Washington, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washington, Indiana
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Daviess County courthouse in Washington
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| Motto(s):
"A City of Pride and Progress"
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Location of Washington in Daviess County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Daviess |
| Township | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.67 sq mi (17.27 km2) |
| • Land | 6.63 sq mi (17.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) 0.84% |
| Elevation | 532 ft (162 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,017 |
| • Density | 1,890.16/sq mi (729.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47501
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| Area code(s) | 812, 930 |
| FIPS code | 18-80504 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397205 |
| Website | http://www.washingtonin.us |
Washington is a city in Daviess County, Indiana. It is the main city in the Washington, Indiana Micropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes all of Daviess County. In 2020, about 12,017 people lived in Washington. The city is also the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located.
Contents
History of Washington
Washington was first planned out in 1815. It got its name from Washington Township.
Railroad's Impact
A railroad was built through Washington in 1857. By 1889, it became a very important stop. It was also a major repair center for the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. Later, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad took over the line in 1893. During this time, the railroad employed over 1,000 people.
Recent Events
On November 17, 2013, a strong tornado hit the western part of the city. It destroyed 20 homes and badly damaged 20 others.
Historic Buildings
Several buildings in Washington are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Magnus J. Carnahan House and the Daviess County Courthouse. Other notable homes are the Thomas Faith House, Robert C. Graham House, and Dr. John A. Scudder House. The Washington Commercial Historic District and the Dr. Nelson Wilson House are also on the list.
Geography and Climate
Washington covers about 4.77 square miles (12.35 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Climate in Washington
Washington has a climate with four clear seasons. This is known as a humid subtropical climate. Winters are cool, and sometimes there is snow. Summers are warm and humid.
| Climate data for Washington (1 mile W), Indiana (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1896–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) |
77 (25) |
89 (32) |
93 (34) |
100 (38) |
107 (42) |
113 (45) |
108 (42) |
106 (41) |
96 (36) |
84 (29) |
75 (24) |
113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.4 (4.7) |
45.6 (7.6) |
56.5 (13.6) |
68.5 (20.3) |
77.4 (25.2) |
85.0 (29.4) |
87.4 (30.8) |
86.3 (30.2) |
81.1 (27.3) |
69.9 (21.1) |
55.6 (13.1) |
44.7 (7.1) |
66.5 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32.1 (0.1) |
36.6 (2.6) |
46.2 (7.9) |
56.9 (13.8) |
66.7 (19.3) |
74.4 (23.6) |
77.1 (25.1) |
75.7 (24.3) |
69.3 (20.7) |
58.4 (14.7) |
46.0 (7.8) |
36.5 (2.5) |
56.3 (13.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.9 (−4.5) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
35.8 (2.1) |
45.4 (7.4) |
56.0 (13.3) |
63.9 (17.7) |
66.8 (19.3) |
65.1 (18.4) |
57.6 (14.2) |
46.9 (8.3) |
36.4 (2.4) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
46.1 (7.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−19 (−28) |
−4 (−20) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
38 (3) |
47 (8) |
42 (6) |
29 (−2) |
18 (−8) |
−2 (−19) |
−19 (−28) |
−19 (−28) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 3.59 (91) |
2.88 (73) |
4.02 (102) |
4.83 (123) |
5.51 (140) |
5.15 (131) |
4.14 (105) |
3.17 (81) |
3.50 (89) |
3.60 (91) |
3.91 (99) |
3.68 (93) |
47.98 (1,218) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.9 (7.4) |
2.0 (5.1) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.1 (0.25) |
3.1 (7.9) |
9.2 (23.4) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population Changes
The population of Washington has grown over the years. Here's how it has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 675 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,901 | — | |
| 1880 | 4,323 | 49.0% | |
| 1890 | 6,064 | 40.3% | |
| 1900 | 8,551 | 41.0% | |
| 1910 | 7,854 | −8.2% | |
| 1920 | 8,743 | 11.3% | |
| 1930 | 9,070 | 3.7% | |
| 1940 | 9,312 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,987 | 18.0% | |
| 1960 | 10,846 | −1.3% | |
| 1970 | 11,358 | 4.7% | |
| 1980 | 11,325 | −0.3% | |
| 1990 | 10,838 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 11,380 | 5.0% | |
| 2010 | 11,509 | 1.1% | |
| 2020 | 12,017 | 4.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People in Washington (2010)
In 2010, there were 11,509 people living in Washington. There were 4,558 households. About 33.4% of households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together.
The average age in the city was 37.3 years. About 25.5% of residents were under 18. About 15.9% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (51.8%) than males (48.2%).
Getting Around Washington
Public Transportation
The Washington Transit System offers bus service. Buses run on weekdays.
Major Roads
Several important roads pass near or through Washington:
- I-69 goes around the east side of the city.
- US 50 and US 150 bypass the city to the south.
- SR 57 runs through downtown. It goes north to Plainville and south to Petersburg.
- SR 257 starts southeast of the city. It runs south to Otwell.
Education in Washington
Washington has a public library called the Washington Carnegie Public Library. It offers free books and resources.
The Washington Community Schools include:
- Washington High School
- Washington Junior High School
- Helen Griffith Elementary
- Lena Dunn Elementary
- North Elementary School
- Veale Elementary School
Arts and Culture
Washington has many buildings with interesting architecture. The Helphenstine House, built in 1847, shows Greek Revival architecture style. The Robert C. Graham House was built in 1912. It is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School of Architecture. This house has marble fireplaces and crystal-glass windows. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Daviess County Historical Society Museum is on Main Street. It has many items related to the history of Daviess County and Indiana. You can see exhibits on military history and an art gallery. There's also a Civil War display and a room for people researching their family history.
Sports History
Washington once had a minor league baseball team called the Washington Browns. They played in the Central League in 1897. Before them, the Washington Giants played in the Kentucky-Indiana League in 1896.
Notable People from Washington
Many interesting people have come from Washington, Indiana:
- Eric Bassler, a member of the Indiana Senate
- Charles "Bud" Dant, a musician
- David "Big Dave" DeJernett, a basketball player
- Don C. Faith, Jr., a United States Army officer
- Esther G. Frame, a Quaker minister
- Chuck Harmon, a baseball player
- Anthony R. Jones, a United States Army lieutenant general
- Leo Klier, a basketball player
- Patrick Summers, a conductor
- Ruth Sherman Tolman, a clinical psychologist
- Charles Thorn, a string theorist
- Cody Zeller, a basketball player
- Luke Zeller, a basketball player
- Tyler Zeller, a basketball player
Images for kids
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Daviess County courthouse in Washington
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Location of Washington in Daviess County, Indiana.
See also
In Spanish: Washington (Indiana) para niños
