Washington is a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 15,268 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County and is located in the southwestern part of the state.
Washington, PA Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,268 people, 6,259 households, and 3,486 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,199.2 people per square mile (2,005.1/km²). There were 7,111 housing units at an average density of 2,421.5/sq mi (933.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.88% White, 14.60% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,764, and the median income for a family was $34,862. Males had a median income of $29,977 versus $22,374 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,818. 20.7% of the population and 16.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 29.2% of those under the age of 18 and 15.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
History of Washington, PA
Delaware Indian chief Tangooqua, commonly known as “Catfish”, had a camp on a branch of Chartiers Creek in what is now part of the city of Washington. The French labeled the area “Wissameking”, meaning “catfish place”, as early as 1757. The area of Washington was settled by many immigrants from Scotland and the north of Ireland along with settlers from eastern and central parts of colonial Virginia. It was first settled by colonists around 1768.
Education in Washington, PA
Washington is home to Washington & Jefferson College, a small, co-educational private liberal arts college founded in 1781. Located in downtown Washington, the college now enrolls over 1,500 students. It is noted as an excellent pre-med and pre-law institution due to its fine liberal arts curriculum and is considered a good preparatory school for graduate level studies in general. W&J’s 60 acre suburban campus includes more than 40 academic, recreational, and residential buildings, as well as a 54 acre biological field station. In the 2006 U.S. News and World Report “America’s Best Colleges” guide, W&J was ranked #94 among the top 100 Liberal Arts Schools in the US.
