Iowa

Washington

22,565
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Washington

Washington, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 1,594. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,565.

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

On the ground today, 18 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202022,565
201021,704
200020,670
199019,612
198020,141
197018,967
196019,406
195019,557
194020,055
193019,822
192020,421
191019,925
190020,718
189018,468
188020,374
187018,952
186014,235
18504,957
18401,594
Source

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

Historic places in Washington

National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, Iowa.

Blair House
Washington
St. Mary's Parish Church Buildings
Riverside
CM and StP Railroad Underpass
Washington
Washington Downtown Historic District
Washington
Young, Alexander, Cabin
Washington
Pilotburg Church
Wellman
Kurtz House
Washington
Keck, Joseph, House
Washington
Brookhart, Smith Wildman and Jennie (Hearne), House
Washington
West Side Residential Historic District
Washington
Baxter, H.A., Coal Company Historic District
Washington
McCleery Calendar Factory
Washington
Woodlawn Cemetery Gates and Shelter
Washington
Smouse, Winfield, House
Washington
Stewart, Frank, House
Washington
Conger, Jonathan Clark, House
Washington
Gracehill Moravian Church and Cemetery
Washington
Washington County Courthouse
Washington

Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Washington County, Iowa. 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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Frequently asked about Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 1,594.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 22,565.
How many historic places are in Washington?
18 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, Iowa.
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