Washington County, Minnesota

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 238,136,[2] making it the fifth-most populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Stillwater.[3] The largest city in the county is Woodbury, the eighth-largest city in Minnesota and the fourth-largest Twin Cities suburb.

For counties with a similar name, see Washington County (disambiguation).

Washington County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°02′N 92°53′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedOctober 27, 1849[1]
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatStillwater
Largest cityWoodbury
Area
 • Total423 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land384 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Water38 sq mi (100 km2)  9.1%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total238,136
 • Estimate 
(2019)
262,440
 • Density668/sq mi (258/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 4th, 6th
Websitewww.co.washington.mn.us

Washington County is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

A view of the forested St. Croix River valley, looking south towards Afton

History

Early development in the area was on the St. Croix River, which now forms the boundary with Wisconsin on the county's eastern side. The river provided a waterway to move settlers upstream and to transport logs downstream. The heavily forested area fostered an early logging and lumber economy. The area's first settlers arrived at the future Afton in 1837. In 1838 settlers started Dacotah, at the north edge of present Stillwater, at the junction of Brown's Creek and the St. Croix.[4] The creek's name is from the founder of this settlement, Joseph Renshaw Brown. However, a sawmill was built at Marine-on-St.-Croix in 1839,[5] and another was built in the current location of downtown Stillwater in 1844. The success of these soon attracted the settlers from Dacotah, and that community declined.

This area was part of Wisconsin Territory until the eastern part of that territory achieved statehood in 1848. Brown and other leaders called a meeting (the "Stillwater Convention") on August 26, 1848. The convention drafted a Memorial to Congress that a new territory be created with the name “Minnesota,” and elected Henry Hastings Sibley to deliver this citizens' petition to the U.S. Congress. Because of this convention, Stillwater calls itself the “Birthplace of Minnesota.” Congress responded by creating Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849.

The newly established territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October 1849.[6] Washington County was one of the nine, named for George Washington,[7] with Stillwater named as county seat. The county's first sheriff was appointed in 1849,[8] and the county's school district began in 1850.[9]

After the forests were depleted, the economy of Washington County became primarily agricultural. With the growth of neighboring Ramsey County and St. Paul, some of Washington County developed based on tourism and recreation, as with Mahtomedi and Landfall. Late in the 20th century, the population greatly increased with the suburban expansion of St. Paul.

Geography
Soils of Wm OBrien State Park
Soils of Washington County[10]
Soils of Bellwin Foundation area

Washington County lies on the east side of Minnesota. Its east border abuts the west border of the state of Wisconsin (across the St. Croix River). The Mississippi River flows south-southeastward west of Washington County, and forms the southwest border of the county as it flows toward its confluence with the St. Croix (at the county's southernmost point).[11] Washington County terrain consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the south and east, with its highest point on the lower west border at 1,053' (321m) ASL.[12] The county has a total area of 423 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 384 square miles (990 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (9.1%) is water.[13] It is the fourth-smallest county in Minnesota by land area and fifth-smallest by total area.

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,056—
18606,123479.8%
187011,80992.9%
188019,56365.7%
189025,99232.9%
190027,8087.0%
191026,013−6.5%
192023,761−8.7%
193024,7534.2%
194026,4306.8%
195034,54430.7%
196052,43251.8%
197083,00358.3%
1980113,57136.8%
1990145,89628.5%
2000201,13037.9%
2010238,13618.4%
2019 (est.)262,440[16]10.2%
US Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010-2019[2]

2010 census

The ethnic makeup of the country, according to the 2010 US Census, was the following:

As of the census of 2010, there were 238,136 people, 87,446 households, and 64,299 families in the county. The population density was 620/sqmi (239/km2). There were 87,446 housing units at an average density of 228/sqmi (87.9/km2). 39.4% were of German, 14.4% Irish, 13.0% Norwegian, and 9.9% Swedish ancestry. There were 87,446 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.02 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.03 males. The median income for a household in the county was $79,735, and the median income for a family was $92,497. The per capita income for the county was $36,786. About 5.2% of the population was below the poverty line.

According to the 2007-2011 American Community Survey, of the county's population 25 years and over, 1.4% had less than 9th grade education, 2.8% held 9th to 12th grade with no diploma, 23.6% had High school graduate or equivalent, 22.2% held Some college with no degree, 27.0% had bachelor's degree, and 13.0% earned Graduate or professional degree.

2000

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 201,130 people, 71,462 households, and 54,668 families in the county. The population density was 524/sqmi (202/km2). There were 73,635 housing units at an average density of 192/sqmi (74.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.63% White, 1.83% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races.

There were 71,462 households, out of which 41.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 18.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.19.

The county population contained 29.40% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $66,305, and the median income for a family was $74,576 (these figures had risen to $78,067 and $90,867 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $49,815 versus $33,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,148. About 2.00% of families and 2.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.50% of those under age 18 and 4.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government

Washington County voters slightly tend to vote Democratic. In 63% of national elections since 1948 the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 44.2% 73,764 53.5% 89,165 2.3% 3,857
2016 44.7% 64,428 46.5% 67,086 8.8% 12,721
2012 48.6% 69,137 49.4% 70,203 2.0% 2,793
2008 46.9% 64,334 51.3% 70,277 1.8% 2,448
2004 51.2% 65,751 47.8% 61,395 1.0% 1,303
2000 48.1% 51,502 46.4% 49,637 5.5% 5,870
1996 35.5% 31,219 51.2% 45,119 13.3% 11,719
1992 31.1% 26,568 41.9% 35,820 27.0% 23,111
1988 46.5% 30,850 52.6% 34,952 0.9% 613
1984 50.1% 29,046 49.2% 28,527 0.6% 369
1980 41.4% 22,718 46.7% 25,634 11.9% 6,550
1976 42.6% 20,716 54.5% 26,454 2.9% 1,413
1972 53.0% 19,142 44.6% 16,102 2.4% 854
1968 37.7% 10,921 56.8% 16,449 5.5% 1,584
1964 32.8% 8,850 67.0% 18,108 0.2% 64
1960 48.4% 11,202 51.3% 11,870 0.3% 61
1956 56.1% 9,562 43.8% 7,462 0.2% 32
1952 54.6% 9,408 45.1% 7,768 0.4% 64
1948 40.7% 5,686 57.5% 8,039 1.8% 245
1944 51.5% 6,014 47.9% 5,599 0.6% 66
1940 51.4% 6,710 48.2% 6,288 0.4% 54
1936 33.0% 3,863 57.8% 6,768 9.2% 1,079
1932 37.5% 3,996 60.2% 6,413 2.3% 247
1928 59.1% 6,113 40.2% 4,158 0.8% 80
1924 52.4% 4,482 8.2% 699 39.4% 3,372
1920 74.8% 5,852 19.9% 1,558 5.2% 409
1916 53.6% 2,167 39.8% 1,610 6.7% 270
1912 13.8% 581 30.5% 1,289 55.7% 2,353
1908 68.5% 2,727 28.1% 1,120 3.4% 134
1904 79.9% 2,913 17.9% 652 2.2% 79
1900 68.5% 2,984 29.4% 1,279 2.2% 94
1896 70.5% 3,995 27.5% 1,558 2.0% 113
1892 53.3% 2,451 37.7% 1,733 9.0% 414

Like all counties in Minnesota, Washington is governed by an elected and nonpartisan board of commissioners. Each commissioner represents a district of approximately equal population.

Washington County is divided among three congressional districts. Northern Washington County is represented by Minnesota's 6th congressional district (CPVI R+12), central Washington County by Minnesota's 4th congressional district (CPVI D+14), and southern Washington County by Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (CPVI R+2).

Economy

Largest employers

According to the County's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[22] the top employers in the county are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Andersen Corporation (Bayport) 3,022
2 Independent School District 833 2,605
3 Woodwinds Healtheast Campus 1,429
4 Washington County Government 1,290
5 Hy-Vee Grocery 1,250
6 Independent School District 834 1,143
7 Wal-Mart 1,110
8 Independent School District 831 1,074
9 Target Corporation 993
10 Lakeview Memorial Hospital (Stillwater) 868

Points of interest

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Superfund sites and environmental damage

Washington County has had three locations listed as Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites due to soil and groundwater contamination. The Baytown Township Ground Water Plume and the Oakdale Dump are currently listed, while the Washington County Landfill was cleaned up and removed from the Superfund list in 1996.

See also

References
  1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. History of Stillwater at the Washington County Historical Society
  5. History of Marine-on-St.-Croix at the Washington County Historical Society
  6. "Minnesota Government Series, State Counties". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved March 18, 2008..
  7. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 568.
  8. Washington County Sheriff's Office History Archived February 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Washington County Historical Society - Schools of the Past
  10. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 61 - 64. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  11. Washington County MN Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)
  12. "Find an Altitude/Washington County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)
  13. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. AirNav: Forest Lake Airport MN (accessed April 22, 2019)
  15. Washington County, MN-Parks and Trails Archived February 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  17. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  19. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  20. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  21. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  22. Washington County CAFR (2019)

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