North Carolina

Washington

11,003
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Washington

Washington, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 2,422. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,003.

Its recorded population peaked at 14,801 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 26 percent.

On the ground today, 30 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Confederate Garrison at Plymouth — Fortification 1863-64, Raid on Plymouth NC (1863), Battle of Plymouth NC, and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,003
201013,228
200013,723
199013,997
198014,801
197014,038
196013,488
195013,180
194012,323
193011,603
192011,429
191011,062
190010,608
189010,200
18808,928
18706,516
18606,357
18505,664
18404,525
18304,552
18203,986
18103,464
18002,422
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, North Carolina.

Confederate Garrison at Plymouth — Fortification 1863-64
1863
Raid on Plymouth NC (1863)
1863
Battle of Plymouth NC
1864
Operation Against Plymouth — Weir's Mill
1864
Battle of Plymouth North Carolina
1864
CSS Albemarle vs. Union Fleet at Plymouth
1864
Cushing Sinks CSS Albemarle
1864
CSS Albemarle Sinking of USS Southfield
1864
Destruction of CSS Albemarle — Cushing's Torpedo Raid
1864
CSS Albemarle — First Sortie, Sinking of USS Southfield
1864
CSS Albemarle vs Union Fleet – Albemarle Sound
1864
CSS Albemarle vs. Union Fleet — Albemarle Sound
1864
CSS Albemarle — Second Sortie into Albemarle Sound — May 5 1864
1864
CSS Albemarle Second Sortie — Albemarle Sound (May 5, 1864)
1864
Battle of Plymouth NC (April 17-20, 1864)
1864
Battle of Plymouth (Naval)
1864
Recapture of Plymouth NC 1864
1864
Battle of Plymouth (CSS Albemarle)
1864
CSS Albemarle Attacks Plymouth NC
1864
Attack on CSS Albemarle — Union Picket Boat No. 1 Spar Torpedo
1864
Sinking of CSS Albemarle by Lt. Cushing
1864
Capture of Plymouth NC — Hoke's Attack
1864
Battle of Plymouth — CSS Albemarle sortie
1864
Albemarle Sound — CSS Albemarle vs seven Union warships
1864
Battle of Plymouth — Hoke's Assault Phases (April 17-20, 1864)
1864
Battle of Plymouth
1864
Cushing Sinks CSS Albemarle (October 27, 1864)
1864
Battle of Albemarle Sound — CSS Albemarle vs. Union Fleet
1864
Battle of Plymouth — CSS Albemarle
1864
Naval Battle of the Sounds — Albemarle and Plymouth Campaign
1864

Historic places in Washington

National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, North Carolina.

Perry-Spruill House
Plymouth
Latham House
Plymouth
Somerset Place State Historic Site
Creswell
Davenport House
Creswell
Belgrade and St. David's Church
Creswell
Plymouth Historic District
Plymouth
Creswell Historic District
Creswell
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

WilkesWilsonYadkinYanceyAlamanceAlexanderAlleghanyAnsonAsheAveryBeaufortBertieBladenBrunswickBuncombeBurkeCabarrusCaldwellCamdenCarteret
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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Washington County, North Carolina. 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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North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 2,422.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 11,003.
When did Washington's population peak?
Washington's recorded population peaked at 14,801 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Washington?
30 documented military engagements took place in Washington, including Confederate Garrison at Plymouth — Fortification 1863-64, Raid on Plymouth NC (1863), Battle of Plymouth NC.
How many historic places are in Washington?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, North Carolina.
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