Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 207,820. Its county seat is Washington. The county was created on March 28, 1781, from part of Westmoreland County. The city and county were both named after American Revolutionary War leader George Washington, who eventually became the first President of the United States.
Washington County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The county is home to Washington County Airport, located three miles (5Â km) southwest of Washington.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 861 square miles (2,230Â km2), of which 857 square miles (2,220Â km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10Â km2) (0.5%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 202,897 people, 81,130 households, and 56,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 237 people per square mile (91/km²). There were 87,267 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.27% White, 3.26% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.3% were of German, 17.2% Italian, 10.6% Irish, 8.6% English, 7.9% Polish and 6.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 81,130 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.
As of 1800, this county was largely settled by people of Scot-Irish heritage because "prime lands" were already taken by the Germans and the Quakers.
Government and politics
The County of Washington is governed by a three-member publicly elected commission. The three commissioners serve in both executive and legislative capacities. By state law, the commission must have a minority party guaranteeing a political split on the commission. Each term is for four years.
The three current commissioners for Washington County are Lawrence Maggi (Democrat), Diana Irey (Republican), and Harlan G. Shober Jr. (Democrat).
Maggi was the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district against Republican incumbent Tim Murphy in 2012. Maggi lost to Murphy and earned only 36 percent of the vote. Irey was the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district and lost to the late Democratic incumbent John Murtha in the 2006 election.
The Washington County Court of Common Pleas, the Twenty-Seventh Judicial District of Pennsylvania, is the state trial court, sitting in and for Washington County. It serves as the court of original jurisdiction for the region. There are five judges, which the county's citizens elect to ten year terms, under the laws of the Commonwealth. The President Judge is Katherine B. Emery; she is the most senior member of the bench. Judges of the court are:
- Katherine B. Emery, P.J.
- John F. DiSalle, J.
- Gary Gilman, J.
- Valarie Costanzo, J.
- Michael J. Lucas, J.
Additionally, magisterial district judges (MDJs) serve throughout the county to hear traffic citations, issue warrants, and decide minor civil matters.
The Democratic Party has been historically dominant in county-level politics and national politics, only voting Republican for president in Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide victory over George McGovern. However, like much of Appalachian coal country, Washington has trended strongly Republican in recent years. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won 53% of the vote and Republican George W. Bush won 44%. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 50.14% of the vote and Bush received 49.57% a difference of 552 votes. In 2008, Republican John McCain won 51% to Democrat Barack Obama's 46% and each of the three state row office winners carried Washington County.
County row offices
- Clerk of Courts, Barbara Gibbs, Democrat
- Controller, Michael Namie, Democrat
- Coroner, Timothy Warco, Democrat
- District Attorney, Eugene Vittone, Republican
- Prothonotary, Phyllis Ranko-Matheny, Democrat
- Recorder of Deeds, Deborah Bardella, Democrat
- Register of Wills, Mary Jo Poknis, Democrat
- Sheriff, Samuel Romano, Democrat
- Treasurer, Francis L. King, Democrat
- Public Safety Director, Jeffrey A. Yates, Independent
State Representatives
- Jim Christiana, Republican, 15th district
- Richard Saccone, Republican, 39th district
- John A. Maher, Republican, 40th district
- Jason Ortitay, Republican, 46th district
- Brandon P. Neuman, Democrat, 48th district
- Donald Cook, Republican, 49th district
- Pam Snyder, Democrat, 50th district
State Senators
- Guy Reschenthaler, Republican, 37th district (Peters Township)
- Camera Bartolotta, Republican, 46th district
US Representatives
- Bill Shuster, Republican, 9th district
- Tim Murphy, Republican, 18th district
United States Senate
- Pat Toomey, Republican
- Bob Casey, Jr., Democrat
Landmarks and events
Washington County is the home of the PONY Baseball and Softball International Headquarters and is the home of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Washington County is also famous for its Rock Shelters at Meadowcroft Village, which are one of the best preserved and oldest Pre-Clovis Native American dwellings in the country. The county has 21 covered bridges still standing.
The Whiskey Rebellion culminated in Washington. The home of David Bradford, one of the rebellion leaders, is located in Washington and is a national landmark. Just a couple blocks away is the F. Julius LeMoyne House, which serves as the headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society.
Washington County is the home of the first crematory in the United States.
In 1981, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the county.
Education
Colleges and universities
- California University of Pennsylvania in California Borough
- Community College of Allegheny County Washington branch in North Franklin Township
- Washington & Jefferson College in the City of Washington and East Washington Borough
- Waynesburg University- Southpointe Center Campus in Cecil Township.
Public school districts
- Avella Area School District
- Bentworth School District
- Bethlehem-Center School District
- Brownsville Area School District (also in Fayette County)
- Burgettstown Area School District
- California Area School District
- Canon-McMillan School District
- Charleroi School District
- Chartiers-Houston School District
- Fort Cherry School District (also in Allegheny County)
- McGuffey School District
- Peters Township School District
- Ringgold School District
- Trinity Area School District
- Washington School District
- Served by
- Intermediate Unit 1 â€" Coal Center
- Mon Valley Career and Technology Center â€" Charleroi
- Western Area Career and Technology Center â€" Canonsburg
Private schools
Libraries
Hospitals
- Canonsburg General Hospital, part of West Penn Allegheny Health System in North Strabane Township
- Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll Township
- The Washington Hospital in the City of Washington
Communities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Washington County:
Cities
- Monongahela
- Washington (county seat)
Boroughs
Townships
Census-designated places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
Unincorporated communities
Former communities
- Allen Township
- Bethlehem Township
- East Pike Run Township
- Granville
- Pike Run
- Pike Run Township
- Smallwood
- South Canonsburg (annexed to Canonsburg in 1911)
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Washington County.
†county seat
Notable people
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Pennsylvania
References
External links
- Washington County Web Site
- History & Genealogy in Washington County, PA
- History of Townships in Washington County, PA
- History of Washington County, Pennsylvania
- Citizens of Washington County (Deaths and Obituaries)