Washington County, Missouri

For counties with a similar name, see Washington County (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Washington, Missouri.
Washington County, Missouri

Washington County Courthouse
Map of Missouri highlighting Washington County
Location in the state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded August 21, 1813
Named for George Washington
Seat Potosi
Largest city Potosi
Area
 • Total 762 sq mi (1,974 km2)
 • Land 760 sq mi (1,968 km2)
 • Water 2.6 sq mi (7 km2), 0.3%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 24,788
 • Density 33/sq mi (13/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Washington County is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,195.[1] The largest city and county seat is Potosi.[2] The county was officially organized on August 21, 1813, and was named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States.[3]

History

The French explorers Renault and La Motte entered the area of present-day Potosi in 1722-23. However, no permanent settlements were made until 1763, when François Breton settled near Potosi and began to operate a mine bearing his name. The Bellview Valley, near Caledonia and Belgrade, was settled in 1802 by the families of Annanias McCoy, Benjamin Crow, and Robert Reed. Washington County was officially organized on August 21, 1813, out of Ste. Genevieve County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 762 square miles (1,970 km2), of which 760 square miles (2,000 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18202,769—
18306,784145.0%
18407,2136.3%
18508,81122.2%
18609,72310.4%
187011,71920.5%
188012,89610.0%
189013,1532.0%
190014,2638.4%
191013,378−6.2%
192013,8033.2%
193014,4504.7%
194017,49221.1%
195014,689−16.0%
196014,346−2.3%
197015,0865.2%
198017,98319.2%
199020,38013.3%
200023,34414.5%
201025,1957.9%
Est. 201524,788[5]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 23,344 people, 8,406 households, and 6,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 9,894 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.47% White, 2.48% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Approximately 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,406 households out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 106.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,001, and the median income for a family was $38,193. Males had a median income of $27,871 versus $18,206 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,095. About 17.10% of families and 20.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or older.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Washington County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Washington County who adhere to a religion are Roman Catholics (36.73%), Southern Baptists (21.74%), and Baptist Missionary Association of America (16.86%).

Politics

Local

The Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Washington County. Democrats hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

Washington County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Charlotte Boyer Republican
Circuit Clerk Patti Coleman Boyer Democratic
County Clerk Jeannette Allen Republican
Collector Michael P. McGirl Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Marvin Wright Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Todd Moyers Democratic
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Randy O'Neail Democratic
Coroner Brian Declue Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney John D. Rupp, Jr. Democratic
Public Administrator Janet Drummond Democratic
Recorder Judy Cresswell Moyers Democratic
Sheriff Andy Skiles Democratic
Surveyor R. Timothy Daugherty Democratic
Treasurer Phyllis Long Republican

State

Washington County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Missouri House of Representatives - District 110 - Washington County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ben Harris 2,259 57.07 -42.93
Republican Carrie Cabral 1,699 42.93 +42.93
Missouri House of Representatives - District 152 - Washington County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Fitzwater 2,003 73.45 +40.72
Democratic Shane Van Steenis 724 26.55 -38.48

All of Washington County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by State Senator Kevin Engler (R-Farmington). In 2008, Engler defeated Democrat Dennis Riche 58.72-41.28 percent in the district. The 3rd Senatorial District consists of Carter, Iron, Reynolds, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, and Washington counties, and parts of Jefferson County.

Missouri Senate - District 3 - Washington County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Engler 5,490 58.10
Democratic Dennis Riche 3,959 41.90
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 42.25% 3,697 55.12% 4,823 2.63% 230
2008 31.08% 2,993 67.05% 6,456 1.87% 180
2004 50.37% 4,622 47.87% 4,393 1.76% 162
2000 42.93% 3,536 49.90% 4,110 7.17% 591
1996 39.69% 3,097 57.77% 4,508 2.54% 198
1992 39.60% 3,049 60.40% 4,851 0.00% 0
1988 57.19% 3,978 42.64% 2,966 0.17% 12
1984 51.46% 3,460 48.54% 3,264 0.00% 0
1980 50.52% 3,278 49.35% 3,202 0.12% 8
1976 47.00% 2,855 52.84% 3,210 0.16% 10

Federal

Washington County is included in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.

U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Washington County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jo Ann Emerson 5,868 68.09 +11.00
Democratic Jack Rushin 2,510 29.13 -9.93
Libertarian Rick Vandeven 240 2.78 +0.80
U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 - Special Election – Washington County (2013)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith 732 65.36
Democratic Steve Hodges 356 31.79
Constitution Doug Enyart 17 1.52
Libertarian Bill Slantz 12 1.07
Write-in Wayne L. Byington 3 0.27

Political culture

Past presidential elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2012 58.32% 5,071 39.30% 3,417 1.49% 207
2008 48.95% 4,706 49.00% 4,711 2.05% 197
2004 50.57% 4,641 48.58% 4,459 0.85% 78
2000 48.64% 4,020 48.97% 4,047 2.39% 198
1996 28.78% 2,259 54.97% 4,315 16.25% 1,276
1992 26.93% 2,157 52.57% 4,211 20.20% 1,618
1988 46.29% 3,240 53.49% 3,744 0.23% 16
1984 55.70% 3,755 44.30% 2,987 0.00% 0
1980 53.19% 3,439 44.44% 2,873 2.37% 153
1976 41.36% 2,526 58.01% 3,543 0.64% 39

At the presidential level, Washington County is a fairly independent-leaning or battleground county although it does have a tendency to often lean Democratic. While George W. Bush carried Washington County in 2004, he narrowly lost the county to Al Gore in 2000, and both times the margins of victory were significantly closer than in many of the other rural areas. Bill Clinton also carried Washington County both times in 1992 and 1996 by convincing double-digit margins, and unlike most of the other rural counties in Missouri, Washington County was one of only nine counties in Missouri that favored Barack Obama over John McCain. Obama won Washington County by just five votes in the 2008 election.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Washington County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles but are more moderate or populist on economic issues, typical of the Dixiecrat philosophy. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Washington County with 81.37 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Washington County with 56.48 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Washington County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Washington County with 81.47 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Washington County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

Washington County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain 616 (38.36%)
Mike Huckabee 622 (38.73%)
Mitt Romney 297 (18.49%)
Ron Paul 50 (3.11%)
Washington County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton 2,345 (74.63%)
Barack Obama 670 (21.32%)
John Edwards (withdrawn) 100 (3.18%)

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Washington County, 62.5% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 7.5% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

Public schools

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Government and infrastructure

The Potosi Correctional Center of the Missouri Department of Corrections is located in an unincorporated area in the county.[11] The prison houses male death row inmates.[12]

911

Fire Departments

Ambulance District

Washington County Ambulance District. Administrator - Mal Gum

Law Enforcement

Washington County Sheriff's Office

Potosi Police Department

Missouri Department of Conservation

United States Forestry Service

Attractions

Transportation

Primary state highways

Secondary state highways

  • State Route A. Richwoods-Sullivan
  • State Route AA. Shirley
  • State Route BB. Belgrade
  • State Route C. Belgrade-Viburnum
  • State Route CC. Blackwell
  • State Route DD. Belgrade
  • State Route E. Potosi-Cadet-Blackwell
  • State Route EE. Sullivan
  • State Route F. Potosi
  • State Route H. Richwoods-Fletcher
  • State Route JJ. Belgrade
  • State Route M. Irondale
  • State Route N. Sullivan
  • State Route o. Mineral Point
  • State Route P. Belgrade-Potosi
  • State Route T. Richwoods
  • State Route U. Irondale-Mineral Point
  • State Route W. Bourbon
  • State Route WW. Fletcher
  • State Route N. Bourbon
  • State Route Y. Viburnum-Belgrade-Berryman
  • State Route Z. Belgrade

Airports

Railroads

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Baughertown
  • Belgrade
  • Bellview
  • Blackwell
  • Breton
  • Concord
  • Fletcher
  • Harmony
  • Johnson
  • Kingston
  • Liberty
  • Richwoods
  • Union
  • Walton

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 370.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "Institutional Facilities." Missouri Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 18, 2010. "Potosi Correctional Center (C-5)" "11593 State Highway O Mineral Point, MO 63660"
  12. ↑ Lombardi, George, Richard D. Sluder, and Donald Wallace. "The Management of Death-Sentenced Inmates: Issues, Realities, and Innovative Strategies." Missouri Department of Corrections. 8-9. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.

External links

 Franklin County Jefferson County
Crawford County St. Francois County
   Washington County, Missouri  
Dent County Iron County Madison County

Coordinates: 37°58′N 90°53′W / 37.97°N 90.88°W / 37.97; -90.88

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