Washington, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Washington is a city in and the county seat
of Washington County, Iowa
, United States
. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 7,047 at the 2000 census.
. Founded in 1912 in a basement and originally named Washington County Hospital, it is now named Washington County Hospitals & Clinics (WCHC) as of 1998. The original 3 story building was torn down in the summer of 2006 to build a new hospital, despite some local objections.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 7,047 people, 2,928 households, and 1,903 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,454.3 people per square mile (561.0/km²). There were 3,132 housing units at an average density of 646.3 per square mile (249.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.20% White, 0.57% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.72% from other races
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.71% of the population.
There were 2,928 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,067, and the median income for a family was $44,497. Males had a median income of $29,961 versus $20,706 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,145. About 5.4% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
headed by a mayor
. The mayor and council members are elected for four year terms. The city council consists of four ward counselors and two At-Large
members. The current mayor is Sandra Johnson, and the council members are, Karen Wilson-Johnson (At-Large), Merlin Hagie (At-Large), Robert Shepherd (Ward 1), Russ Zieglowsky (Ward 2), Mike Roth (Ward 3), and Fred Stark (Ward 4).
Worked throughout his 40-year publishing career for Time-Life International, holding several executive positions and retiring in 1984 as group vice-president, secretary, and director of Time Inc. A former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, he also served as Chair of the Board of Major League Baseball Properties and consultant to the Commissioner of Baseball.
Head football coach Tennessee Tech University and played seven years in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions and New York Jets. Hennigan was elected to the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
Brookhart served as president of the National Rifle Association from 1921 to 1925.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Washington County, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Iowa City metropolitan area
The Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Iowa anchored by the city of Iowa City...
. The population was 7,047 at the 2000 census.
History
Washington was the location of the first county hospital built west of the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Founded in 1912 in a basement and originally named Washington County Hospital, it is now named Washington County Hospitals & Clinics (WCHC) as of 1998. The original 3 story building was torn down in the summer of 2006 to build a new hospital, despite some local objections.
Geography
Washington is located at 41°18′0"N 91°41′21"W (41.299941, -91.689175).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,047 people, 2,928 households, and 1,903 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,454.3 people per square mile (561.0/km²). There were 3,132 housing units at an average density of 646.3 per square mile (249.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.20% White, 0.57% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.72% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.71% of the population.
There were 2,928 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,067, and the median income for a family was $44,497. Males had a median income of $29,961 versus $20,706 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,145. About 5.4% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Washington is governed by a six-member city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
headed by a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. The mayor and council members are elected for four year terms. The city council consists of four ward counselors and two At-Large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
members. The current mayor is Sandra Johnson, and the council members are, Karen Wilson-Johnson (At-Large), Merlin Hagie (At-Large), Robert Shepherd (Ward 1), Russ Zieglowsky (Ward 2), Mike Roth (Ward 3), and Fred Stark (Ward 4).
Community
Located at the center of Washington, surrounded by the business district, is a public square. A central park features a unique type of fountain, which was built in 1939 for Washington's Centennial Celebration. In 1995 a group of local citizens refurbished the fountain. Washington was the setting for the 1996 made-for-TV movie and CBS "Hallmark Hall of Fame" special, "Harvest of Fire", starring academy award winning actress, Patty Duke.Notable residents
- John M. WorkJohn M. WorkJohn McClelland Work was an American socialist writer, lecturer, activist, and political functionary. Work is best remembered as a founding member of the Socialist Party of America and as the author of one of its best-selling propaganda tracts of the first decade of the 20th Century...
, newspaper editorialist and Executive Secretary of the Socialist Party of AmericaSocialist Party of AmericaThe Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
from 1911 to 1913 - Matt FishMatt FishMatt Fish is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Washington Bullets. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.Fish has also played in the IBA and the CBA.-External...
, NBA back-up center, basketball - Keith MolesworthKeith MolesworthKeith Frank Molesworth was an American football player and coach. He also played and managed in minor league baseball....
, NFL player and coach - Charles Almon DeweyCharles Almon DeweyCharles Almon Dewey was a United States federal judge in Iowa's southern district for over thirty years....
, United States federal judgeUnited States federal judgeIn the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution.... - Charley Bear, Chair of the Board of Major League Baseball Properties
Worked throughout his 40-year publishing career for Time-Life International, holding several executive positions and retiring in 1984 as group vice-president, secretary, and director of Time Inc. A former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, he also served as Chair of the Board of Major League Baseball Properties and consultant to the Commissioner of Baseball.
- Mike HenniganMike HenniganMichael "Mike" Hennigan is an English former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Hennigan played as a central defender and began his career with the youth team of Sheffield Wednesday, but he never made a first team league appearance...
, NFL player and coach
Head football coach Tennessee Tech University and played seven years in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions and New York Jets. Hennigan was elected to the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
- Smith Wildman Brookhart, (February 2, 1869 – November 15, 1944), was twice elected as a Republican to represent Iowa in the United States Senate.
Brookhart served as president of the National Rifle Association from 1921 to 1925.
- Dr. William D. Steele, (October, 2009) First Florida Powerball Jackpot Winner won $189 million dollars.
- Pam RothPam RothPam Roth is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 75th district since 2011.-External links:*, official IL House website* profile...
, Illinois General Assembly, State Representative elected as a Republican.