Washburn is a city in southern McLean County, North Dakota, United States. Located along the upper Missouri River, it is the county seat of McLean County. The population was 1,300 at the 2020 census. Washburn was founded in 1882 near the former site of

Fort Mandan Fort Mandan was the name of the encampment which the Lewis and Clark Expedition built for wintering over in 1804–1805. The encampment was located on the Missouri River approximately from the site of present-day Washburn, North Dakota, which ...

, winter quarters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804-1805, near a Mandan village. The town was designated as the county seat in 1883. The city's name honors General

Cadwallader C. Washburn Cadwallader Colden Washburn (April 22, 1818May 14, 1882) was an American businessman, politician, and soldier who founded a mill that later became General Mills. A member of the Washburn family of Maine, he was a U.S. Congressman and governor o ...

. Washburn is home to the

North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center The North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, operated by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, interprets the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It focuses on the winter of 1804–1805, which they spent at Fort Manda ...

, which focuses on the Expedition's winter near the Mandan village. It houses a full-scale replica of

, which workers of the expedition built as their base, and one of the expedition's canoes.

Geography

Washburn is located at (47.291313, −101.027647). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,246 people, 551 households, and 369 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 661 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.0% White, 0.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.1% of the population. There were 551 households, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age in the city was 46.2 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 35.9% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,389 people, 557 households, and 407 families living in the city. The population density was 781.8 people per square mile (301.3/km). There were 659 housing units at an average density of 370.9 per square mile (142.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 98.78% White, 0.72% Native American, 0.22% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or

of any race were 0.50% of the population. There were 557 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were

living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,789, and the median income for a family was $54,250. Males had a median income of $47,500 versus $21,364 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,726. About 5.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (February 11, 1805 – May 16, 1866) was a Native American-French Canadian explorer, guide, fur trapper, trader, military scout during the Mexican–American War, ''alcalde'' (mayor) of Mission San Luis Rey de Franc ...

was born in 1804 at Fort Mandan to

Sacagewea Sacagawea ( or ; also spelled Sakakawea or Sacajawea; May – December 20, 1812 or April 9, 1884)Sacagawea
...

, a young Shoshone woman, and

Toussaint Charbonneau Toussaint Charbonneau (March 20, 1767 – August 12, 1843) was a French-Canadian explorer, trader and a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He is also known as the husband of Sacagawea. Early years Charbonneau was born in Boucherv ...

, a French Canadian. As an infant, he was taken along by his mother on her travels with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He became an explorer and interpreter, fluent in French, English,

Shoshone The Shoshone or Shoshoni ( or ) are a Native American tribe with four large cultural/linguistic divisions: * Eastern Shoshone: Wyoming * Northern Shoshone: southern Idaho * Western Shoshone: Nevada, northern Utah * Goshute: western Utah, easter ...

, and other Native American languages * Clint Hill, Secret Service agent assigned to

Jacqueline Kennedy Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis ( ; July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A po ...

, raised in Washburn *

Ernie Kell Ernest Eugene Kell, Jr. (July 5, 1928 – April 29, 2017) served as mayor of Long Beach, California from 1984 to 1994, and as a city councilor for 13 years. Life and career Kell was born into modest circumstances on a farm in Washburn, North ...

, mayor of Long Beach, California from 1984 to 1994 *

Bruce Peterson Bruce A. Peterson (May 23, 1933 – May 1, 2006) was an American aeronautical engineer, and test pilot for NASA. Biography Early life and education Peterson was born on May 23, 1933. A native of Washburn, North Dakota, he attended the Univer ...

, NASA test pilot, born in Washburn *

Homer N. Wallin Homer Norman Wallin (December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy, best known for his salvage of ships sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Biography Wallin was born in Washburn, North Dakota. Following brief ...

, World War II era Vice-Admiral in the U.S. Navy, born in Washburn

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Washburn has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Washburn, North Dakota
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References

External links

City of Washburn official website
{{Authority control Cities in McLean County, North Dakota Cities in North Dakota County seats in North Dakota Populated places established in 1882 North Dakota populated places on the Missouri River