Washington County, Idaho
County in Idaho, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,500.[1] The county seat and largest city is Weiser,[2] with over half of the county's population. The county was established in 1879 when Idaho was a territory and named after U.S. President George Washington.
Washington County, Idaho | |
|---|---|
Washington County Courthouse in Weiser | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Idaho | |
| Coordinates: 44°27′N 116°47′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Idaho |
| Founded | February 20, 1879 |
| Named after | George Washington |
| Seat | Weiser |
| Largest city | Weiser |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,474 sq mi (3,820 km2) |
| • Land | 1,453 sq mi (3,760 km2) |
| • Water | 21 sq mi (54 km2) 1.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,500 |
• Estimate (2025) | 11,583  |
| • Density | 7.23/sq mi (2.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,474 square miles (3,820 km2), of which 1,453 square miles (3,760 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (1.4%) is water.[3]
Adjacent counties
- Adams County - north
- Gem County - east
- Payette County - south
- Malheur County, Oregon - southwest
- Baker County, Oregon - west
Major highways
National protected areas
- Boise National Forest (part)
- Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Payette National Forest (part)
Rivers
Reservoirs
- Brownlee
- Crane Creek
- Mann Creek
- Paddock Valley
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 879 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,836 | 336.4% | |
| 1900 | 6,882 | 79.4% | |
| 1910 | 11,101 | 61.3% | |
| 1920 | 9,424 | −15.1% | |
| 1930 | 7,962 | −15.5% | |
| 1940 | 8,853 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 8,576 | −3.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,378 | −2.3% | |
| 1970 | 7,633 | −8.9% | |
| 1980 | 8,803 | 15.3% | |
| 1990 | 8,550 | −2.9% | |
| 2000 | 9,977 | 16.7% | |
| 2010 | 10,198 | 2.2% | |
| 2020 | 10,500 | 3.0% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 11,583 | [4] | 10.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960,[6] 1900–1990,[7] 1990–2000,[8] 2010[9] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,001 | 7,454 | 8,294 | 8,166 | 8,118 | 90.89% | 87.18% | 83.13% | 80.07% | 77.31% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0.16% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 32 | 45 | 42 | 75 | 74 | 0.36% | 0.53% | 0.42% | 0.74% | 0.70% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 134 | 123 | 103 | 90 | 81 | 1.52% | 1.44% | 1.03% | 0.88% | 0.77% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 3 | 3 | 7 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 18 | 7 | 19 | 12 | 53 | 0.20% | 0.08% | 0.19% | 0.12% | 0.50% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 134 | 126 | 488 | x | x | 1.34% | 1.24% | 4.65% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 616 | 915 | 1,372 | 1,716 | 1,662 | 7.00% | 10.70% | 13.75% | 16.83% | 15.83% |
| Total | 8,803 | 8,550 | 9,977 | 10,198 | 10,500 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,500 and a median age of 46.0 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over.[19]
The 2020 census recorded 4,087 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
The 2020 census recorded 4,514 housing units, of which 9.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.2% were owner-occupied and 24.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.[19]
The racial makeup recorded by the 2020 census was 81.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.6% from some other race, and 8.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 15.8% of the population.[20]
The 2020 census reported that 52.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.6% lived in rural areas.[21]
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 10,198 people, 4,034 households, and 2,803 families living in the county.[22] The population density was 7.0 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km2). There were 4,529 housing units at an average density of 3.1 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2).[23] The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 9.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.8% of the population.[22] In terms of ancestry, 20.0% were English, 18.2% were German, 14.8% were Irish, and 9.6% were American.[24]
Of the 4,034 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 43.6 years.[22]
The median income for a household in the county was $30,625, and the median income for a family was $35,542. Males had a median income of $27,222 versus $18,053 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,464. About 10.00% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.[25]
Education
The county is served by three school districts based in the county:[26]
- Weiser District #431[27]
- Weiser High School
- Weiser Middle School
- Park Intermediate School
- Pioneer Primary School.
- Cambridge Joint District #432[26]
- Cambridge Junior-Senior High School
- Cambridge Elementary School
- Midvale District #433[28]
- Midvale Senior High School.
- Midvale Junior High School
- Midvale Elementary School
Additionally Payette Joint School District 371 includes a portion of Washington County.[29]
Washington County is in the area (but not the taxing region) of the College of Western Idaho, which has its main campus in Nampa.[30]
Communities
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 317 | 36.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 560 | 63.85% |
| 1896 | 204 | 19.62% | 828 | 79.62% | 8 | 0.77% |
| 1900 | 1,194 | 46.95% | 1,349 | 53.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 1,894 | 60.69% | 931 | 29.83% | 296 | 9.48% |
| 1908 | 1,819 | 51.56% | 1,452 | 41.16% | 257 | 7.28% |
| 1912 | 724 | 25.32% | 1,065 | 37.25% | 1,070 | 37.43% |
| 1916 | 1,545 | 44.43% | 1,802 | 51.83% | 130 | 3.74% |
| 1920 | 1,864 | 59.59% | 1,264 | 40.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,183 | 41.33% | 623 | 21.77% | 1,056 | 36.90% |
| 1928 | 1,973 | 66.39% | 974 | 32.77% | 25 | 0.84% |
| 1932 | 1,213 | 34.65% | 2,122 | 60.61% | 166 | 4.74% |
| 1936 | 1,234 | 34.70% | 2,147 | 60.38% | 175 | 4.92% |
| 1940 | 1,903 | 45.27% | 2,296 | 54.61% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1944 | 2,002 | 51.95% | 1,849 | 47.98% | 3 | 0.08% |
| 1948 | 1,713 | 49.21% | 1,700 | 48.84% | 68 | 1.95% |
| 1952 | 2,616 | 64.91% | 1,411 | 35.01% | 3 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 2,272 | 57.89% | 1,653 | 42.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,251 | 55.86% | 1,779 | 44.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,730 | 46.99% | 1,952 | 53.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,020 | 57.65% | 1,033 | 29.48% | 451 | 12.87% |
| 1972 | 2,264 | 61.99% | 935 | 25.60% | 453 | 12.40% |
| 1976 | 2,044 | 53.47% | 1,693 | 44.28% | 86 | 2.25% |
| 1980 | 2,915 | 63.58% | 1,421 | 30.99% | 249 | 5.43% |
| 1984 | 3,015 | 71.99% | 1,119 | 26.72% | 54 | 1.29% |
| 1988 | 2,380 | 61.98% | 1,359 | 35.39% | 101 | 2.63% |
| 1992 | 1,802 | 42.09% | 1,122 | 26.21% | 1,357 | 31.70% |
| 1996 | 2,318 | 54.90% | 1,314 | 31.12% | 590 | 13.97% |
| 2000 | 2,899 | 71.23% | 980 | 24.08% | 191 | 4.69% |
| 2004 | 3,274 | 75.11% | 1,033 | 23.70% | 52 | 1.19% |
| 2008 | 3,168 | 70.31% | 1,241 | 27.54% | 97 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 3,128 | 72.22% | 1,104 | 25.49% | 99 | 2.29% |
| 2016 | 3,283 | 73.69% | 776 | 17.42% | 396 | 8.89% |
| 2020 | 4,154 | 77.70% | 1,073 | 20.07% | 119 | 2.23% |
| 2024 | 4,429 | 79.73% | 1,010 | 18.18% | 116 | 2.09% |
Healthcare
The county is served by the Southwest Idaho Health District.[32]