Washington, North Carolina

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Not to be confused with Washington County, North Carolina.
Washington, North Carolina
City
Washington from the corner of Stewart Street and West Main Street
Washington from the corner of Stewart Street and West Main Street
Washington is located in North Carolina
Washington
Washington
Location within the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°33′13″N 77°3′7″W / 35.55361°N 77.05194°W / 35.55361; -77.05194Coordinates: 35°33′13″N 77°3′7″W / 35.55361°N 77.05194°W / 35.55361; -77.05194
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyBeaufort
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager form of government
 • MayorDonald Sadler
Area
[1]
 • Total9.02 sq mi (23.37 km2)
 • Land8.19 sq mi (21.21 km2)
 • Water0.83 sq mi (2.16 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total9,744
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
9,497
 • Density1,159.58/sq mi (447.72/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27889
Area code252 Exchanges: 940,946,948,974,975
FIPS code37-71220[2]
GNIS feature ID0996823[3]
Websitewww.washington-nc.com

Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census.[5] It is the county seat of Beaufort County.[6] It is commonly known as "Original Washington" or "Little Washington" to distinguish it from Washington D.C.[7][8] The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the west.

Established in 1776 on land donated by Col. James Bonner, Washington is the first city named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.[9]

History[]

Map of Washington during the American Civil War, by Union soldier Solon M Allis

The settlement at the current location of the city was founded in the 1770s by James Bonner on his land and was known as Forks of the Tar. In 1776, it was renamed Washington. During the American Revolutionary War, Washington served as a supply port when major neighboring ports were under British siege.[10]

The Bank of Washington, West End Branch, Beaufort County Courthouse, Bowers-Tripp House, North Market Street Historic District, Rosedale, Washington Historic District, and Zion Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18502,015—
18601,599−20.6%
18702,09431.0%
18802,46217.6%
18903,54544.0%
19004,84236.6%
19106,21128.3%
19206,3141.7%
19307,03511.4%
19408,56921.8%
19509,69813.2%
19609,9392.5%
19708,961−9.8%
19808,418−6.1%
19909,0757.8%
20009,5835.6%
20109,7441.7%
2019 (est.)9,497[4]−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 9,744 people and 4,246 households in the city. The population density was 1,190.0 people per square mile (459.4/km2). There were 4,754 housing units at an average density of 580.5 per square mile (224.1/km2). The racial composition of the city was: 49.0% White, 45.50% Black or African American, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino American, 0.5% Asian American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.50% two or more races.

There were 4,754 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,057, and the median income for a family was $30,280. Males had a median income of $26,053 versus $21,641 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,319. About 23.3% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation[]

Media[]

Print[]

The Washington Daily News is the local newspaper. As of September 2007, the Daily News had a circulation of 8,736 Monday through Saturday, and 8,969 on Sunday. The Daily News was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Meritorious Public Service in 1990 for a series of stories concerning local water contamination, making it the smallest daily newspaper in history to win the coveted award.

In 2009, the newspaper The Beaufort Observer went from a bi-monthly print publication to an online publication.

Beaufort County Community College, located in Washington, publishes Life on the Pamlico, a digital magazine dedicated to preserving North Carolina's coastal heritage.

Television[]

Beaufort County Courthouse

The following stations are licensed to Washington and/or have significant operations and viewers in the city:

Radio[]

The following radio stations are licensed to Washington and surrounding areas.

  • 93.3 FM:WERO Bob 93.3
  • 98.3 FM:WLGT 98.3 The Bridge
  • 95.1 FM:WRNS-FM Your Country 95.1 WRNS
  • 101.1 FM:WQZL 92.3 and 101.1 The River
  • 101.9 FM:WIKS 101.9 Kiss FM
  • 103.7 FM:WTIB Talk FM 103.7
  • 94.3 FM:WRHD 94.3 The Game
  • 99.5 FM: WXNR Hot 99.5
  • 104.5 FM WSTK 104.5 the Vine Connection
  • 1320 AM: WTOW Washington Original Gospel Station

Features[]

The North Carolina Estuarium

Washington has a range of historical buildings and landmarks, with some dating back to colonial times and others of Victorian and Arts and Crafts design. A self-guided Historic Walking Tour allows visitors to explore the neighborhoods.[13] A Farmer's and Artisan's Market is held regularly on the town's green areas on the waterfront.

The North Carolina Estuarium, located on the Pamlico River, includes more than 200 scientific and historic exhibits relating to the ecology of North Carolina's estuaries, the Tar-Pamlico River and Pamlico Sound. The Estuarium also includes a 3/4 mile boardwalk along the Pamlico River.

The Turnage Theatre, a restored historic vaudeville and movie theater, reopened in the downtown area in 2014 and hosts plays and other types of live entertainment.[14] Between 1993 and 2017 a downtown music and art festival called "Music in the Streets" was held every third Friday during summer to attract people to downtown shops and restaurants.[15] A cannonball from the Union attack on Washington during the American Civil War is displayed in an attorney's office on Water Street, and many nearby towns also contain Civil War artifacts and museums. Civil War re-enacters meet in the outskirts of Washington every year.

Climate[]

Climate data for Washington, North Carolina (1981–2010 normals),[a]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 53.8
(12.1) 		56.9
(13.8) 		63.8
(17.7) 		72.8
(22.7) 		80.5
(26.9) 		87.3
(30.7) 		89.7
(32.1) 		88.3
(31.3) 		83.2
(28.4) 		74.1
(23.4) 		65.6
(18.7) 		56.8
(13.8) 		72.7
(22.6)
Average low °F (°C) 34.2
(1.2) 		36.4
(2.4) 		41.9
(5.5) 		50.3
(10.2) 		59.3
(15.2) 		68.5
(20.3) 		72.5
(22.5) 		70.9
(21.6) 		65.4
(18.6) 		53.5
(11.9) 		44.5
(6.9) 		35.7
(2.1) 		52.8
(11.6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.85
(98) 		3.32
(84) 		4.22
(107) 		3.14
(80) 		4.11
(104) 		4.44
(113) 		5.45
(138) 		5.22
(133) 		5.81
(148) 		3.28
(83) 		3.2
(81) 		3.26
(83) 		49.3
(1,250)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.5
(1.3) 		0.4
(1.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0.8
(2.0) 		2
(5.1)
Source: xmACIS2 (Monthly Climate Normals)[16]

Education[]

Beaufort County Schools operates area public schools.

  • Eastern Elementary School. Pre-k to 1st

[17]

  • J. C. Tayloe Elementary School. 2nd to 3rd[18]
  • John Small Elementary School. 4th to 5th

[19]

  • P. S. Jones Middle School. 6th to 8th [20] (outside of the city limits)
  • Washington HighSchool. 9th to 12th [21]

BHM Regional Library operates the Washington Public Library.[22]

Notable people[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.

References[]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Washington city, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. ^ "Washington | Beaufort County North Carolina". co.beaufort.nc.us. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  8. ^ Sutton Anders, Robin (Jul 22, 2020). "5 Ways to Spend a Weekend in Little Washington". Our State Magazine.
  9. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". City of Washington Official Website. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  10. ^ "History". City of Washington, North Carolina. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  11. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ Rumley, Vail Stewart (19 April 2018). "Historic walking tour a great way to experience Washington". Washington Daily News. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Arts of the Pamlico celebrates mortgage pay off on Turnage Theatre". WITN. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  15. ^ Rumley, Vail Stewart (21 February 2017). "WHDA suspends Music in the Streets". Washington Daily News. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  16. ^ "NOAA 1981-2010 Climate Normals". . Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  17. ^ https://www.beaufort.k12.nc.us/schools/eastern-elementary-school
  18. ^ https://www.beaufort.k12.nc.us/schools/j-c-tayloe-elementary-school
  19. ^ https://www.beaufort.k12.nc.us/schools/john-small-elementary-school
  20. ^ https://www.beaufort.k12.nc.us/schools/p-s-jones-middle-school
  21. ^ https://www.beaufort.k12.nc.us/schools/washington-high-school
  22. ^ "Washington". BHM Regional Library. Retrieved 2021-04-13.

External links[]

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