Washington County, Illinois

County in Illinois, United States

Not to be confused with Washington, Illinois.

U.S. county in Illinois

Washington County

U.S. county

Washington County Courthouse in Nashville

Washington County Courthouse in Nashville

Official seal of Washington County

Seal

Map of Illinois highlighting Washington County

Location within the U.S. state of Illinois

Illinois's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Illinois
Founded| January 2, 1818
Named for| George Washington
Seat| Nashville
Largest city| Nashville
Area

• Total| 564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Land| 563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Water| 1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2010)

• Total| 14,716
• Estimate

(2018)

| 13,995
• Density| 26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 15th
Website| www.washingtonco.illinois.gov

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 14,716.[1] Its county seat is Nashville.[2] It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Climate and weather
* 2.2 Major highways
* 2.3 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Education
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Villages
* 5.3 Unincorporated communities
* 5.4 Townships
* 6 Politics
* 7 Media
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## History

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Washington County was formed on January 2, 1818, out of 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 St. Louis metropolitan area, also known as the Metro-East. In 1813, the Lively Massacre occurred near Little Crooked Creek. In 1959, the state established the Washington County State Recreation Area.[3] 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.[4]

* Washington County from its 1818 creation to 1824

Washington County from its 1818 creation to 1824

* Washington County in 1824, reduced to its current borders by the creation of Clinton County

Washington County in 1824, reduced to its current borders by the creation of Clinton County

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 564 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 563 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5] 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

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Nashville, Illinois

Climate chart (explanation)

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2.2

2.3

3.5

3.9

4.1

3.7

3.7

2.7

3.2

3.8

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]
| Metric conversion

104

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Nashville have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −21 °F (−29 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.18 inches (55 mm) in January to 4.10 inches (104 mm) in May.[6] On November 17, 2013, an EF4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes and causing two fatalities.

### Major highways

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* Interstate 64
* U.S. Highway 51
* Illinois Route 4
* Illinois Route 13
* Illinois Route 15
* Illinois Route 127
* File:Illinois 153.svg Illinois Route 153
* Illinois Route 177
* Illinois Route 160

### Adjacent counties

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* Clinton County (north)
* Marion County (northeast)
* Jefferson County (east)
* Perry County (south)
* Randolph County (southwest)
* St. Clair County (west)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1820| 1,517| | —
1830| 1,675| | 10.4%
1840| 4,810| | 187.2%
1850| 6,953| | 44.6%
1860| 13,731| | 97.5%
1870| 17,599| | 28.2%
1880| 21,112| | 20.0%
1890| 19,262| | −8.8%
1900| 19,526| | 1.4%
1910| 18,759| | −3.9%
1920| 18,035| | −3.9%
1930| 16,286| | −9.7%
1940| 15,801| | −3.0%
1950| 14,460| | −8.5%
1960| 13,569| | −6.2%
1970| 13,780| | 1.6%
1980| 15,472| | 12.3%
1990| 14,965| | −3.3%
2000| 15,148| | 1.2%
2010| 14,716| | −2.9%
2018 (est.)| 13,995| [7]| −4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,716 people, 5,926 households, and 4,112 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 26.2 inhabitants per square mile (10.1/km2). There were 6,534 housing units at an average density of 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km2).[5] 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.[12] In terms of ancestry, 53.6% were German, 14.0% were Polish, 13.1% were Irish, 7.7% were English, and 6.1% were American.[13]

Of the 5,926 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.[12]

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.[14]

## Education

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The county is served by six school districts:[15]

* Oakdale CCSD 1
* West Washington County CUD 10
* Irvington CCSD 11
* Ashley CCSD 15
* Nashville CCSD 49
* Nashville Community High School District 99

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Ashley
* Centralia
* Nashville

### Villages

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* Addieville
* Du Bois
* Hoyleton
* Irvington
* New Minden
* Oakdale
* Okawville
* Radom
* Richview
* Venedy

### Unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

* Beaucoup
* Clarmin
* Cordes
* Elkton
* Huegely
* Lively Grove
* Plum Hill
* Posen
* Pyramid
* Stone Church

### Townships

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Washington County is divided into these townships:

* Ashley
* Beaucoup
* Bolo
* Covington
* DuBois
* Hoyleton
* Irvington
* Johannisburg
* Lively Grove
* Nashville
* Oakdale
* Okawville
* Pilot Knob
* Plum Hill
* Richview
* Venedy

## Politics

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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 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.

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Illinois[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 6,115  | 77.20% | 1,641  | 20.72%  | 165  | 2.08%
2016 | 5,571  | 74.90% | 1,448  | 19.47%  | 419  | 5.63%
2012 | 4,792  | 64.45% | 2,450  | 32.95%  | 193  | 2.60%
2008 | 4,473  | 56.39% | 3,342  | 42.13%  | 117  | 1.48%
2004 | 5,072  | 62.59% | 2,986  | 36.85%  | 46  | 0.57%
2000 | 4,353  | 60.98% | 2,638  | 36.96%  | 147  | 2.06%
1996 | 3,339  | 48.20% | 2,744  | 39.61%  | 844  | 12.18%
1992 | 3,003  | 39.75% | 2,986  | 39.52%  | 1,566  | 20.73%
1988 | 4,127  | 60.04% | 2,689  | 39.12%  | 58  | 0.84%
1984 | 5,129  | 68.24% | 2,363  | 31.44%  | 24  | 0.32%
1980 | 5,354  | 68.98% | 2,158  | 27.80%  | 250  | 3.22%
1976 | 4,485  | 57.18% | 3,222  | 41.08%  | 137  | 1.75%
1972 | 5,179  | 68.85% | 2,327  | 30.94%  | 16  | 0.21%
1968 | 4,793  | 63.32% | 2,093  | 27.65%  | 683  | 9.02%
1964 | 3,840  | 51.13% | 3,670  | 48.87%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 5,053  | 61.95% | 3,093  | 37.92%  | 11  | 0.13%
1956 | 5,299  | 65.14% | 2,820  | 34.67%  | 16  | 0.20%
1952 | 5,546  | 66.17% | 2,824  | 33.70%  | 11  | 0.13%
1948 | 4,544  | 61.99% | 2,737  | 37.34%  | 49  | 0.67%
1944 | 5,428  | 66.31% | 2,723  | 33.26%  | 35  | 0.43%
1940 | 5,701  | 61.82% | 3,479  | 37.73%  | 42  | 0.46%
1936 | 4,540  | 51.20% | 4,119  | 46.45%  | 209  | 2.36%
1932 | 3,076  | 38.81%  | 4,696  | 59.25% | 154  | 1.94%
1928 | 3,638  | 55.90% | 2,848  | 43.76%  | 22  | 0.34%
1924 | 3,444  | 56.43% | 1,717  | 28.13%  | 942  | 15.44%
1920 | 4,519  | 70.76% | 1,102  | 17.26%  | 765  | 11.98%
1916 | 4,657  | 60.95% | 2,794  | 36.57%  | 190  | 2.49%
1912 | 1,058  | 24.99%  | 1,654  | 39.06% | 1,522  | 35.95%
1908 | 2,355  | 53.87% | 1,830  | 41.86%  | 187  | 4.28%
1904 | 2,374  | 57.30% | 1,504  | 36.30%  | 265  | 6.40%
1900 | 2,351  | 51.81% | 2,081  | 45.86%  | 106  | 2.34%
1896 | 2,351  | 53.30% | 1,979  | 44.87%  | 81  | 1.84%
1892 | 1,956  | 47.35% | 1,868  | 45.22%  | 307  | 7.43%

## Media

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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

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* Lively massacre
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County

## References

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Specific

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "About". www.dnr.illinois.gov. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
4. ^ History of Washington County, Illinois: With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers by McDonough
5. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Nashville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
7. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 2, 2019.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
15. ^ Education, Illinois State Board of. "Illinois Public School Districts by County" (XLS). Retrieved May 28, 2009. [dead link]
16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

General

* U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Washington County, Illinois

## External links

[edit | edit source]

* Official website

Places adjacent to Washington County, Illinois

|  | Clinton County | Marion County

|
|

|  |
St. Clair County |

Washington County, Illinois

| Jefferson County
|  |
Randolph County | Perry County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Illinois, United States

County seat: Nashville

Cities|

* Ashley
* Centralia‡
* Nashville
* Wamac‡

File:Map of Illinois highlighting Washington County.svgMap of Illinois highlighting Washington County

Villages|

* Addieville
* Du Bois
* Hoyleton
* Irvington
* New Minden
* Oakdale
* Okawville
* Radom
* Richview
* Venedy

Townships|

* Ashley
* Beaucoup
* Bolo
* Covington
* DuBois
* Hoyleton
* Irvington
* Johannisburg
* Lively Grove
* Nashville
* Oakdale
* Okawville
* Pilot Knob
* Plum Hill
* Richview
* Venedy

Unincorporated
communities|

* Beaucoup
* Clarmin
* Cordes
* Elkton
* Huegely
* Lively Grove
* Plum Hill
* Posen
* Pyramid
* Stone Church

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

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State of Illinois

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Municipalities|

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Counties|

* Adams
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* Washington
* Wayne
* White
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* v
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Southern Illinois

Counties|

* Alexander
* Bond
* Calhoun
* Clay
* Clinton
* Edwards
* Franklin
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* Richland
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* Washington
* Wayne
* White
* Williamson

Mid-sized cities (25,000+)|

* Alton
* Belleville
* Carbondale
* Collinsville
* Edwardsville
* Granite City
* O'Fallon

Small Cities (10,000-25,000)|

* Cahokia Heights
* Centralia
* East St. Louis
* Fairview Heights
* Glen Carbon
* Godfrey
* Herrin
* Marion
* Mt. Vernon
* Swansea
* Wood River

Small Cities (5,000-10,000)|

* Anna
* Benton
* Bethalto
* Carmi
* Carterville
* Chester
* Columbia
* Du Quoin
* East Alton
* Fairfield
* Flora
* Harrisburg
* Highland
* Jerseyville
* Maryville
* Mascoutah
* Metropolis
* Mount Carmel
* Murphysboro
* Olney
* Pinckneyville
* Pontoon Beach
* Salem
* Shiloh
* Staunton
* Troy
* Washington Park
* Waterloo
* West Frankfort

Interstates|

* I-55
* I-64
* I-70
* I-255
* I-270
* I-57
* I-24

Airports/Military bases|

* Scott Air Force Base
* MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
* St. Louis Regional Airport
* St. Louis Downtown Airport
* St. Louis Metro-East Airport
* Williamson County Regional Airport
* Kellums
* Cache River Airstrip
* Pinckneyville Duquoin Airport
* Harrisburg-Raleigh Regional Airport
* Mt. Vernon Outland Airport
* Southern Illinois Airport

Universities|

* Southern Illinois University (Carbondale)
* Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Colleges|

* Southeastern Illinois College
* Rend Lake College
* John A. Logan College
* Shawnee Community College
* Southwestern Illinois College
* Kaskaskia College
* Wabash Valley College
* East St. Louis Community College Center
* McKendree University
* Morthland College
* Olney Central College

Sports teams based in
the Southern Illinois|

* Gateway Grizzlies (baseball, Frontier League)
* Southern Illinois Miners
* Southern Illinois Salukis
* SIU Edwardsville Cougars

Coordinates: 38°21′08″N 89°24′38″W﻿ / ﻿38.35222°N 89.41056°W﻿ / 38.35222; -89.41056
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