Missouri

Washington

23,514
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Washington

Washington, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 2,769. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 23,514.

Its recorded population peaked at 25,195 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Potosi Skirmish (Washington County), Caledonia Skirmish (Washington County), Skirmish at Mineral Point (Price's Raid), and 11 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202023,514
201025,195
200023,344
199020,380
198017,983
197015,086
196014,346
195014,689
194017,492
193014,450
192013,803
191013,378
190014,263
189013,153
188012,896
187011,719
18609,723
18508,811
18407,213
18306,784
18202,769
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, Missouri.

Potosi Skirmish (Washington County)
1861
Caledonia Skirmish (Washington County)
1862
Skirmish at Mineral Point (Price's Raid)
1864

Historic places in Washington

National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, Missouri.

Caledonia Historic District
Caledonia
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

RipleySalineSchuylerScotlandScottShannonShelbySt. CharlesSt. ClairSt. FrancoisSt. LouisSt. Louis citySte. GenevieveStoddardStoneSullivanTaneyTexasVernonWarren
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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, Missouri

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

Missourihistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Missouri›

Frequently asked about Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 2,769.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 23,514.
When did Washington's population peak?
Washington's recorded population peaked at 25,195 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Washington?
3 documented military engagements took place in Washington, including Potosi Skirmish (Washington County), Caledonia Skirmish (Washington County), Skirmish at Mineral Point (Price's Raid).
How many historic places are in Washington?
11 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, Missouri.
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