Washington, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Washington is a city in Beaufort County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Beaufort County
. The closest major city is Greenville
, approximately 20 miles to the west.
Established in 1776 in land donated by Col. James Bonner
, Washington is the first city named after George Washington
, the first president of the United States.
of 2010, there were 9,744 people and 4,246 households in the city. The population density
was 1,190.0 people per square mile (459.4/km²). There were 4,754 housing units at an average density of 580.5 per square mile (224.1/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 49.0% White, 45.50% Black or African American
, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino American
, 0.5% Asian American
, 0.2% Native American
, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
, and 1.50% two or more races
.
There were 4,754 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples
living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,057, and the median income for a family was $30,280. Males had a median income of $26,053 versus $21,641 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,319. About 23.3% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.
North Carolina Highways
Print
The Washington Daily News
is the local newspaper. As of September 2007, the Daily News had a circulation of 8,736 Monday through Saturday, and 8,969 on Sunday. The Daily News was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
for Meritorious Public Service in 1990 for a series of stories concerning local water contamination, making it the smallest daily newspaper in history to win the coveted award.
In 2009, the newspaper, The Beaufort Observer, went from a bi-monthly print publication to an online publication.
The town is served by a Downtown Bookstore called "I Can't Believe It's a Book Store" on W Main St.
". It has a range of historical buildings and landmarks that add to its architectural interest, with some dating back to colonial times. A self-guided Historic Walking Tour allows visitors to explore the neighborhoods. Homes of Victorian design, Arts and Crafts, and traditional early-20th century dwellings stand side-by-side on sidewalks lined with crepe myrtle trees. Condominiums and townhouses have been constructed on the city's waterfront to bring residents back to the river, the town's starting place. A Farmer's and Artisan's Market is held regularly on the town's green areas on the waterfront.
The North Carolina Estuarium, located on the Pamlico River, portrays the ecology of North Carolina's estuaries. The Tar-Pamlico River and Pamlico Sounds are featured in the more than 200 scientific and historic exhibits. In addition, a scenic 3/4 mile boardwalk takes visitors out along the Pamlico River. Washington features fishing and boating along the Pamlico River
.
The Turnage Theatre, a restored historic vaudeville
and movie theater, has opened in the downtown area and hosts plays and other types of live entertainment. Downtown restaurants benefit from a monthly downtown music and art festival called "Music in the Streets." The Beaufort County Arts Council, founded in 1972, is located in the restored Atlantic Coastline Railroad Station. It offers cultural programs including an annual juried fine arts show, a holiday arts and crafts show, a student art show, year-round exhibitions in the adjacent Washington Civic Center gallery, a series of free public concerts, an annual art camp for youth, workshops, lectures, and organized trips to attend cultural events throughout the region.
Evidence of the Union attack on Washington during the American Civil War
is seen by the cannon ball shot in an attorney's office located on historic Water Street. Confederates ships were shelling from the Tar River and forced the Union soldiers out. Both Union and Confederate soldiers burned many buildings as they retreated. American Civil War re-enactors meet in the outskirts of Washington every year. (See historical reenactment
.) Many near-by towns also contain Civil War artifacts and museums.
Beaufort County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.Beaufort County is one of the proposed sites for a Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
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 Beaufort County
Beaufort County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.Beaufort County is one of the proposed sites for a Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier...
. The closest major city is Greenville
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
, approximately 20 miles to the west.
Established in 1776 in land donated by Col. James Bonner
James Bonner
Col. James Bonner was born in 1719 in either Beaufort Precinct of Hyde Precinct of Bath County. His father, Thomas Bonner was a land owner in Hyde Precinct in 1715. He died in Beaufort County, North Carolina in 1782. He was buried in the town of Washington which was founded on his land. His grave...
, Washington is the first city named after George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, the first president of the United States.
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 2010, there were 9,744 people and 4,246 households 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 1,190.0 people per square mile (459.4/km²). There were 4,754 housing units at an average density of 580.5 per square mile (224.1/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 49.0% White, 45.50% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino American
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
, 0.5% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.2% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, and 1.50% two or more races
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
.
There were 4,754 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% 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, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,057, and the median income for a family was $30,280. Males had a median income of $26,053 versus $21,641 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 $14,319. About 23.3% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.
Freeways and primary designated routes
United States Highways- U.S. Route 264U.S. Route 264U.S. Route 264 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Raleigh to Manns Harbor, entirely in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-Route description:...
, dubbed Pactolus Highway, runs roughly east-west through Washington, following John Small Avenue and Fifth Street. - U.S. Route 17U.S. Route 17U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 is a north–south United States highway. The highway spans the southeastern United States and is close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length. The highway's southern terminus is at Punta Gorda, Florida, at an intersection with U.S. Route 41...
runs roughly north-south, following Carolina Avenue and North Bridge Street. South of Washington the road crosses the Pamlico RiverPamlico RiverThe Pamlico River is a tidal river that flows into Pamlico Sound, in North Carolina in the United States of America. It is formed by the confluence of the Tar River and Tranters Creek....
over the Pamlico-Tar Bridge.
North Carolina Highways
- N.C. Route 32North Carolina Highway 32NC 32 is a north–south state highway in eastern North Carolina; it goes through several counties and small communities in the northeastern Inner Banks part of the state...
runs east-west through Washington, following River Road and Main Street. The road terminates at U.S. Route 17.
Washington Daily News (Washington, N.C.)
The Washington Daily News is a daily newspaper serving Washington, North Carolina. It is the smallest daily newspaper to ever win a Pulitzer Prize gold medal....
is the local newspaper. As of September 2007, the Daily News had a circulation of 8,736 Monday through Saturday, and 8,969 on Sunday. The Daily News was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for Meritorious Public Service in 1990 for a series of stories concerning local water contamination, making it the smallest daily newspaper in history to win the coveted award.
In 2009, the newspaper, The Beaufort Observer, went from a bi-monthly print publication to an online publication.
The town is served by a Downtown Bookstore called "I Can't Believe It's a Book Store" on W Main St.
Television
The following stations are licensed to Washington and/or have significant operations and viewers in the city:- WITN (7, NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
& MyNetworkTVMyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
on DT2) licensed to Washington, owned by Gray TelevisionGray TelevisionGray Television, Inc. is a communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with administrative offices in Albany, Georgia.Established in 1946 by James H... - WNCTWNCT-TVWNCT-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Eastern North Carolina's Inner Banks licensed to Greenville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 10 from a transmitter in Grifton along NC 118. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 6 as well as Time Warner...
(9, CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
& The CW on DT2) licensed to Greenville, owned by Media GeneralMedia GeneralMedia General, Inc. is a media company based in the Southeastern United States. Its major properties include newspapers such as The Tampa Tribune, the Winston-Salem Journal, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, as well as numerous television stations, such as flagship station WFLA-TV.The company was... - WCTIWCTI-TVWCTI-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Inner Banks area of Eastern North Carolina that is licensed to New Bern. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter in Trenton along NC 58...
(12, ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) licensed to New BernNew Bern, North CarolinaNew Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, owned by Bluestone TelevisionBluestone TelevisionBonten Media Group, LLC is a New York City-based owner of television broadcast stations in the United States. It was formed by Randall D. Bongarten and Diamond Castle Holdings in November 2006. Its first acquisition was group of 14 stations from Bluestone Television on May 31, 2007. Bluestone had... - WYDO (8,14, Fox) licensed to Greenville, owned by Esteem Broadcasting, satellite of WFXIWFXIWFXI is the Fox-affiliated television station for Eastern North Carolina's Inner Banks licensed to Morehead City. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter in unincorporated Davis, North Carolina along the South River's East Fork. The station can also be...
- WUNK (25, PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
), licensed to Greenville, owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, satellite of WUNC-TV - WEPXWEPXWEPX-TV is one of two Ion Television affiliates for the Greenville/New Bern/Washington, North Carolina television market. The station is owned by ION Media Networks, and is a sister station to WPXU-TV...
(38, ION/MNTMyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
) licensed to Greenville, owned by Ion Media NetworksION Media NetworksION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
Radio
The following Radio Stations are Licensed to Washington and Surrounded Areas.- 93.3 FM:WEROWEROWERO is a contemporary hit radio music formatted radio station for Eastern North Carolina operated out of Washington, North Carolina, USA, targeting the Greenville, North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina areas...
- 98.3 FM:WLGTWLGTWLGT is an American radio station licensed to Washington, North Carolina, USA. It serves the Greenville-New Bern-Kinston area. The station is currently owned by New Lite Media. After several months off the air, WLGT returned to the air on April 1, 2011...
- 95.1 FM:WRNS-FMWRNS-FMWRNS-FM is an FM radio station located in Kinston, North Carolina in the United States.Its format is a mixture of mainstream and classic country....
- 101.1 FM:WQZLWQZLWQZL is a radio station licensed to serve Belhaven, North Carolina, USA, simulcasting the rock music format of WXQR-FM.-History:WKJA-FM signed on June 1, 1981....
- 101.9 FM:WIKSWIKSWIKS is an Mainstream Urban formatted broadcast radio station licensed to New Bern, North Carolina.WIKS carries the Tom Joyner Morning Show.WIKS Sunday Inspirations tune in Gospel Traditions with John Grant every Sunday Mornings at 6:30 am - 10:00 am, and Inspirations Across America with Mike...
- 103.7 FM:WTIBWTIBWTIB is a radio station in Eastern North Carolina that airs a talk format. WTIB is licensed in Williamston, North Carolina.-History:...
- 94.3 FM:WRHDWRHDWRHD is a radio station in Farmville, North Carolina broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format.-History:In 1989, Henry Hinton started New East Communications of Greenville, North Carolina. The company's stations were WGPM 94.3, WCZI and WKQT. WKQT was sold in 1996...
- 99.5 FM: WXNRWXNRWXNR is a commercial radio station in Grifton, North Carolina, broadcasting to the Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, North Carolina area on 99.5 FM.WXNR airs a HardRock format branded as "99.5 The X".-History:...
Features
This mid-sized rural town has been called the "Heart of the Inner BanksInner Banks
The Inner Banks is a term used by some to describe the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina, an area on the East Coast of the United States that is 22,227 square-miles by its broadest definition...
". It has a range of historical buildings and landmarks that add to its architectural interest, with some dating back to colonial times. A self-guided Historic Walking Tour allows visitors to explore the neighborhoods. Homes of Victorian design, Arts and Crafts, and traditional early-20th century dwellings stand side-by-side on sidewalks lined with crepe myrtle trees. Condominiums and townhouses have been constructed on the city's waterfront to bring residents back to the river, the town's starting place. A Farmer's and Artisan's Market is held regularly on the town's green areas on the waterfront.
Pamlico River
The Pamlico River is a tidal river that flows into Pamlico Sound, in North Carolina in the United States of America. It is formed by the confluence of the Tar River and Tranters Creek....
.
The Turnage Theatre, a restored historic vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and movie theater, has opened in the downtown area and hosts plays and other types of live entertainment. Downtown restaurants benefit from a monthly downtown music and art festival called "Music in the Streets." The Beaufort County Arts Council, founded in 1972, is located in the restored Atlantic Coastline Railroad Station. It offers cultural programs including an annual juried fine arts show, a holiday arts and crafts show, a student art show, year-round exhibitions in the adjacent Washington Civic Center gallery, a series of free public concerts, an annual art camp for youth, workshops, lectures, and organized trips to attend cultural events throughout the region.
Evidence of the Union attack on Washington during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
is seen by the cannon ball shot in an attorney's office located on historic Water Street. Confederates ships were shelling from the Tar River and forced the Union soldiers out. Both Union and Confederate soldiers burned many buildings as they retreated. American Civil War re-enactors meet in the outskirts of Washington every year. (See historical reenactment
Historical reenactment
Historical reenactment is an educational activity in which participants attempt torecreate some aspects of a historical event or period. This may be as narrow as a specific moment from a battle, such as the reenactment of Pickett's Charge at the Great Reunion of 1913, or as broad as an entire...
.) Many near-by towns also contain Civil War artifacts and museums.