Editing Washington, Indiana

{{short description|City in Daviess County, Indiana}}
{{For|communities with a similar name|Washington (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Washington County, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Washington, Indiana
| native_name        = 
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "A City of Pride and Progress"
| image_skyline      = Daviess County Courthouse in Washington.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Daviess County courthouse in Washington
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Washington, Indiana.jpg
| image_map          = File:Daviess County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Washington Highlighted 1880504.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Washington in Daviess County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Indiana]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Daviess County, Indiana|Daviess]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Washington Township, Daviess County, Indiana|Washington]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Dave Rhoads ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.washingtonin.us/department/index.php?structureid=18 | title=Mayor's Office }}</ref>
| leader_title1      = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = 
| area_land_km2      = 17.17
| area_water_km2     = 0.11
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 16, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 17.27
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.67
| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.63
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.04
| area_water_percent = 0.84
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total   = 12017
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_note    = 
| population_density_km2 = 729.79
| population_density_sq_mi = 1890.16
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|39|31|N|87|09|33|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 532
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47501
| website            = {{URL|http://www.washingtonin.us}}
| area_code          = [[Area codes 812 and 930|812, 930]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-80504<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2397205<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397205}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Washington''' is a city in [[Daviess County, Indiana]], United States. The population was 12,017 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The city is the [[county seat]] of Daviess County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is also the principal city of the [[Washington, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area|Washington, Indiana Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which comprises all of Daviess County and had an estimated 2017 population of 31,648.

==History==
Washington was [[plat]]ted in 1815.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hellmann|first=Paul T.|title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA332|date=14 February 2006|publisher=Routledge|isbn=1-135-94859-3|page=332}}</ref> It was named from Washington Township.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baker|first=Ronald L.|title=From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History|url=https://archive.org/details/fromneedmoretopr00bake|url-access=registration|date=October 1995|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-32866-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/fromneedmoretopr00bake/page/n355 338]|quote=The present name is for Washington Township...}}</ref>

The railroad was built through Washington in 1857.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Knox and Daviess County, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present; with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. ; Together with an Extended History of the Colonial Days of Vincennes, and Its Progress Down to the Formation of the State Government|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofknoxdav00chic|year=1886|publisher=Goodspeed|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofknoxdav00chic/page/678 678]}}</ref> By 1889, it was a major depot and repair yard for the [[Ohio and Mississippi Railroad]]. The [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] took over the line in 1893. During this time, the railroad employed over 1,000 workers.<ref name="Wissing2001">{{cite book|author=Douglas Wissing|title=Scenic Driving Indiana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXQgqekmP2AC|access-date=23 November 2011|date=1 March 2001|publisher=Globe Pequot|isbn=978-1-56044-906-5|page=4}}</ref>

On [[Tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013|November 17, 2013]], an EF2 tornado tore through the western edge of the city destroying 20 homes and severely damaging 20 others.<ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/tornado-destroys-20-homes-cuts-power-washington-ind-58696/
  |title=Tornado Destroys 20 Homes, Cuts Power In Washington, Ind.
  |publisher=Indiana Public Media
  |access-date=2013-12-19
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://fox59.com/2013/11/18/preliminary-reports-determine-two-indiana-tornadoes-were-ef2/
  |title=Preliminary reports show 11 tornadoes hit Indiana
  |date=18 November 2013
 |publisher=Fox 59 News
  |access-date=2013-12-19
}}</ref>

The [[Magnus J. Carnahan House]], [[Daviess County Courthouse (Indiana)|Daviess County Courthouse]], [[Thomas Faith House]], [[Robert C. Graham House]], [[Dr. John A. Scudder House]], [[Washington Commercial Historic District (Washington, Indiana)|Washington Commercial Historic District]], and [[Dr. Nelson Wilson House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
W
According to the 2010 census, Washington has a total area of {{convert|4.767|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.22%) is land and {{convert|0.037|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.78%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1880504
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-07-29
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213051902/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1880504
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Climate===
Washington has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] classification ''Cfa''), with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool to chilly with moderate snowfall, while summers are warm and humid.

{{Weather box|width = 70%
|location = Washington (1 mile W), Indiana (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1896–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 77
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 107
|Jul record high F = 113
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 84
|Dec record high F = 75
|year record high F = 
|Jan high F = 40.4
|Feb high F = 45.6
|Mar high F = 56.5
|Apr high F = 68.5
|May high F = 77.4
|Jun high F = 85.0
|Jul high F = 87.4
|Aug high F = 86.3
|Sep high F = 81.1
|Oct high F = 69.9
|Nov high F = 55.6
|Dec high F = 44.7
| Jan mean F  = 32.1
| Feb mean F  = 36.6
| Mar mean F  = 46.2
| Apr mean F  = 56.9
| May mean F  = 66.7
| Jun mean F  = 74.4
| Jul mean F  = 77.1
| Aug mean F  = 75.7
| Sep mean F  = 69.3
| Oct mean F  = 58.4
| Nov mean F  = 46.0
| Dec mean F  = 36.5
| year mean F =
|Jan low F = 23.9
|Feb low F = 27.5
|Mar low F = 35.8
|Apr low F = 45.4
|May low F = 56.0
|Jun low F = 63.9
|Jul low F = 66.8
|Aug low F = 65.1
|Sep low F = 57.6
|Oct low F = 46.9
|Nov low F = 36.4
|Dec low F = 28.4
|Jan record low F = -18
|Feb record low F = -19
|Mar record low F = -4
|Apr record low F = 19
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 38
|Jul record low F = 47
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 18
|Nov record low F = -2
|Dec record low F = -19
|year record low F = 
|rain colour    =  green
|Jan rain inch = 3.59
|Feb rain inch = 2.88
|Mar rain inch = 4.02
|Apr rain inch = 4.83
|May rain inch = 5.51
|Jun rain inch = 5.15
|Jul rain inch = 4.14
|Aug rain inch = 3.17
|Sep rain inch = 3.50
|Oct rain inch = 3.60
|Nov rain inch = 3.91
|Dec rain inch = 3.68
| Jan snow inch  = 2.9
| Feb snow inch  = 2.0
| Mar snow inch  = 1.0
| Apr snow inch  = 0
| May snow inch  = 0
| Jun snow inch  = 0
| Jul snow inch  = 0
| Aug snow inch  = 0
| Sep snow inch  = 0
| Oct snow inch  = 0.1
| Nov snow inch  = 0.1
| Dec snow inch  = 3.1
| year snow inch =
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name="NOAA">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=ind
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = November 28, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 675 |1850n =<ref name="1850pop">{{cite book |last1=DeBow |first1=J.D.B. |title=The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850 |date=1853 |publisher=Robert Armstrong |location=Washington |page=1021 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1850/1850a/1850a-49.pdf#page=7 |access-date=19 May 2021}} The population figure for 1850 is an approximation provided in the appendix of the [https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1853/dec/1850a.html official volume of the Seventh Census].</ref>
|1870= 2901
|1880= 4323
|1890= 6064
|1900= 8551
|1910= 7854
|1920= 8743
|1930= 9070
|1940= 9312
|1950= 10987
|1960= 10846
|1970= 11358
|1980= 11325
|1990= 10838
|2000= 11380
|2010= 11509
|2020= 12017
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 11,509 people, 4,558 households, and 2,849 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2433.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,067 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1071.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 89.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.6% of the population.

There were 4,558 households, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 37.3 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 11,380 people, 4,658 households, and 2,897 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,404.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,077 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,072.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.91% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.39% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.20% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.15% of the population.

There were 4,658 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,055, and the median income for a family was $37,713. Males had a median income of $30,570 versus $19,306 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,721. About 9.8% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
===Transit===
[[Washington Transit System]] operates bus service in the city on weekdays.

===Highways===
* {{jct|state=IN|I|69}} - Interstate 69 bypasses the city to the east.
* {{jct|state=IN|US|50}} / {{jct|state=IN|US|150}} - US 50 and US 150 Bypass the city to the south.
* {{jct|state=IN|SR|57}} - SR 57 runs through downtown and runs north to [[Plainville, Indiana|Plainville]], and south to [[Petersburg, Indiana|Petersburg]]
* {{jct|state=IN|SR|257}} - SR 257 begins southeast of the city at the US 50/150 Bypass, and runs south to [[Otwell, Indiana|Otwell]]

==Education==
The town has a free lending library, the Washington Carnegie Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | title=Indiana public library directory | publisher=Indiana State Library | access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref>

Washington Community Schools<ref>{{cite web | title=Schools | website=Washington Community Schools | url=https://www.washingtoncommunityschools.org/schools | access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> include:
*[[Washington High School (Washington, Indiana)|Washington High School]]
*Washington Junior High School
*Helen Griffith Elementary
*Lena Dunn Elementary
*North Elementary School
*Veale Elementary School

==Arts and culture==
Washington still retains a number of architecturally historical buildings. The Helphenstine House, built in 1847, displays [[Greek Revival architecture]] styles. The [[Robert C. Graham House]] was owned by an Indiana car manufacturer and was built in 1912. It is an example of [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]'s [[Prairie School of Architecture]] and is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. It has marble fireplaces, crystal-glass French windows, a billiards room and parquet floors. On Main Street of Washington is the Daviess County Historical Society Museum,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.daviesscountyhistory.net/|title=What is Daviess County History?|website=DAVIESS COUNTY HISTORY}}</ref> a collection of history related to Daviess County and Indiana. The museum features a funeral practices exhibit, a military history room, an art gallery, a Civil War display with an 1855 slave collar and a Civil War era regimental flag, a school room, and an archives room for genealogists as well as a gift shop.

The [[Washington Browns]] was a [[minor league baseball]] team in Washington that played in the [[Class C (baseball)|Class C]] [[Central League (1897)|Central League]] in 1897 and were immediately preceded by the [[Washington Giants]], who were members of the Independent level 1896 [[Kentucky-Indiana League]].

==Notable people==
* [[Eric Bassler]], member of the [[Indiana Senate]]
*[[Charles "Bud" Dant]], musician
* [[David "Big Dave" DeJernett]], basketball player
* [[Don C. Faith, Jr.]], [[United States Army]] officer
* [[Esther G. Frame]] (1840-1920), Quaker minister and evangelist
* [[Chuck Harmon]], baseball player
* [[Anthony R. Jones]], United States Army lieutenant general
* [[Leo Klier]], basketball player
* [[Patrick Summers]], conductor
* [[Ruth Sherman Tolman]], clinical psychologist with the [[Office of Strategic Services]]
* [[Charles Thorn]], string theorist
* [[Cody Zeller]], basketball player
* [[Luke Zeller]], basketball player
* [[Tyler Zeller]], basketball player

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Collier's poster|Washington (Indiana)|Washington, Indiana}}
* [http://www.washingtonin.us City of Washington, Indiana Website]
* [http://www.washtimesherald.com Washington Times Herald Website]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Washington (Indiana)|display=Washington, a city and county-seat of Daviess county, Indiana, U.S.A. |short=x}}
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Washington (Indiana)|display=Washington. The county-seat of Daviess County, Ind|short=x}}

{{Daviess County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Washington, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Communities of Southwestern Indiana]]
[[Category:Cities in Daviess County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:1815 establishments in Indiana Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1815]]