Washington Court House, Ohio

{{Short description|City in Fayette County, Ohio, US}} {{Redirect|Washington, Ohio|the Ohio location formerly known as "Washington"|Old Washington, Ohio}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Washington Court House, Ohio | settlement_type = City | nickname = Washington C.H. | motto =  | image_skyline = Downtown Washington Court House from the courthouse lawn.jpg | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = Downtown Washington Court House from the courthouse lawn | image_flag = | image_seal = WCHseal.jpg | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapframe-point = none | pushpin_map = Ohio#USA | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label = {{nowrap|Washington Court House}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Ohio | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Fayette | subdivision_type3 = Township | subdivision_name3 = Union | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = City manager | leader_name = Joe Denen | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = | established_date =  | area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref> | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 23.27 | area_land_km2 = 23.11 | area_water_km2 = 0.16 | area_total_sq_mi = 8.98 | area_land_sq_mi = 8.92 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.06 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 14401 | population_density_km2 = 623.05 | population_density_sq_mi = 1613.74 | timezone = Eastern (EST) | utc_offset = −5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = −4 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 965 | coordinates = {{coord|39|32|17|N|83|25|41|W|region:US-OH|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/> | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 43160 | area_code = 740 | area_code_type = Area code | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 39-81214<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 1086095<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1086095}}</ref> | website = {{URL|http://www.cityofwch.com/}} | footnotes = | unit_pref = Imperial }}

'''Washington Court House''' (often abbreviated as '''Washington C.H.''') is a city in Fayette County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 14,401 at the 2020 census. The area was initially settled by Virginia veterans of the American Revolution, who received the land from the government as payment for their service in the war.<ref name=LocalHistory/>

==Name== Officially named Washington as far back as 1910, the "Court House" suffix was used to distinguish the city from other places in the state with "Washington" in their name (Ohio also has an Old Washington, New Washington, Washingtonville, and Port Washington).<ref name=WCHname>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47969835/city-explains-its-reason-in-deciding/ |title=City Explains Its Reason in Deciding Name |agency=AP |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |page=12 |date=September 5, 1931 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The suffix is attributed to settlers who had come from Virginia, where "Court House" was used with county seats (e.g. Appomattox Court House).<ref name=WCHname/> "Washington C. H." was added to maps and postal guides, and the ''de facto'' use of "Washington Court House" persisted over time.<ref name=WCHname/> The name was made official when the city adopted a new charter in the early 2000s.{{efn|The city's website gives a 2002 date for the charter change that formally adopted the Washington Court House name;<ref name=LocalHistory/> however, the charter itself cites an effective date of January 1, 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofwch.com/DocumentCenter/View/74/City-of-Washington-Court-House-Charter-PDF |title=Charter {{!}} City of Washington Court House |date=2008 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |pages=2, 25 |quote=Effective Date of Charter shall be January 1, 2004}}</ref>}} "Washington Court House" is the longest city name in the state of Ohio.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://247wallst.com/special-report/2017/11/06/the-longest-city-name-in-every-state/8/ |title=The Longest City Name in Every State |first=Grant |last=Suneson |website=247wallst.com |date=November 6, 2017 |access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref>

==History== Washington Court House's first settlers appear to have been Edward Smith Sr., and his family, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1810. Smith and his family constructed a crude house in the thick woodlands near Paint Creek, but their efforts to clear the land were interrupted by his departure for military service in the War of 1812.<ref name=allen>Allen, Frank M., ed. ''History of Fayette County, Ohio: Her People, Industries, and Institutions''. Indianapolis: Bowen, 1914, 752.</ref> Comparatively soon after returning from his martial pursuits, Smith drowned while attempting to cross a flooded creek,<ref>Dills, R.S. ''History of Fayette County, Together With Historic Notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio''. Dayton: Odell and Mayer, 1881, 459.</ref> but his widow and 10 children survived and prospered despite the absence of their patriarch. Smith's descendants remained prominent in Fayette County for more than a century after his arrival from Pennsylvania, although many had left Washington Court House for other parts of the county.<ref name=allen /> A family residence still stands on U.S. Route 62 not far outside the city's eastern boundary.<ref name=nris>{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

In 1833, Washington Court House (then known as Washington) contained a printing office, seven stores, two taverns, two groceries, a schoolhouse, a meeting house, and about 70 residential houses.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dt48AAAAYAAJ | title=The Ohio Gazetteer, or, a Topographical Dictionary | publisher=Scott and Wright | year=1833 | access-date=12 December 2013 | author=Kilbourn, John | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dt48AAAAYAAJ/page/n515 479]}}</ref>

Numerous locations in the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown, the courthouse square has been named a historic district, and a similar designation has been accorded the city cemetery. Nine individual buildings are separately listed on the register: Judy Chapel at the cemetery, the former Washington School, the Fayette County Courthouse, the former William Burnett House (no longer standing<ref>[http://www.fayette-co-oh.com/Fayette%20County%20Land%20Use%20Plan.pdf Fayette County Comprehensive Use Strategy Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613034300/http://www.fayette-co-oh.com/Fayette%20County%20Land%20Use%20Plan.pdf |date=2010-06-13 }}, Fayette County, 2006, 13. Accessed 2013-05-23.</ref>), and the Barney Kelley, Jacob Light, Rawlings-Brownell, Robinson-Pavey, and Morris Sharp houses.<ref name=nris />

Streets within the downtown part of the city around the courthouse building are arranged northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast, rather than east–west and north–south, so that each side of the courthouse receives some sunlight every day of the year.<ref name=LocalHistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofwch.com/209/City-Profile |title=Local History & Profile |website=cityofwch.com |access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref>

===1894 riot=== thumb|right|Ohio Historical Marker on the front lawn of the Fayette County Courthouse On October 16, 1894, a crowd gathered outside the Fayette County Courthouse with intent to lynch William "Jasper" Dolby, a black man who had been convicted of sexually assaulting a white woman. Ohio Governor William McKinley called out the militia to subdue the crowd. On October 17, the crowd rushed the courthouse doors and was warned to "disperse or be fired upon." They ignored the warning and continued to batter the doors.

Colonel Alonzo B. Coit ordered his troops to fire through the courthouse doors, killing five men. Colonel Coit was indicted for manslaughter, but was acquitted at trial. After the trial, Governor McKinley stated, "The law was upheld as it should have been... but in this case at fearful cost... Lynching cannot be tolerated in Ohio."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47970487/col-coit-acquitted/ |title=Col. Coit Acquitted |newspaper=St. Joseph News-Press |location=St. Joseph, Missouri |page=1 |date=March 9, 1895 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The courthouse doors were not repaired or replaced and the bullet holes from the 1894 riot are still present in the southeast doors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ohtravel88.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/bullet-holes-in-a-courthouse-door/ |title=Bullet Holes in a Courthouse Door |website=Travel 88 |date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref>

==Geography== Washington Court House is located along Paint Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|8.80|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|8.74|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is covered by water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref>

===Climate=== {{Weather box | single line = Y | location = Washington Court House, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–present

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00338794&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Washington Court House, OH |access-date = March 4, 2023 }} </ref> |source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData> {{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=iln |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Cincinnati |access-date = March 4, 2023 }} </ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1820= 191 |1830= 299 |1850= 569 |1860= 1035 |1870= 2117 |1880= 3798 |1890= 5742 |1900= 5751 |1910= 7277 |1920= 7962 |1930= 8426 |1940= 9402 |1950= 10560 |1960= 12388 |1970= 12495 |1980= 12648 |1990= 12983 |2000= 13524 |2010= 14192 |2020= 14401 |estyear=2021 |estimate=14496 |estref= |footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/washingtoncourthousecityohio,US/PST045221|title=Washington Court House city, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=July 7, 2022}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A81718&in=state%3A39|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 2, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 12,987 || 90.2% |- | Black or African American || 372 || 2.6% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 31 || 0.2% |- | Asian || 135 || 0.9% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 139 || 1.0% |- | Two or more races || 736 || 5.1% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 343 || 2.4% |}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, Washington Court House had a population of 14,401. The median age was 40.9 years, 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.0 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A81718&in=state%3A39|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 2, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

99.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.6% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A81718&in=state%3A39|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=February 2, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 6,113 households in Washington Court House, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.3% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 6,569 housing units, of which 6.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 14,192 people, 5,762 households, and 3,628 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1623.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 6,433 housing units at an average density of {{convert|736.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 2.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 5,762 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 13,524 people, 5,483 households, and 3,536 families residing in the city. The population density was 810.8/km{{sup|2}} (2,100.8/mi{{sup|2}}). There were 5,961 housing units at an average density of 357.4/km{{sup|2}} (926.0/mi{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 94.52% White, 2.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 5,483 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the age distribution of the population showed 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,003, and the median income for a family was $40,721. Males had a median income of $31,708 versus $22,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,618. About 9.0% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.2% ages 65 or older.

==Media== Washington Court House is part of the Columbus, Ohio, media market, so is served by several Columbus-area television and radio stations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Columbus Media Market Map|publisher=Echo Star|url=http://dishuser.org/TVMarkets/City%20Maps/Columbus.gif|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> The city has two local radio stations. Buckeye Country 105.5 FM (WCHO-FM) WCHO plays country music and (WCHO-AM) 1250 plays oldies. Both stations cover local news, sports, and agricultural stories. Washington Court House also easily receives radio and television stations from Dayton and Cincinnati.

The hometown newspaper of Washington Court House is the ''Record Herald''. The ''Record Herald'' was formed from the merger of two dailies – ''The Record-Republican'' and the ''Washington C.H. Herald'' – in 1937.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88077507/ |title=About Washington C.H. Record-Herald|work=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> The latter paper's publishing history dates back to 1858 when it began as a weekly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038144/ |title=About Washington Herald 1858-1860|work=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> As of 2012, the ''Record Herald'' reported circulation of 5,143 daily and 21,849 for weekend inserts.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Record Herald'' Rate Card|author=Self-reported, sworn statement of circulation|url=http://www.recordherald.com/ftp/displayads/Rate_Card.pdf|date=October 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008163549/http://www.recordherald.com/ftp/displayads/Rate_Card.pdf|archive-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref>

==Education== Education in Washington Court House, Ohio, comprises two public school districts, as well as a private school . *Washington Court House City School District enrolls most school-aged children within the city limits of Washington Court House. **Washington High School *Miami Trace Local School District includes Miami Trace High School. *Fayette Christian School

Washington Court House has a public library, housed in a historic Carnegie library building.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cplwcho.org | title=Homepage | publisher=Carnegie Public Library of Washington Court House | access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref>

==Airport== Fayette County Airport is a county-owned general aviation facility located northeast of Washington Court House.

==Notable people== *Randall Adams, wrongly convicted of murder; his release was accomplished by a 1988 documentary film *Harry M. Daugherty, United States attorney general under Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge *Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of children's fiction *Scott Lewis, Cleveland Indians baseball player 2008-09 *Sam Lucas, vaudeville actor and singer *Tom Rogers, college football player and coach *Art Schlichter, quarterback for Ohio State and in the NFL *Jeff Shaw, Major League Baseball player from 1990 to 2001; two-time All-Star *Travis Shaw, Major League Baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, and the son of Jeff Shaw *Jess Smith, lawyer and assistant to Harry M. Daugherty

==See also== *{{anl|Education in Washington Court House}}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} *{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Washington (Ohio)|display=Washington (or Washington Court House), a city and the county-seat of Fayette county, Ohio, U.S.A. |short=x}} *{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Washington Court House|short=x}}

Category:Washington Court House, Ohio Category:Cities in Ohio Category:County seats in Ohio Category:Cities in Fayette County, Ohio