Washington County, Kansas

Washington County, Kansas
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
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 afterGeorge Washington
SeatWashington
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total
899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
5,530
 • Estimate 
(2025)
5,533 Increase
 • Density6.18/sq mi (2.39/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 northeastern 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 shut down 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

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%
2025 (est.)5,533[10] Increase0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

Washington County, Kansas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[15] Pop 1990[16] Pop 2000[17] Pop 2010[18] Pop 2020[19] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,492 7,040 6,380 5,558 5,084 99.40% 99.53% 98.41% 95.84% 91.93%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 4 7 23 13 0.00% 0.06% 0.11% 0.40% 0.24%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 12 7 16 8 2 0.14% 0.10% 0.25% 0.14% 0.04%
Asian alone (NH) 7 0 3 19 4 0.08% 0.00% 0.05% 0.33% 0.07%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [20] x [21] 0 0 2 x x 0.00% 0.00% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 7 0 2 0 6 0.08% 0.00% 0.03% 0.00% 0.11%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [22] x [23] 33 47 144 x x 0.51% 0.81% 2.60%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 25 22 42 144 275 0.29% 0.31% 0.65% 2.48% 4.97%
Total 8,543 7,073 6,483 5,799 5,530 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,530. The median age was 43.8 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.2 males age 18 and over.[24][25]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.0% of the population.[25]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[26]

There were 2,312 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[24]

There were 2,726 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.6% were owner-occupied and 20.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.7%.[24]

2000 census

As of the census[27] 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[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 2,999 62.28% 1,511 31.38% 305 6.33%
1892 2,323 44.80% 0 0.00% 2,862 55.20%
1896 2,514 50.67% 2,391 48.19% 57 1.15%
1900 2,960 56.02% 2,252 42.62% 72 1.36%
1904 3,066 68.13% 1,259 27.98% 175 3.89%
1908 2,711 57.51% 1,904 40.39% 99 2.10%
1912 1,326 28.41% 1,914 41.01% 1,427 30.58%
1916 3,766 51.72% 3,316 45.54% 200 2.75%
1920 4,390 76.06% 1,287 22.30% 95 1.65%
1924 4,120 60.98% 1,528 22.62% 1,108 16.40%
1928 4,781 67.37% 2,267 31.94% 49 0.69%
1932 3,324 43.43% 4,234 55.32% 95 1.24%
1936 4,809 58.70% 3,355 40.95% 28 0.34%
1940 5,792 73.29% 2,061 26.08% 50 0.63%
1944 5,040 77.11% 1,455 22.26% 41 0.63%
1948 3,894 66.19% 1,894 32.19% 95 1.61%
1952 5,135 81.39% 1,148 18.20% 26 0.41%
1956 4,220 74.81% 1,389 24.62% 32 0.57%
1960 3,707 68.09% 1,706 31.34% 31 0.57%
1964 2,654 56.41% 2,015 42.83% 36 0.77%
1968 3,177 68.29% 1,131 24.31% 344 7.39%
1972 3,301 75.13% 996 22.67% 97 2.21%
1976 2,543 60.36% 1,564 37.12% 106 2.52%
1980 3,058 74.90% 784 19.20% 241 5.90%
1984 2,979 75.69% 889 22.59% 68 1.73%
1988 2,269 67.13% 1,063 31.45% 48 1.42%
1992 1,740 47.00% 893 24.12% 1,069 28.88%
1996 2,397 67.39% 804 22.60% 356 10.01%
2000 2,446 74.87% 687 21.03% 134 4.10%
2004 2,498 78.31% 643 20.16% 49 1.54%
2008 2,248 75.44% 659 22.11% 73 2.45%
2012 2,316 80.17% 524 18.14% 49 1.70%
2016 2,194 79.35% 387 14.00% 184 6.65%
2020 2,363 81.96% 475 16.48% 45 1.56%
2024 2,263 83.81% 396 14.67% 41 1.52%

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.

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.[29]

Education

The county is served by:

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

2005 map of Washington County[30] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Washington County.[30]

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

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[31] 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". Abandonedkansas.wordpress.com. December 19, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Pony Express - Kansapedia". Kshs.org.
  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. ↑ "TransCanada Corp. inspecting Keystone pipeline". 2.ljworld.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Keystone pipeline shut after 14,000-barrel oil spill in Kansas", Reuters.com, December 9, 2022
  8. ↑ "Milepost 14 Incident". Tcenergy.com.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Kansas- Table 15 Persons by Race: 198О • Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-21. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2025.
  16. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Kansas: Tables 4, 5, 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 11-44. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Washington County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Washington County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Washington County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  21. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  22. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  23. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  24. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  25. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  27. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  28. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  29. ↑ "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.
  30. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Washington County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). November 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 28, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Census 2000 Gazetteer Files". Web.archive.org. Retrieved August 18, 2026.

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