County population in 2012: 14,598 (26% urban, 74% rural); it was 15,148 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 2,588 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,192 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 4,739 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,146 (it was 1,109 in 2000)
% of renters here:
19%
State:
33%
Land area: 563 sq. mi. Water area: 1.5 sq. mi.
Population density: 26 people per square mile
(low).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Washington County: 86.2 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
We are giving away a $200 prize - enter simply by sending us your own pictures of this county!
Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (21.7%), Manufacturing (13.4%), Retail trade (11.9%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $1,880 (1.8%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $1,357 (1.5%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 11.1%
(10.6% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 84.5% for Black residents, 8.7% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 37.5% for American Indian residents, 20.8% for other race residents, 5.6% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 42 years old
(Males: 41 years old, Females: 43 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 42 years old, Black residents: 17 years old, American Indian residents: 52 years old, Asian residents: 28 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 23 years old, Other race residents: 23 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
6.0%
Whole state:
10.7%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
2.1%
Whole state:
5.1%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Washington County is $390 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $492 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $632 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Washington County: Ponderosa Picnic Area (A), The Pines Picnic Area (B), Venedy Station (C), Lake View Picnic Area (D), Lazy L Picnic Area (E), Little Bear Camping Area (F), Lookout Point Picnic Area (G), Unverfehrt Stock Farm (H), Bolo Townhall (I), Lively Grove Townhall (J), Pilot Knob Townhall (K), Black Diamond Vineyards (L). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Washington County include: Saint Anthonys Church (A), Saint Pauls Church (B), Olive Branch Lutheran Church (C). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Verner Family Cemetery (1), Beaucoup Cemetery (2), Bethel Cemetery (3), Brick Cemetery (4), Zetsche Cemetery (5), Zion Cemetery (6), Kennedy Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Ashley Lake (A), Grewe Lake (B), Turkey Lake (C), Muddy Lake (D), Swan Lake (E), Lanes Lake (F), Clear Lake (G), Temmes Pond (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Coon Creek (A), Sipple Slough (B), Sewer Creek (C), Carson Branch (D), Buckingham Branch (E), Brushy Creek (F), Beaver Pond Creek (G), Back Creek (H), Archie Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 689 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 79.1% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.4%
Number of foreign born residents: 86 (64% naturalized citizens)
Washington County:
0.6%
Whole state:
12.3%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 18
1990 to 1994: 7
1985 to 1989: 0
1980 to 1984: 7
1975 to 1979: 8
1970 to 1974: 8
1970 to 1974: 10
1965 to 1969: 28
Mean travel time to work (commute): 23.9 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 58.3%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 5,318
One, attached: 21
Two: 38
3 or 4: 77
5 to 9: 131
10 to 19: 2
20 or more: 63
Mobile homes: 727
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 8
Housing units in Washington County with a mortgage: 1,679 (112 second mortgage, 72 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,628
Here:
50.8% with mortgage
State:
69.8% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 77.93%
Here
77.9%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 11,805 Total congregations: 42
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Catholic Church
Lutheran Church
United Church of Christ
Southern Baptist Convention
United Methodist Church
Adherents
4,540 (38.5%)
2,768 (23.4%)
2,342 (19.8%)
1,026 (8.7%)
744 (6.3%)
Congregations
6 (14.3%)
7 (16.7%)
11 (26.2%)
6 (14.3%)
5 (11.9%)
Name
Presbyterian Church (USA)
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Assemblies of God
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Other
Adherents
201 (1.7%)
59 (0.5%)
56 (0.5%)
49 (0.4%)
20 (0.2%)
Congregations
2 (4.8%)
1 (2.4%)
1 (2.4%)
1 (2.4%)
2 (4.8%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 440 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $105,380 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $161.97 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 41.53% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $95,347 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 86.55% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.57% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $124,344 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 78.17% Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 8.00 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 29.47% Corn for grain: 93145 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 59098 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 151289 harvested acres Vegetables: 22 harvested acres Land in orchards: 41 acres
Tornado activity:
Washington County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is slightly above Illinois state average. It is 2.7 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused one fatality and 4 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 4/5/1985, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado killed one person and injured 3 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Washington County-area historical earthquake activity is above Illinois state average. It is 62% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 81.0 miles away from the county center On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 86.6 miles away from the county center On 9/26/1990 at 13:18:51, a magnitude 5.0 (4.7 MB, 4.8 LG, 5.0 LG, Depth: 7.7 mi) earthquake occurred 83.4 miles away from the county center On 6/18/2002 at 17:37:15, a magnitude 5.0 (4.3 MB, 4.6 MW, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 90.7 miles away from Washington County center On 4/18/2008 at 15:14:16, a magnitude 4.8 (4.5 MB, 4.8 MW, 4.6 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 83.3 miles away from the county center On 4/3/1974 at 23:05:02, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 LG) earthquake occurred 71.2 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Illinois Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, Incident Period: January 31, 2011 to February 3, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1960): March 17, 2011, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1960, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Winter Storm
Illinois Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3230): September 7, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3230, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Illinois Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: April 21, 2002 to May 23, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1416): May 21, 2002, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1416, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
The number of natural disasters in Washington County (3) is a lot smaller than the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 2 Emergencies Declared: 1
Other production occupations including supervisors (8%)
Farmers and farm managers (7%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (7%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (6%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (4%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (8%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (5%)
Registered nurses (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (4%)
Cashiers (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Germany (38%)
United Kingdom (9%)
Cuba (9%)
Australia (8%)
Mexico (8%)
Philippines (6%)
Russia (3%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Washington County (%):
German (51%)
Polish (14%)
United States or American (12%)
Irish (6%)
English (5%)
French (except Basque) (2%)
Italian (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 6,060 (80%)
Carpooled: 650 (9%)
Bus or trolley bus: 46 (1%)
Railroad: 3 (0%)
Motorcycle: 4 (0%)
Walked: 184 (2%)
Other means: 82 (1%)
Worked at home: 528 (7%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Washington County, Illinois in 2000:
181 people in nursing homes
35 people in homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children
30 people in other nonhousehold living situations
8 people in homes for the mentally ill
6 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
2 people in homes for the mentally retarded
People in group quarters in Washington County, Illinois in 2010:
147 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
37 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
30 people in group homes intended for adults
18 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
14 people in residential treatment centers for adults
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $49,154.
5.91% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($36,687 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.91%
Illinois average:
5.66%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.52% relocated from other counties in Illinois ($27,696 average AGI)
1.39% relocated from other states ($8,992 average AGI)
Washington County:
1.39%
Illinois average:
2.13%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
6.18% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($33,396 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.18%
Illinois average:
5.99%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.67% relocated to other counties in Illinois ($24,263 average AGI)
1.51% relocated to other states ($9,133 average AGI)
Washington County:
1.51%
Illinois average:
2.58%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.1 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.8
Births per 1000 population in Washington County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.2 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.4
Deaths per 1000 population in Washington County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 4.9 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 8.2
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Washington County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 2,598 (2,344 aged, 254 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 7%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 6.61 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 3563.870 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 383.5 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 59594.02
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1052.140 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 998.530
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 19.52 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 60.31
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 13.4
Household type by relationship:
Households: 14,470
In family households: 12,315 (3,283 male householders, 829 female householders)
3,411 spouses, 4,027 children (3,715 natural, 82 adopted, 230 stepchildren), 244 grandchildren, 82 brothers or sisters, 72 parents, 71 other relatives, 256 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,155 (944 male householders (765 living alone)), 870 female householders (770 living alone)), 341 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 246 (202 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 1,960 2-persons, 915 3-persons, 752 4-persons, 345 5-persons, 96 6-persons, 44 7-or-more-persons.
96.2% of residents of Washington County speak English at home.
1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (64% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 18% speak English not well, 3% don't speak English at all).
2.6% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (72% speak English very well, 24% speak English well, 3% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (89% speak English very well, 11% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $84,823,000 ($5609 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $2,314,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $38,443,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $24,039,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $8,978,000 Federal grants: $8,971,000 Federal procurement contracts: $855,000 ($98,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $3,537,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $5,056,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $5,824,000 Federal Government insurance: $29,240,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 901
Here:
60 per 1000 residents
State:
75 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 865
Here:
58 per 1000 residents
State:
43 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +13
Here:
+1 per 1000 residents
State:
+26 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -241
Here:
-16 per 1000 residents
State:
-31 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Washington County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.60 millions of gallons per day (all from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.8
State:
6.1
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.8
State:
4.1
Year house built
2005 or later: 107
2000 to 2004: 357
1990 to 1999: 768
1980 to 1989: 541
1970 to 1979: 1,164
1960 to 1969: 730
1950 to 1959: 847
1940 to 1949: 445
1939 or earlier: 1,764
Rooms in houses/apartments in Washington County, Illinois
66% of Washington County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 52% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 71% lived in Illinois.
Washington County:
66.5%
State average:
58.6%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 12402
Northeast: 139
Midwest: 1540
South: 671
West: 227
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $45,300
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Washington County
42.0 years
36.0 years
(50.8%)
(49.2%)
, Jefferson County 
, Marion County 
, Perry County 
, Randolph County 
, St. Clair County 
.
