in Kansas"], reuters.com, December 9, 2022 It reopened on December 29, 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/ | title=Milepost 14 Incident }}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|899|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|895|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.9|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

{{div col}}

• Jefferson County, Nebraska (north)
• Gage County, Nebraska (northeast)
• Marshall County (east)
• Riley County (southeast)
• Clay County (south)
• Cloud County (southwest)
• Republic County (west)
• Thayer County, Nebraska (northwest)

{{div col end}}

File:USA Washington County, Kansas age pyramid.svg based on 2000 census age data]]

{{US Census population

|1860= 383

|1870= 4081

|1880= 14910

|1890= 22894

|1900= 21963

|1910= 20229

|1920= 17984

|1930= 17112

|1940= 15921

|1950= 12977

|1960= 10739

|1970= 9249

|1980= 8543

|1990= 7073

|2000= 6483

|2010= 5799

|2020= 5530

|estyear=2023

|estimate=5504

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 29, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 29, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 29, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 29, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 6,483 people, 2,673 households, and 1,780 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 3,142 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4|/mi2|/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.

{{Hidden

|headercss = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;

|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;

|header = Presidential election results

|content =

{{PresHead|place=Washington County, Kansas|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,263|396|41|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,363|475|45|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,194|387|184|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,316|524|49|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,248|659|73|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,498|643|49|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,446|687|134|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,397|804|356|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,740|893|1,069|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,269|1,063|48|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,979|889|68|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,058|784|241|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,543|1,564|106|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,301|996|97|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,177|1,131|344|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,654|2,015|36|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,707|1,706|31|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,220|1,389|32|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,135|1,148|26|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,894|1,894|95|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,040|1,455|41|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,792|2,061|50|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,809|3,355|28|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,324|4,234|95|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,781|2,267|49|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,120|1,528|1,108|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,390|1,287|95|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,766|3,316|200|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,326|1,914|1,427|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,711|1,904|99|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,066|1,259|175|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,960|2,252|72|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,514|2,391|57|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1892|Populist|2,323|0|2,862|Kansas}}

{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,999|1,511|305|Kansas}}

}}

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 earned forty percent of Washington County's vote as the Democratic Party candidate.

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.{{Cite web| url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties| publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue| date=November 2006| access-date=December 28, 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| archive-date=October 8, 2007}}

The county is served by:

• Washington County USD 108
• Barnes–Hanover–Linn USD 223

;School district office in neighboring county

• Clifton–Clyde USD 224

File:Map of Washington Co, Ks, USA.png)]]

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Washington County.{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Washington County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/washington.PDF |publisher=Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028222033/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/washington.PDF |archive-date=October 28, 2023 |date=November 2011 |url-status=live}}

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

{{div col}}

• Barnes
• Clifton‡
• Greenleaf
• Haddam
• Hanover
• Hollenberg
• Linn
• Mahaska
• Morrowville
• Palmer
• Vining‡
• Washington (county seat)

{{div col end}}

• Lanham‡

• Strawberry

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.

|-

| Brantford || 08250 || || 91 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|42|0|N|97|19|19|W|}}

|-

| Charleston || 12625 || || 99 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|52|36|N|96|58|54|W|}}

|-

| Clifton || 14225 || || 459 || 5 (13) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|35|19|N|97|18|11|W|}}

|-

| Coleman || 14750 || || 64 || 1 (2) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|46|39|N|97|11|24|W|}}

|-

| Farmington || 23275 || || 192 || 2 (5) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|51|52|N|97|6|1|W|}}

|-

| Franklin || 24525 || || 139 || 2 (4) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.24% || {{coord|39|57|33|N|96|59|20|W|}}

|-

| Grant || 28175 || || 25 || 0 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|46|24|N|97|19|21|W|}}

|-

| Greenleaf || 28650 || || 450 || 5 (13) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|42|33|N|96|59|5|W|}}

|-

| Haddam || 29425 || || 246 || 3 (7) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|51|51|N|97|18|28|W|}}

|-

| Hanover || 29900 || || 884 || 9 (25) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.05% || {{coord|39|52|54|N|96|52|10|W|}}

|-

| Highland || 32025 || || 22 || 0 (1) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.45% || {{coord|39|57|16|N|97|5|30|W|}}

|-

| Independence || 33950 || || 169 || 2 (5) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|57|28|N|96|51|50|W|}}

|-

| Kimeo || 36850 || || 75 || 1 (2) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|36|11|N|96|57|57|W|}}

|-

| Lincoln || 41250 || || 84 || 1 (2) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|37|2|N|96|51|12|W|}}

|-

| Linn || 41450 || || 599 || 6 (17) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|41|5|N|97|5|16|W|}}

|-

| Little Blue || 41500 || || 93 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.09% || {{coord|39|46|38|N|96|51|59|W|}}

|-

| Logan || 42300 || || 109 || 1 (3) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.05% || {{coord|39|47|11|N|96|57|56|W|}}

|-

| Lowe || 43025 || || 76 || 1 (2) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|57|29|N|97|12|5|W|}}

|-

| Mill Creek || 46750 || || 274 || 3 (8) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|52|4|N|97|11|20|W|}}

|-

| Sheridan || 64775 || || 119 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|37|3|N|97|11|19|W|}}

|-

| Sherman || 65125 || || 249 || 3 (7) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|37|2|N|97|6|3|W|}}

|-

| Strawberry || 68550 || || 130 || 1 (4) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|41|32|N|97|12|30|W|}}

|-

| Union || 72475 || || 161 || 2 (5) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|57|58|N|97|19|30|W|}}

|-

| Washington || 75850 || || 218 || 2 (6) || 91 (35) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|47|12|N|97|4|38|W|}}

|}

{{Portal|Kansas}}

{{See also Kansas counties}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Kansas books}}

• [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/219134/ 70th Anniversary Edition Supplement]; Washington County Register; 88 pages; September 16, 1938.
• [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209435/ Plat Book of Washington County, Kansas]; Brown-Scoville Publishing Co; 81 pages; 1906.
• [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224012/ Historical Plat Book of Washington County, Kansas]; J.S. Bird; 90 pages; 1882.

{{Commons category|Washington County, Kansas}}

;County

• {{Official website|http://www.washingtoncountyks.gov/|Washington County - Official Website}}
• [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260503 Washington County - Directory of Public Officials]

;Maps

• Washington County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/washington.PDF Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic location

|Center = Washington County, Kansas

|North = Jefferson County, Nebraska

|Northeast = Gage County, Nebraska

|East = Marshall County

|Southeast = Riley County

|South = Clay County

|Southwest = Cloud County

|West = Republic County

|Northwest = Thayer County, Nebraska

}}

{{Washington County, Kansas}}

{{Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Kansas counties

Category:1857 establishments in Kansas Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1857