Editing Washington County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Washington, Illinois}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Washington County
 | state                = Illinois
 | seal                 = Wash Co IL Seal in Color and Higher Quality.png
 | flag                 = 
 | founded year         = 1818
 | founded date         = January 2
 | seat wl              = Nashville
 | largest city         = Nashville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 564
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 563
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.3
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 13761
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 13536 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone           = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.washingtonco.illinois.gov/
 | named for            = [[George Washington]]
 | ex image             = Wash Co IL Courthouse after 2016 Renovations.png
 | ex image cap         = [[Washington County Courthouse (Illinois)|Washington County Courthouse]] in Nashville
 | district            = 12th }}

'''Washington County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], it had a population of 13,761.<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington County, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Washington_County,_Illinois?g=050XX00US17189|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 10, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Nashville, Illinois|Nashville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "[[Little Egypt (region)|Little Egypt]]".

==History==
Washington County was formed on January 2, 1818, out of [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]]. It was named for [[George Washington]]. Despite its relative proximity to the Illinois suburbs of [[St. Louis, Missouri]], the county is not considered part of the [[Greater St. Louis|St. Louis metropolitan area]], also known as the Metro-East. In 1813, the [[Lively massacre|Lively Massacre]] occurred near Little Crooked Creek. In 1959, the state established the [[Washington County State Recreation Area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/About/Pages/WashingtonCounty.aspx|title=About|website=www.dnr.illinois.gov|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2018}}</ref>  Washington County was initially settled by immigrants from Kentucky who moved northward out of that state in the early 1800s. In the late 1800s there were (relatively) large numbers of immigrants who settled in Washington County, and by the early 1900s there were large numbers of first-generation immigrants still living in Washington County. They primarily came from the four countries of [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Ireland]] and [[England]].<ref>History of Washington County, Illinois: With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers by McDonough</ref>

<gallery>
File:Washington County Illinois 1818.png|Washington County from its 1818 creation to 1824
File:Washington County Illinois 1824.png|Washington County in 1824, reduced to its current borders by the creation of Clinton County
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|564|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|563|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.3|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/> There are many lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks in this area, including the [[Kaskaskia River]], which is the county's northern border.

===Climate and weather===
{{climate chart
|[[Nashville, Illinois]]
|22|38|2.18
|27|44|2.34
|35|56|3.48
|45|67|3.86
|55|76|4.10
|64|85|3.68
|68|88|3.66
|65|87|2.73
|58|80|3.22
|47|69|3.00
|37|54|3.78
|26|42|2.99
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather"/>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in Nashville have ranged from a low of {{convert|22|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|88|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-21|°F}} was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of {{convert|106|°F}} was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.18|in}} in January to {{convert|4.10|in}} in May.<ref name="weather">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0829
  |title=Monthly Averages for Nashville, Illinois
  |access-date=January 27, 2011
|publisher=The Weather Channel
}}</ref> On [[Tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013|November 17, 2013]], an EF4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes and causing two fatalities.

===Public transit===
* [[South Central Transit]]

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:I-64.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 64]]
* [[File:US 51.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 51]]
* [[File:Illinois 4.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 4]]
* [[File:Illinois 13.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 13]]
* [[File:Illinois 15.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 15]]
* [[File:Illinois 127.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 127]]
* [[File:Illinois 153.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 153]]
* [[File:Illinois 177.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 160]]
* [[File:Illinois 160.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 177]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Clinton County, Illinois|Clinton County]] (north)
* [[Marion County, Illinois|Marion County]] (northeast)
* [[Jefferson County, Illinois|Jefferson County]] (east)
* [[Perry County, Illinois|Perry County]] (south)
* [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph County]] (southwest)
* [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 1517
|1830= 1675
|1840= 4810
|1850= 6953
|1860= 13731
|1870= 17599
|1880= 21112
|1890= 19262
|1900= 19526
|1910= 18759
|1920= 18035
|1930= 16286
|1940= 15801
|1950= 14460
|1960= 13569
|1970= 13780
|1980= 15472
|1990= 14965
|2000= 15148
|2010= 14716
|2020= 13761
|estyear=2023
|estimate=13536
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{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 9, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 9, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 9, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 9, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17189.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 9, 2014|archive-date=September 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906074515/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17189.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 14,716&nbsp;people, 5,926&nbsp;households, and 4,112&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17189
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013234/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17189
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|26.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 6,534 housing units at an average density of {{convert|11.6|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17189
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204138/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17189
  |archive-date=February 12, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 53.6% were [[German American|German]], 14.0% were [[Polish American|Polish]], 13.1% were [[Irish American|Irish]], 7.7% were [[English American|English]], and 6.1% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17189
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020134/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17189
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 5,926&nbsp;households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 42.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $51,440 and the median income for a family was $64,171. Males had a median income of $44,272 versus $30,683 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,846. About 5.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17189
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015105/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17189
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Education==
The county is served by six school districts:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isbe.state.il.us/research/htmls/directories/dir_districts_08.xls| title=Illinois Public School Districts by County| last=Education| first=Illinois State Board of| format=XLS| access-date=May 28, 2009}} {{Dead link| date=September 2010| bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* Oakdale CCSD 1
* West Washington County CUD 10
* Irvington CCSD 11
* Ashley CCSD 15
* Nashville CCSD 49
* [[Nashville Community High School District 99]]

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Ashley, Illinois|Ashley]]
* [[Centralia, Illinois|Centralia]]
* [[Nashville, Illinois|Nashville]]

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[Addieville, Illinois|Addieville]]
* [[Du Bois, Illinois|Du Bois]]
* [[Hoyleton, Illinois|Hoyleton]]
* [[Irvington, Illinois|Irvington]]
* [[New Minden, Illinois|New Minden]]
* [[Oakdale, Illinois|Oakdale]]
* [[Okawville, Illinois|Okawville]]
* [[Radom, Illinois|Radom]]
* [[Richview, Illinois|Richview]]
* [[Venedy, Illinois|Venedy]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Beaucoup, Illinois|Beaucoup]]
* [[Clarmin, Illinois|Clarmin]]
* [[Cordes, Illinois|Cordes]]
* [[Elkton, Illinois|Elkton]]
* [[Huegely, Illinois|Huegely]]
* [[Lively Grove, Illinois|Lively Grove]]
* [[Plum Hill, Illinois|Plum Hill]]
* [[Posen, Washington County, Illinois|Posen]]
* [[Pyramid, Illinois|Pyramid]]
* [[Stone Church, Illinois|Stone Church]]

===Townships===
Washington County is divided into these [[Civil township|townships]]:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Ashley Township, Washington County, Illinois|Ashley]]
* [[Beaucoup Township, Washington County, Illinois|Beaucoup]]
* [[Bolo Township, Washington County, Illinois|Bolo]]
* [[Covington Township, Washington County, Illinois|Covington]]
* [[DuBois Township, Washington County, Illinois|DuBois]]
* [[Hoyleton Township, Washington County, Illinois|Hoyleton]]
* [[Irvington Township, Washington County, Illinois|Irvington]]
* [[Johannisburg Township, Washington County, Illinois|Johannisburg]]
* [[Lively Grove Township, Washington County, Illinois|Lively Grove]]
* [[Nashville Township, Washington County, Illinois|Nashville]]
* [[Oakdale Township, Washington County, Illinois|Oakdale]]
* [[Okawville Township, Washington County, Illinois|Okawville]]
* [[Pilot Knob Township, Washington County, Illinois|Pilot Knob]]
* [[Plum Hill Township, Washington County, Illinois|Plum Hill]]
* [[Richview Township, Washington County, Illinois|Richview]]
* [[Venedy Township, Washington County, Illinois|Venedy]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Washington is a rural conservative county in Southern Illinois that has always trended Republican in presidential elections. The only Democrat to win a majority of the county's ballots since [[American Civil War|the Civil War]] was [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in his 1932 landslide. Historically, the county was dominated by organized labor and family farms. The area tends to be economically and socially conservative.
{{PresHead|place=Washington County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 13, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,892|1,564|141|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,115|1,641|165|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,571|1,448|419|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,792|2,450|193|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,473|3,342|117|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,072|2,986|46|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,353|2,638|147|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,339|2,744|844|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,003|2,986|1,566|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,127|2,689|58|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,129|2,363|24|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,354|2,158|250|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,485|3,222|137|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,179|2,327|16|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,793|2,093|683|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,840|3,670|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,053|3,093|11|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,299|2,820|16|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,546|2,824|11|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,544|2,737|49|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,428|2,723|35|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,701|3,479|42|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,540|4,119|209|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,076|4,696|154|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,638|2,848|22|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,444|1,717|942|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,519|1,102|765|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|4,657|2,794|190|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,058|1,654|1,522|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,355|1,830|187|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,374|1,504|265|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,351|2,081|106|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,351|1,979|81|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,956|1,868|307|Illinois}}

== Media ==
[[WNSV]] in Nashville is the only radio station in the county.

The two weekly newspapers in the county are ''The Nashville News'', located in Nashville, and ''The Okawville Times'', which is based in Okawville.

== See also ==
* [[Lively massacre]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Illinois#Washington County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County]]

==References==
;Specific
{{Reflist|30em}}

;General
* {{GNIS|1785150|Washington County, Illinois}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://washingtonco.illinois.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Washington County, Illinois
|North     = [[Clinton County, Illinois|Clinton County]]
|Northeast = [[Marion County, Illinois|Marion County]]
|East      = [[Jefferson County, Illinois|Jefferson County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Perry County, Illinois|Perry County]]
|Southwest = [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph County]]
|West      = [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Washington County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|38|21|08|N|89|24|38|W|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:GNIS}}

[[Category:Washington County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:1818 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:Southern Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1818]]
[[Category:Pre-statehood history of Illinois]]