Washington, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Washington, Pennsylvania
City
Downtown Washington
Nickname(s):  Little Washington, Washpa
Location of Washington in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Washington
Established	1768
Area
• Total	2.92 sq mi (7.56 km2)
• Land	2.92 sq mi (7.56 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,178 ft (359 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,176
• Density	4,516.97/sq mi (1,743.82/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	15301
Area code(s)	724, 878
FIPS code	42-81328
Website	http://www.washingtonpa.us/

Washington is a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the main city, also called the county seat, of the county. In 2020, about 13,176 people lived there. Washington is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania. The city is home to Washington & Jefferson College and is famous for Pony League baseball.

History of Washington

City Hall in Washington

The historic George Washington Hotel

Long ago, a Delaware Indian chief named Tangooqua, also known as "Catfish," had a camp here. His camp was on a stream that is now part of Washington. The French called this area "Wissameking," which meant "catfish place," back in 1757.

Early Settlements (1700s)

Many people from Scotland and Ireland settled in the Washington area. Others came from eastern and central parts of Colony of Virginia. The first settlers arrived around 1768.

On March 28, 1781, the government of Pennsylvania created Washington County. They chose "Catfish Camp" as the place for the first election. This was the very first county in the U.S. to be named after George Washington. He was the leader of the army during the American Revolutionary War and later the first president.

David Hoge planned the city's layout soon after the county was formed. His first map called it "Bassett, alias Dandridge Town." But before it was officially recorded, the name was changed to "Washington." Some local stories say the town was named Washington because George Washington once stayed there. However, this is not true; he never visited the area.

The original plan set aside land for public fun. A spot was given for a courthouse, where the current building stands today. David Hoge also gave two special lots to "His Excellency, General Washington, and Mrs. Washington."

Washington, Pennsylvania, was a key place during the 'Whiskey Rebellion' in 1791. This was one of the first big protests against the new U.S. government. The rebellion happened because of a tax on whiskey made in the area. The house of David Bradford, one of the rebellion's leaders, is now a museum. It is called the David Bradford House and is on South Main Street.

Growth in the 1800s

Washington became an official borough on February 13, 1810. Later, in 1924, it became a larger "class three" city.

In August 1875, work began on the 3 ft (914 mm) Waynesburg and Washington Railroad. This railway was planned in 1874 and started in 1875. Passenger trains stopped running in 1929. The tracks were changed to a wider size in 1944 and the line was renamed the Waynesburg Secondary. Freight trains stopped in 1976. However, part of the line is still used to reach a coal mine.

The discovery of oil and natural gas in the Washington oil field brought a lot of growth to the city. This "boom period" lasted from the 1880s to the early 1900s.

James B. Wilson started the Washington Electric Street Railways in 1889. Construction began in November 1890. The first trolley line went from the Waynesburg and Washington Narrow Gauge station to Wilson Orchard. This was just north of where the UPMC Washington hospital is today.

The 1900s and Beyond

In 1903, the Washington and Canonsburg Railway Company connected Washington to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania with a trolley line. A company called the Philadelphia Company bought it in 1906. It later became part of the Pittsburgh Railway Company. This allowed people to travel by trolley all the way to Pittsburgh by 1909. The line closed on August 29, 1953. A small part of the line and some old trolley cars are saved at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum north of the city.

Geography and Climate

Washington covers an area of about 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²). All of this area is land.

Weather in Washington

Washington has a climate that changes between two types: a humid continental climate and a humid subtropical climate. This means summers are warm to hot and humid. Winters are cold and snowy. It rains most in the summer months. On average, Washington gets about 38.87 in (987 mm) of rain each year. Snow usually falls between November and April. The city gets about 37.8 in (96 cm) of snow annually.

People of Washington

In 2010, there were 13,663 people living in Washington. The city had about 4,140 people per square mile. Most residents (about 76%) were White. About 20.5% were African American. A small number were Asian or from other races. About 1.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, there were 15,268 people in the city. There were 6,259 households, and 3,486 families. About 24.3% of households had children under 18. About 34.7% were married couples. The average household had 2.20 people. The average family had 2.91 people.

The median age in the city was 36 years old. This means half the people were older than 36 and half were younger. About 21.2% of the population was under 18. About 16.7% were 65 or older.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,764. For families, it was $34,862. About 20.7% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 29.2% of those under 18.

Religious Places

Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1891. It is the only synagogue in Washington County.

Economy and Jobs

The Washington County Courthouse

Some of the biggest employers in Washington are The Washington Hospital, the government of Washington County, and Washington & Jefferson College. These places provide many jobs for the community.

Arts, Culture, and Sports

The historic David Bradford House

The Washington Symphony Orchestra started in 2002. They perform several concerts each year. The Washington Community Theatre puts on musicals and plays. They have a big show every June at Washington Park. The WCT celebrated its 40th birthday in 2009.

Washington also has two important historic homes. One is the David Bradford House on South Main Street. The American author Rebecca Harding Davis was born here in 1831. The other is the home of Francis Julius LeMoyne on East Maiden Street. LeMoyne was a doctor who worked to end slavery. His home was part of the Underground Railroad. He also built the first crematory in America.

The David Bradford House and F. Julius LeMoyne House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other important buildings on the list include the Administration Building at Washington and Jefferson College, the Dr. Joseph Maurer House, the Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Station, the Washington Armory, the Washington County Courthouse, and the Washington County Jail.

Washington is home to the main office of PONY Baseball and Softball. It also hosts the yearly PONY League World Series. This event is for 13- and 14-year-old baseball players. The series takes place at Lew Hays Field in Washington Park. The Washington Wild Things minor league baseball team has played in the city since 1997. In 2006, the city council even changed the city's name to "Steelers, Pennsylvania" for a few days. This was to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in Super Bowl XL.

Education in Washington

Old Main at Washington & Jefferson College

Washington is home to Washington & Jefferson College. This is a small, private college where both boys and girls can study. It started from three small colleges in Washington County in the 1780s. The college you see today was formed in 1865. It combined Washington College and Jefferson College (from Canonsburg).

The college is in downtown Washington and has about 1,500 students. Its campus is about 60-acre (0.24 km²) and has over 40 buildings. The oldest building dates back to 1793. The college focuses on liberal arts and sciences. It helps students get ready for graduate school or professional careers. Washington & Jefferson College is often ranked among the top liberal arts colleges.

The public schools in Washington are part of the Washington School District. It has four schools:

• Washington High School (grades 9–12)
• Washington Junior High School (grades 7–8)
• Washington Park Intermediate School (grades 4–6)
• Washington Park Elementary School (grades K-3)

The district also offers an online learning option.

Media

The Observer-Reporter is a daily newspaper in Washington. It was started in 1808. Washington's local radio station is WJPA (95.3 FM / 1450 AM).

Famous People from Washington

See also

In Spanish: Washington (Pensilvania) para niños