Arkansas

Washington

245,871
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Washington

Washington, Arkansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,182. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 245,871.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 18 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Rhea's Mill (near Cane Hill), Battle of Prairie Grove Arkansas, Engagement at Fayetteville (February 1862), and 156 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020245,871
2010203,065
2000157,715
1990113,409
1980100,494
197077,370
196055,797
195049,979
194041,114
193039,255
192035,468
191033,889
190034,256
189032,024
188023,844
187017,266
186014,673
18509,970
18407,148
18302,182
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Washington

Military engagements that took place in Washington, Arkansas.

Skirmish at Rhea's Mill (near Cane Hill)
1862
Battle of Prairie Grove Arkansas
1862
Engagement at Fayetteville (February 1862)
1862
Battle of Prairie Grove — Arkansas River Naval Operations
1862
Battle of Prairie Grove
1862
Skirmish at Cane Hill (Boonsborough)
1862
Battle of Prairie Grove AR
1862
Battle of Cane Hill (Kansas/Missouri border) 1862
1862
Battle of Cane Hill
1862
Skirmish near Prairie Grove (post-battle pursuit)
1862
Prairie Grove Arkansas
1862
Battle of Prairie Grove (Arkansas)
1862
Cane Hill
1862
Battle of Cane Hill (Arkansas)
1862
Skirmish at Elm Springs (Washington County)
1862
Skirmish at Fayetteville (April 1863)
1863
Fayetteville Arkansas 1863
1863
Battle of Fayetteville (First)
1863

Historic places in Washington

National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, Arkansas.

Pyeatte, Henry, House
Canehill
Men's Gymnasium-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Fayetteville
Evergreen Cemetery
Fayetteville
Prairie Grove Battlefield Park
Prairie Grove
Tontitown School Building
Tontitown
Jones, E. Fay and Gus, House
Fayetteville
Black Oak Cemetery
Greenland
Goff Farm Stone Bridge
Fayetteville
Moore House
Canehill
Mineral Springs Community Building
West Fork
Ridge House
Fayetteville
Johnson Switch Building
Johnson
House at 712 N. Mill Street
Springdale
Old Springdale High School
Springdale
Waterman-Archer House
Fayetteville
Stone House
Fayetteville
Butterfield Overland Mail Route Segment
Strickler
Old Post Office
Fayetteville
Fayetteville National Cemetery
Fayetteville
Combs, Nathan, House
Fayetteville
Washington County Courthouse
Fayetteville
Shelton, Lynn, American Legion Post No. 27
Fayetteville
Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, II, Homestead District
Fayetteville
Frisco Depot
Fayetteville
Browse all Arkansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Arkansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Arkansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, Arkansas

This page charts the census history of Washington County, Arkansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Explore Arkansas records

Arkansashistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Arkansas›

Frequently asked about Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, Arkansas first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,182.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 245,871.
Were any battles fought in Washington?
18 documented military engagements took place in Washington, including Skirmish at Rhea's Mill (near Cane Hill), Battle of Prairie Grove Arkansas, Engagement at Fayetteville (February 1862).
How many historic places are in Washington?
156 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, Arkansas.
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