Washington County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washington County
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Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
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 Minnesota's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | October 27, 1849 |
| Named for | George Washington |
| Seat | Stillwater |
| Largest city | Woodbury |
| Area | |
| • Total | 423 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Land | 384 sq mi (990 km2) |
| • Water | 38 sq mi (100 km2) 9.1%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 267,568 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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278,936  |
| • Density | 632.5/sq mi (244.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 4th, 6th |
Washington County is a county in the state of Minnesota. In 2020, about 267,568 people lived here. This makes it the fifth-most populated county in Minnesota. The main city, or county seat, is Stillwater. The biggest city in the county is Woodbury. Washington County is part of the larger Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Contents
History
Early towns in Washington County grew along the St. Croix River. This river now forms the border with Wisconsin. The river was important for moving settlers and floating logs downstream. The area had many forests, so logging and lumber were big businesses early on.
The first settlers arrived near Afton in 1837. In 1838, people started a settlement called Dacotah near what is now Stillwater. A sawmill was built in Marine-on-St.-Croix in 1839. Another sawmill opened in Stillwater in 1844. These sawmills were very successful, and people moved from Dacotah to Stillwater.
This area was part of Wisconsin Territory until Wisconsin became a state in 1848. Leaders like Joseph Renshaw Brown held a meeting in Stillwater on August 26, 1848. They asked the U.S. Congress to create a new territory called "Minnesota." Because of this meeting, Stillwater is known as the "Birthplace of Minnesota." Congress agreed and created Minnesota Territory on March 3, 1849.
The new territory's government created nine counties in October 1849. Washington County was one of them. It was named after George Washington. Stillwater was chosen as the county seat. The county's first sheriff started work in 1849, and its first school district began in 1850.
After most of the forests were cut down, Washington County's economy changed. It became mostly about farming. As nearby Ramsey County and St. Paul grew, parts of Washington County became popular for tourism. Places like Mahtomedi and Landfall developed this way. Later, in the 1900s, many people moved to the county as St. Paul's suburbs expanded.
Geography
Washington County is on the east side of Minnesota. Its eastern border is the St. Croix River, which separates it from Wisconsin. The Mississippi River flows along the county's southwest border. The land in Washington County has gentle, rolling hills. The highest point is about 1,053 feet (321 meters) above sea level. The county covers 423 square miles (1,096 km²). About 384 square miles (995 km²) is land, and 38 square miles (98 km²) is water.
Major Roads
Interstate 35
Interstate 94
Interstate 494
Interstate 694
US Highway 8
US Highway 10
US Highway 12
US Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 36
Minnesota State Highway 95
Minnesota State Highway 96
Minnesota State Highway 97
Minnesota State Highway 120
Minnesota State Highway 244
Airports
- Forest Lake Airport (25D)
- Lake Elmo Airport (21D)
Neighboring Counties
- Chisago County - north
- Polk County, Wisconsin - northeast
- St. Croix County, Wisconsin - east
- Pierce County, Wisconsin - southeast
- Dakota County - southwest
- Ramsey County - west
- Anoka County - northwest
Parks and Protected Areas
- Afton State Park
- Big Marine Park Reserve
- Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park
- Gateway State Trail
- Lake Elmo Park Reserve
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part)
- Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park
- Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)
- William O'Brien State Park
People of Washington County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,056 | — | |
| 1860 | 6,123 | 479.8% | |
| 1870 | 11,809 | 92.9% | |
| 1880 | 19,563 | 65.7% | |
| 1890 | 25,992 | 32.9% | |
| 1900 | 27,808 | 7.0% | |
| 1910 | 26,013 | −6.5% | |
| 1920 | 23,761 | −8.7% | |
| 1930 | 24,753 | 4.2% | |
| 1940 | 26,430 | 6.8% | |
| 1950 | 34,544 | 30.7% | |
| 1960 | 52,432 | 51.8% | |
| 1970 | 83,003 | 58.3% | |
| 1980 | 113,571 | 36.8% | |
| 1990 | 145,896 | 28.5% | |
| 2000 | 201,130 | 37.9% | |
| 2010 | 238,136 | 18.4% | |
| 2020 | 267,568 | 12.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 278,936 | 17.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Washington County was 267,568. The county is home to many different groups of people.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 204,111 | 208,277 | 85.71% | 77.84% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 8,376 | 13,799 | 3.52% | 5.16% |
| Native American (not Hispanic) | 973 | 999 | 0.41% | 0.37% |
| Asian (not Hispanic) | 12,023 | 18,530 | 5.05% | 6.93% |
| Pacific Islander (not Hispanic) | 72 | 72 | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Other Race (not Hispanic) | 214 | 969 | 0.09% | 0.36% |
| Mixed Race (not Hispanic) | 4,240 | 11,828 | 1.78% | 4.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8,127 | 13,094 | 3.41% | 4.89% |
| Total | 238,136 | 267,568 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: The US Census counts Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic group. This means people can be Hispanic/Latino and also be of any race.
In 2010, there were 238,136 people living in the county. About 38.6% of households had children under 18. Most households (60.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.67 people. The median age was 38 years old.
Economy
The economy of Washington County is strong. Many people work for large companies and school districts.
Top Employers
Here are some of the biggest employers in Washington County as of 2021:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Andersen Corporation (Bayport) | 4,939 |
| 2 | Independent School District 833 | 2,594 |
| 3 | Woodwinds Healtheast Campus | 1,331 |
| 4 | Washington County Government | 1,324 |
| 5 | Walmart | 1,274 |
| 6 | Hy-Vee Grocery | 1,250 |
| 7 | Independent School District 834 | 1,136 |
| 8 | Independent School District 831 | 1,074 |
| 9 | Target Corporation | 959 |
| 10 | Bailey Nurseries, Inc | 800 |
Fun Places to Visit
- Afton State Park: A great place for hiking and enjoying nature.
- Afton Alps Ski Area: A popular spot for skiing and snowboarding in winter.
- Gateway State Trail: A long trail perfect for biking, walking, and running.
- William O'Brien State Park: Offers camping, fishing, and beautiful views of the St. Croix River.
Communities
Cities
- Afton
- Bayport
- Birchwood Village
- Cottage Grove
- Dellwood
- Forest Lake
- Grant
- Hastings (part)
- Hugo
- Lake Elmo
- Lake St. Croix Beach
- Lakeland
- Lakeland Shores
- Landfall
- Mahtomedi
- Marine on St. Croix
- Newport
- Oak Park Heights
- Oakdale
- Pine Springs
- Saint Marys Point
- Saint Paul Park
- Scandia
- Stillwater (county seat)
- White Bear Lake (partly in Ramsey County)
- Willernie
- Woodbury
Other Communities (Unincorporated)
- Arcola
- Basswood Grove
- Carnelian Junction
- Maple Island
- Siegel
Townships
- Baytown
- Denmark
- Grey Cloud Island
- May
- Stillwater
- West Lakeland
Environmental Efforts
Washington County has worked to clean up some areas that had environmental damage. These sites were listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because of pollution in the soil and water. Two sites, the Baytown Township Ground Water Plume and the Oakdale Dump, are still being monitored. Another site, the Washington County Landfill, was successfully cleaned up and removed from the list in 1996.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Washington (Minnesota) para niños
