Illinois

Washington

13,761
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Washington

Washington, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 1,517. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 13,761.

Its recorded population peaked at 21,112 in 1880, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, 3 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202013,761
201014,716
200015,148
199014,965
198015,472
197013,780
196013,569
195014,460
194015,801
193016,286
192018,035
191018,759
190019,526
189019,262
188021,112
187017,599
186013,731
18506,953
18404,810
18301,675
18201,517
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, Illinois.

Schlosser, Frank, Complex
Okawville
Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse
Okawville
Louisville and Nashville Depot
Nashville

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Washington County, Illinois. 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 Illinois records

Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 1,517.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 13,761.
When did Washington's population peak?
Washington's recorded population peaked at 21,112 in 1880.
How many historic places are in Washington?
3 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, Illinois.
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