Washington, Missouri

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Washington, Missouri
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Washington, Missouri


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Missouri
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Franklin
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 23.4
area_land_km2 = 22.1
area_water_km2 = 1.3
area_total_sq_mi = 9.0
area_land_sq_mi = 8.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 13243
population_density_km2 = 598.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1548.9

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 168
elevation_ft = 551
latd = 38 |latm = 33 |lats = 7 |latNS = N
longd = 91 |longm = 0 |longs = 48 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 63090
area_code = 636
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 29-77416GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0731664GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Washington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Washington is located at coor dms|38|33|7|N|91|0|48|W|city (38.551879, -91.013313)GR|1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23.4 km²), of which, 8.6 square miles (22.1 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (5.42%) is water.

History

Named after George Washington after it came under American control, the town was first settled during the rule of the Spanish Empire. It was originally called St. John's Settlement and was the site of the Spanish log fort San Juan del Misuri (1796-1803).

Family and followers of Daniel Boone settled the area starting in 1799. In 1814 a ferry boat was licensed for crossing the Missouri River to the north and the settlement became known as Washington Landing. In 1827 a town was laid out, with sale of lots starting in 1829. The cost of land was waived if the buyer could build a substantial house within two years. This encouraged many new settlers.

Substantial numbers of anti-slavery German families started moving to the town in 1833, and they soon overwhelmed the existing population of slaveowners. Washington became a strong supporter of the Union during the American Civil War. The town was ransacked by Confederate General Sterling Price's troops, but they were unable to keep control of the area and he retreated with them to Mexico.

After the war, Washington became a railroad and steamboat transportation center. Its manufacturing industry has remained strong since that time. Washington is the location of Missouri Meerschaum, Inc., the largest factory in the world for corncob smoking pipes.

The town of Washington has 445 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, a state record. Due to its historic charm, Washington has a growing heritage tourism industry, with visitors also attracted to the nearby Missouri Rhineland.

Washington was the site for the third season of the television series "Town Haul".Fact|date=April 2008

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,243 people, 5,258 households, and 3,501 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,548.9 people per square mile (598.0/km²). There were 5,565 housing units at an average density of 650.9/sq mi (251.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.76% White, 0.85% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 5,258 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,417, and the median income for a family was $52,433. Males had a median income of $36,163 versus $23,666 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,360. About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

ister cities

In 1990 Marbach am Neckar (Germany) became the sister city of Washington. Several student exchanges and visitations between the two cities occur on a regular basis.

Transportation

*Washington, Missouri (Amtrak station)

Notable Residents

*Jillian Grace - "Playboy" Playmate of the Month (March 2005), epic movie actress (played one of the pirates) from the hit Disney film "Pirates of the Caribbean"
*Jack Wagner - (born October 3, 1959 in Washington, Missouri) is an Emmy Award-nominated American actor. Roles on "General Hospital" and "The Bold And The Beautiful". He also played a swinging doctor on Melrose Place, who liked to play golf.

=Notable Trivia= Washington is home to the corn cob pipe manufacturing center of the country.....Missouri Meerschaum Co: The Original Corn Cob Pipeswww.corncobpipe.com

References

External links

* [http://www.washmo.org/ Washington Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.ci.washington.mo.us/ City of Washington]
* [http://www.washmofair.com/ Washington Town & Country Fair]