Washington County, Pennsylvania

Not to be confused with Washington City, Pennsylvania.
Washington County, Pennsylvania

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Washington County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded March 28, 1781
Named for George Washington
Seat Washington
Largest city Washington
Area
 • Total 861 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Land 857 sq mi (2,220 km2)
 • Water 3.9 sq mi (10 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 208,187
 • Density 243/sq mi (94/km²)
Congressional districts 9th, 18th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.co.washington.pa.us

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 207,820.[1] Its county seat is Washington.[2] The county was created on March 28, 1781, from part of Westmoreland County. Both the county and the city were named for American Revolutionary War leader George Washington, later to become the first President of the United States.

Washington County is included in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is home to Washington County Airport, located three miles (5 km) southwest of Washington, Pennsylvania.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 861 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 857 square miles (2,220 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179023,892—
180028,29818.4%
181036,28928.2%
182040,03810.3%
183042,7846.9%
184041,279−3.5%
185044,9398.9%
186046,8054.2%
187048,4833.6%
188055,41814.3%
189071,15528.4%
190092,18129.5%
1910143,68055.9%
1920188,99231.5%
1930204,8028.4%
1940210,8523.0%
1950209,628−0.6%
1960217,2713.6%
1970210,876−2.9%
1980217,0742.9%
1990204,584−5.8%
2000202,897−0.8%
2010207,8202.4%
Est. 2014208,187[4]0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 202,897 people, 81,130 households, and 56,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 237 people per square mile (91/km²). There were 87,267 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.27% White, 3.26% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.3% were of German, 17.2% Italian, 10.6% Irish, 8.6% English, 7.9% Polish and 6.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 81,130 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.

As of 1800, this county was largely settled by people of Scot-Irish heritage because "prime lands" were already taken by the Germans and the Quakers.

Government and politics

The Washington County Courthouse during the winter

As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .

The County of Washington is governed by a three-member publicly elected commission. The three commissioners serve in both executive and legislative capacities. By state law, the commission must have a minority party guaranteeing a political split on the commission. Each term is for four years.

The three current commissioners for Washington County are Lawrence Maggi (Democrat), Diana Irey (Republican), and Harlan G. Shober Jr. (Democrat).

Maggi was the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district against Republican incumbent Tim Murphy in 2012. Maggi lost to Murphy and earned only 36 percent of the vote. Irey was the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district and lost to the popular Democratic incumbent John Murtha in the 2006 election.

The Washington County Court of Common Pleas, the Twenty-Seventh Judicial District of Pennsylvania, is the state trial court, sitting in and for Washington County. It serves as the court of original jurisdiction for the region. There are five judges, which the county's citizens elect to ten year terms, under the laws of the Commonwealth. The President Judge is The Honorable Katherine B. Emery; she is the most senior member of the bench. The Honorable Judges of the court are:

Additionally, magisterial district judges (MDJs) serve throughout the county to hear traffic citations, issue warrants, and decide minor civil matters.

The Democratic Party has been historically dominant in county-level politics and national politics, however Washington has trended Republican at the national level in recent years. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won 53% of the vote and Republican George W. Bush won 44%. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 50.14% of the vote and Bush received 49.57% a difference of 552 votes. In 2008, Republican John McCain won 51% to Democrat Barack Obama's 46% and each of the three state row office winners carried Washington County.

Presidential elections

Year Democrat Republican
2012 Barack Obama 40,345 (42.6%) Mitt Romney 53,230 (56.2%)
2008 Barack Obama 46,122 (46.8%) John McCain 50,752 (51.5%)
2004 John Kerry 48,225 (50.1%) George W. Bush 47,679 (49.6%)
2000 Al Gore 44,961 (54.2%) George W. Bush 37,339 (45.0%)
1996 Bill Clinton 40,952 (52.1%) Bob Dole 27,777 (35.3%)
1992 Bill Clinton 46,143 (54.6%) George H. W. Bush 21,977 (26.0%)
1988 Michael Dukakis 47, 527 (62.1%) George H. W. Bush 28,651 (37.8%)
1984 Walter Mondale 50,911 (59.2%) Ronald Reagan 34,782 (40.5%)
1980 Jimmy Carter 45,295 (55.2%) Ronald Reagan 32,532 (39.7%)
1976 Jimmy Carter 49,317 (59.2%) Gerald Ford 32,827 (39.4%)
1972 George McGovern 34,781 (44.1%) Richard Nixon 42,587 (54.0%)
1968 Hubert Humphrey 47,805 (56.3%) Richard Nixon 28,023 (33.0%)
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson 63,482 (72.3%) Barry Goldwater 24,127 (27.5%)
1960 John F. Kennedy 53,729 (58.3%) Richard Nixon 38,348 (41.6%)

County row offices

State Representatives

State Senators

US Representatives

Landmarks and events

The F. Julius LeMoyne House serves as the headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society.

Washington County is the home of the PONY Baseball and Softball International Headquarters[10] and is the home of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.[11] Washington County is also famous for its Rock Shelters at Meadowcroft Village, which are one of the best preserved and oldest Pre-Clovis Native American dwellings in the country.[12] The county has 21 covered bridges still standing.[13]

The Whiskey Rebellion culminated in Washington. The home of David Bradford, one of the rebellion leaders, is located in Washington and is a national landmark.[14] Just a couple blocks away is the F. Julius LeMoyne House, which serves as the headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society.

Washington County is the home of the first crematory in the United States.[15][16]

In 1981, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the county.[17]

Education

Colleges and universities

Public school districts

Map of Washington County, Pennsylvania School Districts
Served by

Private schools

  • Calvary Chapel Christian School – Fredericktown
  • Central Christian Academy – Houston
  • Children's School of Washington
  • Cornerstone Mennonite School – Burgettstown
  • Faith Christian School of Washington – Washington
  • First Love Christian Academy High – Washington
  • Goddard School – Venetia
  • Gwens Montessori School Inc – Washington
  • Hickory Christian School – Hickory
  • Huntington Learning Center – McMurray
  • John F Kennedy School – Washington
  • Kinder Care Learning Centers
  • Lakeview Christian Academy – Bridgeville
  • Madonna Catholic Regional School – Monongahela
  • Mel Blount Leadership Academy – Claysville
  • NHS School – Ellsworth
  • Rainbows End Learning Center – Washington
  • St Francis Children's School – Beallsville
  • St Patrick School – Cannonsburg
  • Tri-State Christian School – Burgettstown

Libraries

  • Avella Area Library Center
  • Bentleyville Public Library
  • Burgettstown Community Library
  • California Public Library
  • Chartiers-Houston Community Library
  • Citizens Library – Washington
  • Donora Public Library
  • Frank Sarris Public Library – Cannonsburg
Citizens Library in Washington, PA
  • Fredericktown Area Public Library
  • Heritage Public Library – McDonald
  • John K Tener Library – Charleroi
  • Marianna Community Public Library
  • Monongahela Area Library
  • Peters Township Public Library
  • Washington County Library System

Hospitals

Communities

Map of Washington County, Pennsylvania with municipal labels showing cities and boroughs (red), townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Washington County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  7. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. ↑ PONY Baseball/Softball • Protect Our Nation's Youths. Pony.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  11. ↑ Archived June 1, 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Archived February 29, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Welcome!. Bradfordhouse.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  15. ↑ "The LeMoyne Crematory". Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  16. ↑ "An Unceremonious Rite; Cremation of Mrs. Ben Pitman" (PDF). New York Times. February 16, 1879. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Mingo Creek Church – PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  18. ↑ Archived April 2, 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamonval/townships/washallen.html
  20. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
  21. ↑ Welcome!. Bradfordhouse.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  22. ↑ Alexander Clark of Muscatine, Iowa | HOME. Alexanderclark.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  23. ↑ Archived March 3, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ US Army Center of Military History
  25. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society
  26. ↑ "Fulton, Alexander". lahistory.org (Louisiana Historical Association). Retrieved October 9, 2010.

External links

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Coordinates: 40°11′N 80°15′W / 40.19°N 80.25°W / 40.19; -80.25

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