Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 6,483. Its county seat and largest town is the city of Washington.

Law and government

Washington County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,328 km²), of which, 898 square miles (2,327 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.04%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Jefferson County, Nebraska (north)
• Gage County, Nebraska (northeast)
• Marshall County (east)
• Riley County (southeast)
• Clay County (south)
• Cloud County (southwest)
• Republic County (west)
• Thayer County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,483 people, 2,673 households, and 1,780 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,142 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,673 households out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 4.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 25.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,363, and the median income for a family was $37,260. Males had a median income of $25,074 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,515. About 7.30% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

• Washington, 1,162 (county seat)
• Hanover, 603
• Clifton, 516, of which a portion lies in Clay County
• Linn, 395
• Greenleaf, 333
• Haddam, 160
• Morrowville, 159
• Barnes, 144
• Palmer, 102
• Mahaska, 101
• Vining, 56, of which a portion lies in Clay County
• Hollenberg, 29

Townships

Washington County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Washington is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Barnes	04275		233	3 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Brantford	08250		91	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Charleston	12625		99	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%
Clifton	14225		459	5 (13)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Coleman	14750		64	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Farmington	23275		192	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Franklin	24525		139	2 (4)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.24%
Grant	28175		25	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Greenleaf	28650		450	5 (13)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Haddam	29425		246	3 (7)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Hanover	29900		884	9 (25)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%
Highland	32025		22	0 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.45%
Independence	33950		169	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%
Kimeo	36850		75	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Lincoln	41250		84	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Linn	41450		599	6 (17)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%
Little Blue	41500		93	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%
Logan	42300		109	1 (3)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%
Lowe	43025		76	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Mill Creek	46750		274	3 (8)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Sheridan	64775		119	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Sherman	65125		249	3 (7)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Strawberry	68550		130	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Union	72475		161	2 (5)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%
Washington	75850		218	2 (6)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0.04%

Education

Unified school districts

• Washington County USD 108 (Web site) serves the cities of Haddam, Greenleaf, Mahaska, Morrowville, and Washington
• Barnes-Hanover-Linn USD 223 (Web site)
• Clifton-Clyde USD 224 (Web site)

References

External links