Washington, North Carolina

Washington, commonly known as The Original Washington (to distinguish it from Washington, D.C.[5]), is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census.[6] It is the county seat of Beaufort County.[7] The closest major city is Greenville,[7] approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the west.

Not to be confused with Washington County, North Carolina.
Washington, North Carolina
City
Washington from the corner of Stewart Street and West Main Street
Nickname(s): 
The Original Washington
Washington
Location within the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°33′13″N 77°3′7″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyBeaufort
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager form of government
 • MayorDonald Sadler
Area
 • Total9.02 sq mi (23.37 km2)
 • Land8.19 sq mi (21.21 km2)
 • Water0.83 sq mi (2.16 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total9,744
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
9,497
 • Density1,159.58/sq mi (447.72/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27889
Area code252 Exchanges: 940,946,948,974,975
FIPS code37-71220[3]
GNIS feature ID0996823[4]
Websitewww.washington-nc.com

Established in 1776 on land donated by Col. James Bonner, Washington is the first city named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.[5]

History
Map of Washington during the American Civil War, by Union soldier Solon M Allis

The settlement at the current location of the city was founded in the 1770s by James Bonner on his land and was known as Forks of the Tar. In 1776, it was renamed Washington. During the American Revolutionary War, Washington served as a supply port while all major neighboring ports were under British siege.[8]

Washington was attacked by the Union Army during the American Civil War, until shelling by Confederates ships from the Tar River forced the Union soldiers out. Both Union and Confederate soldiers burned many buildings as they retreated.

The Bank of Washington, West End Branch, Beaufort County Courthouse, Bowers-Tripp House, North Market Street Historic District, Rosedale, Washington Historic District, and Zion Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,015—
18601,599−20.6%
18702,09431.0%
18802,46217.6%
18903,54544.0%
19004,84236.6%
19106,21128.3%
19206,3141.7%
19307,03511.4%
19408,56921.8%
19509,69813.2%
19609,9392.5%
19708,961−9.8%
19808,418−6.1%
19909,0757.8%
20009,5835.6%
20109,7441.7%
2019 (est.)9,497[2]−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[3] 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 age distribution of the population shows 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.

Transportation

Freeways and primary designated routes

United States Highways

  • U.S. Route 264, dubbed Pactolus Highway, runs roughly east–west through Washington, following John Small Avenue and Fifth Street.
  • U.S. Route 17 runs roughly north–south, following Carolina Avenue and North Bridge Street. South of Washington the road crosses the Pamlico River over the Pamlico-Tar Bridge.

North Carolina Highways

  • N.C. Route 32 runs east–west through Washington, following River Road, Park Drive and 3rd Street. The road terminates at U.S. Route 17.

Media

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.

Beaufort County Community College, located in Washington, publishes Life on the Pamlico, a digital magazine dedicated to preserving North Carolina's coastal heritage.

Television
Beaufort County Courthouse

The following stations are licensed to Washington and/or have significant operations and viewers in the city:

Radio

The following radio stations are licensed to Washington and surrounding areas.

  • 93.3 FM:WERO Bob 93.3
  • 98.3 FM:WLGT 98.3 The Bridge
  • 95.1 FM:WRNS-FM Your Country 95.1 WRNS
  • 101.1 FM:WQZL 92.3 and 101.1 The River
  • 101.9 FM:WIKS 101.9 Kiss FM
  • 103.7 FM:WTIB Talk FM 103.7
  • 94.3 FM:WRHD 94.3 The Game
  • 99.5 FM: WXNR Hot 99.5
  • 104.5 FM WSTK 104.5 the Vine Connection
  • 1320 AM: WTOW Washington Original Gospel Station

Features
The North Carolina Estuarium

This mid-sized rural town has been called the "Heart of the Inner Banks".[5][11] It has a range of historical buildings and landmarks, with some dating back to colonial times and others of Victorian and Arts and Crafts design. A self-guided Historic Walking Tour allows visitors to explore the neighborhoods.[12] 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, includes more than 200 scientific and historic exhibits relating to the ecology of North Carolina's estuaries, the Tar-Pamlico River and Pamlico Sound. The Estuarium also includes a 3/4 mile boardwalk along the Pamlico River. Fishing and boating are also popular activities along the River.[11]

The Turnage Theatre, a restored historic vaudeville and movie theater, reopened in the downtown area in 2014 and hosts plays and other types of live entertainment.[13] Between 1993 and 2017 a downtown music and art festival called "Music in the Streets" was held every third Friday during summer to attract people to downtown shops and restaurants.[14] 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 youth camp, workshops, lectures, and organized trips to cultural events throughout the region.

A cannonball from the Union attack on Washington during the American Civil War is displayed in an attorney's office on Water Street, and many nearby towns also contain Civil War artifacts and museums. Civil War re-enacters meet in the outskirts of Washington every year.

Climate

Notable people

Notes
  1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Frequently Asked Questions". City of Washington Official Website. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Washington city, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. "History". City of Washington, North Carolina. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Washington, NC". Pamlico. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  12. Rumley, Vail Stewart (19 April 2018). "Historic walking tour a great way to experience Washington". Washington Daily News. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  13. "Arts of the Pamlico celebrates mortgage pay off on Turnage Theatre". WITN. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  14. Rumley, Vail Stewart (21 February 2017). "WHDA suspends Music in the Streets". Washington Daily News. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  15. "NOAA 1981-2010 Climate Normals". NOAA Regional Climate Centers. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
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