Washington County is a
county
A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
. As of the
2020 census, the population was 267,568,
making it the fifth-most populous county in Minnesota. Its
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
is
Stillwater. The largest city in the county is
Woodbury, the seventh-largest city in Minnesota and the third-largest Twin Cities suburb. Washington County is included in the
Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
-
St. Paul-
Bloomington, MN-
WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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. The creek's name is from the founder of this settlement, Joseph Renshaw Brown. However, a
sawmill
A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...
was built at
Marine-on-St.-Croix in 1839, 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
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized and incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belm ...
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
Henry Hastings Sibley (February 20, 1811 – February 18, 1891) was a fur trader with the American Fur Company, the first U.S. Congressional representative for Minnesota Territory, the first governor of the state of Minnesota, and a U.S. mi ...
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. Washington County was one of the nine, named for
George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
, with Stillwater named as county seat. The county's first sheriff was appointed in 1849, and the county's school district began in 1850.
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
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
. Late in the 20th century, the population greatly increased with the suburban expansion of St. Paul.
Geography
Washington County lies on the east side of Minnesota. Its east border abuts the west border of the state of
Wisconsin
Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...
(across the
St. Croix River). The
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
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).
[Washington County MN Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)](_blank)
/ref> Washington County terrain consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the south and east, with its highest point on the lower west border at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (9.1%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Minnesota by land area and fifth-smallest by total area.
Major highways
*
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican bo ...
*
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 (I-94) is an east–west Interstate Highway connecting the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. Its western terminus is just east of Billings, Montana, at a junction with I-90; its eastern ter ...
*
Interstate 494
*
Interstate 694
Interstate 694 (I-694) is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in the US state of Minnesota. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with I-94, I-494, and US ...
*
US Highway 8
*
US Highway 10
*
US Highway 12
*
US Highway 61
*
Minnesota State Highway 36
Minnesota State Highway 36 (MN 36) is a highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 35W (Minnesota), Interstate 35W (I-35W) in Roseville, Minnesota, Roseville and continues east to its ...
*
Minnesota State Highway 95
*
Minnesota State Highway 96
*
Minnesota State Highway 97
*
Minnesota State Highway 120
*
Minnesota State Highway 244
* '' List of county roads''
Airports
* Forest Lake Airport (25D) - south of Forest Lake
* Lake Elmo Airport (21D) - northeast of Lake Elmo
Adjacent counties
* Chisago County - north
* Polk County, Wisconsin
Polk County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 44,977. Its county seat is Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, Balsam Lake. The county was created in 185 ...
- northeast
* St. Croix County, Wisconsin - east
* Pierce County, Wisconsin - southeast
* Dakota County - southwest
* Ramsey County - west
* Anoka County - northwest
Protected areas
* Afton State Park
* Big Marine Park Reserve
* Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park
* Falls Creek Scientific and Natural Area
* Gateway State Trail
* Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
* Hardwood Creek Wildlife Management Area
* Katherine Abbott Park
* Lake Elmo Park Reserve
* Lost Valley Scientific and Natural Area
* Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part)
* Pine Point Regional Park
* Point Douglas Park
* Rutstrum State Wildlife Management Area
* Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park
* Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a federally protected system of riverways located in eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It protects of river, including the St. Croix River (on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border), and the ...
(part)
* Saint Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area
* Square Lake County Park
* Sunfish Lake Park
* William O'Brien State Park
Demographics
2020 census
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''
2010 census
The ethnic makeup of the country, according to the 2010 census, was the following:
* 87.77% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
* 3.60% Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
* 0.49% Native American
* 5.07% Asian
* >0.01% Native Hawaiian
Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians; , , , and ) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, Indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiʻi was set ...
or Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
* 2.10% Two or more races
* 0.97% Other races
* 3.41% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
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 . There were 87,446 housing units at an average density of . 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
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...
, 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 census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 201,130 people, 71,462 households, and 54,668 families in the county. The population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 73,635 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.63% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 1.83% Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.39% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 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
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
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
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the county was $28,148. About 2.00% of families and 2.90% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, 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 2020). It voted for the national winner in every election from 1992 to 2012.
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 EVEN).
Economy
Largest employers
According to the county's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the county are:
Points of interest
* Afton State Park
* Afton Alps Ski Area
* Gateway State Trail
* William O'Brien State Park
Communities
Cities
* Afton
* Bayport
* Birchwood Village
* Cottage Grove
* Dellwood
* Forest Lake
* Grant
* Hastings
Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
(part)
* Hugo
* Lake Elmo
* Lake St. Croix Beach
* Lakeland
* Lakeland Shores
* Landfall
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
* Mahtomedi
* Marine on St. Croix
* Newport
* Oak Park Heights
* Oakdale
* Pine Springs
* Saint Marys Point
* Saint Paul Park
* Scandia
* Stillwater (county seat)
* White Bear Lake (partly in Ramsey County)
* Willernie
* Woodbury
Unincorporated communities
* Arcola
* Basswood Grove
* Carnelian Junction
* Maple Island
* Siegel
Siegel (also Segal, Segali or Segel), is a Germans, German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname. Alternate spellings include Sigel, Sigl, Siegl, and others.
It can be traced to 11th century Bavaria and was used by people who made wax seals for or sealed ...
Ghost towns
* Garen
* Point Douglas
Point Douglas is a provincial electoral district in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is named for a part of the city that is surrounded by a bend in the Red River. The riding covers the neighbourhoods of William Whyte, Dufferin Industrial, Nor ...
Townships
* Baytown
* Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
* Grey Cloud Island
* May
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.
May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the Southern Hemisphere is the ...
* Stillwater
* West Lakeland
Education
School districts include:
* Chisago Lakes School District
* Forest Lake Public School District
* Hastings Public School District
* Mahtomedi Public School District
* North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District
* South Washington County School District
* Stillwater Area Public School District
* White Bear Lake School District
Superfund sites and environmental damage
Washington County has had three locations listed as Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency may refer to the following government organizations:
* Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland), Australia
* Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana)
* Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
* Environmenta ...
Superfund
Superfund is a United States federal environmental remediation program established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The program is administered by the United States Environmental Pro ...
sites due to soil
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...
and groundwater
Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and Pore space in soil, soil pore spaces and in the fractures of stratum, rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available fresh water in the world is groundwater. A unit ...
contamination
Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that renders something unsuitable, unfit or harmful for the physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc.
Types of contamination
Within the scien ...
. 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
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Minnesota
* List of Superfund sites in Minnesota
References
External links
Washington County official government’s website
Washington County Parks
Washington County Sheriff's Office
Washington County Historical Society
{{Coord, 45.04, -92.89, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source: UScensus1990
Washington County
Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River
1849 establishments in Minnesota Territory
Populated places established in 1849