# Washington County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota; county seat Stillwater* Washington County, whose seat is [[Stillwater]], is the fifth-most populous of [[Minnesota]]'s counties.[^1] The U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts page gives its 2020 census population as 267,565 and its July 2025 estimate as 286,895, an increase of 7.2 percent. The cached Wikipedia article gives the 2020 count as 267,568.[^2][^1] [[Woodbury]] is its largest city, seventh in size among Minnesota cities and third among the suburbs of the Twin Cities. The county belongs to the [[Minneapolis]]–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] Settlement began along the St. Croix River, and the county's origins are bound up with the creation of the territory. A meeting at Stillwater on August 26, 1848, petitioned Congress for a territory to be called Minnesota. Congress organized [[Minnesota Territory]] effective March 3, 1849, and in October of that year the territorial legislature made Washington one of nine original counties.[^3] Three sites in the county have been placed on the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund list for soil and groundwater contamination. As of the cached article, two remain listed.[^4] ## History The first settlement in the area grew up along the [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)]], which now divides the county from Wisconsin on the east. Settlers travelled upriver by boat and timber was floated down it. The dense forest gave the area an early economy based on logging and lumber.[^3] Settlers first reached the site of present-day Afton in 1837. In 1838 a settlement called Dacotah was founded at the northern edge of today's Stillwater, where Brown's Creek meets the St. Croix. The creek takes its name from Dacotah's founder, [[Joseph Renshaw Brown]]. Sawmills were then built at Marine-on-St.-Croix in 1839 and on the site of downtown Stillwater in 1844. Dacotah declined as its settlers moved to them.[^3] The area lay within [[Wisconsin Territory]] until 1848, when the territory's eastern portion was admitted as a state. On August 26, 1848, Brown and other leaders convened the [[Stillwater Convention]]. It drew up a memorial asking Congress to organize a new territory named Minnesota and chose [[Henry Hastings Sibley]] to present the petition. Stillwater's description of itself as the "Birthplace of Minnesota" rests on that meeting.[^3] Congress's act creating the territory took effect on March 3, 1849. In October 1849 the new territorial legislature established nine counties across the territory. Washington, named for George Washington, was one of them, with Stillwater as its seat. The county's first [[sheriff]] was appointed in 1849, and its school district dates from 1850.[^3] Once the forests had been cut, farming became the main basis of the county's economy.[^3] ## Geography The county occupies the eastern side of the state. The St. Croix separates it from Wisconsin on the east. The [[Mississippi River]] runs south-southeast past the county's west side, forms its southwestern boundary, and meets the St. Croix at the county's southernmost point.[^5] The terrain is low and rolling, sloping toward the south and east. Its highest elevation is 1,053 feet (321 m), on the lower western border.[^5] Of 423 square miles of total area, 384 square miles are land and 38 square miles (9.1 percent) are water. That makes the county Minnesota's fourth-smallest by land area and fifth-smallest by total area.[^5] It borders Chisago County to the north, Polk County, Wisconsin, to the northeast, and St. Croix County, Wisconsin, to the east. Pierce County, Wisconsin, lies to the southeast, Dakota County to the southwest, Ramsey County to the west and Anoka County to the northwest.[^5] ### Transportation [[Interstate 35]], [[Interstate 94]], [[Interstate 494]] and [[Interstate 694]] pass through the county. So do U.S. Highways 8, 10, 12 and 61 and [[Minnesota State Highway 36]], [[Minnesota State Highway 95]], [[Minnesota State Highway 97]], [[Minnesota State Highway 120]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 244]].[^5] Forest Lake Airport (25D) lies south of Forest Lake, and [[Lake Elmo Airport]] (21D) northeast of [[Lake Elmo]].[^5] ### Protected areas Protected lands include: - [[Afton State Park]] - Big Marine Park Reserve - Lake Elmo Park Reserve - Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park - the [[Gateway State Trail]] - Hardwood Creek Wildlife Management Area - the Falls Creek, Grey Cloud Dunes and Lost Valley Scientific and Natural Areas - part of the [[Mississippi National River and Recreation Area]][^5] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The cached Wikipedia article reports 267,568 residents in the 2020 census. Census Bureau QuickFacts, as recorded in the project's dossier, gives 267,565.[^6][^2] The median age was 40.0 years. Residents under 18 made up 24.6 percent of the population, and those 65 or older made up 16.0 percent.[^6] By race: - 79.1 percent White - 5.2 percent Black or African American - 0.5 percent American Indian and Alaska Native - 7.0 percent Asian - 1.8 percent some other race - 6.3 percent two or more races Hispanic or Latino residents of any race accounted for 4.9 percent. About 86.6 percent of residents lived in urban areas and 13.4 percent in rural ones.[^6] The census recorded 99,507 households. Of these, 33.9 percent included children under 18 and 57.7 percent were married-couple households, while 22.8 percent consisted of one person. Of 104,014 housing units, 4.3 percent stood vacant. Owners occupied 80.1 percent of occupied units and renters 19.9 percent.[^6] ### Later federal figures The Census Bureau's QuickFacts page places the July 2025 population at 286,895. It reports these figures, as recorded in the project's dossier dated September 2, 2026: - median household income of $115,345 - poverty rate of 4.9 percent - bachelor's degree holders, 49.1 percent - median home value of $422,000 - owner-occupancy of 81.3 percent[^2] The owner-occupancy figure differs from the 80.1 percent of occupied units counted in the 2020 census.[^2][^6] ### 2010 census The 2010 census counted 238,136 people in 87,446 households.[^6] By race and ethnicity: - 87.77 percent White - 3.60 percent Black - 0.49 percent Native American - 5.07 percent Asian - 2.10 percent two or more races - 0.97 percent other races - 3.41 percent Hispanic or Latino of any race[^6] ## Politics and government As in every Minnesota county, a board of commissioners elected on a nonpartisan ballot governs Washington County. Commissioner districts are drawn to hold roughly equal populations.[^7] Counting national elections from 1948 through 2020, the county's voters chose the [[Democratic Party (United States)]] candidate 63 percent of the time. In each election from 1992 to 2012 the county backed the eventual national winner.[^7] Three congressional districts divide the county: - the north lies in [[Minnesota's 8th congressional district]] (CPVI R+7) - the centre lies in [[Minnesota's 4th congressional district]] (CPVI D+18) - the south lies in [[Minnesota's 2nd congressional district]] (CPVI D+3)[^7] ## Points of interest Attractions include: - Afton State Park - [[William O'Brien State Park]] - the Gateway State Trail - the [[Afton Alps]] ski area - [[Tanners Brook Golf Club]][^8] ## Communities Twenty-five incorporated cities lie wholly inside the county. Parts of [[Hastings]] and of [[White Bear Lake (Minnesota)]], which extends into Ramsey County, also fall within it.[^9] Among the cities are Stillwater, Woodbury, [[Cottage Grove]], Forest Lake, [[Oakdale]], Lake Elmo, Mahtomedi, Hugo and Scandia.[^9] The county also contains: - Unincorporated communities: Arcola, Basswood Grove, Carnelian Junction, Maple Island and Siegel - Ghost towns: Garen and Point Douglas - Townships: Baytown, Denmark, Grey Cloud Island, May, Stillwater and West Lakeland[^9] ## Education Eight school districts serve parts of the county: - the [[Chisago Lakes School District]] - the Forest Lake, Hastings and Mahtomedi public school districts - North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale - the [[South Washington County School District]] - [[Stillwater Area Public Schools]] - the [[White Bear Lake Area School District]][^10] ## Superfund sites and environmental damage Contaminated soil and groundwater have put three county sites on the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund list. As of the cached article, the [[Baytown Township Ground Water Plume]] and the [[Oakdale Dump]] remain on the list. The [[Washington County Landfill]] came off it in 1996 after cleanup.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 population of 267,568, fifth-most populous rank, county seat, Woodbury's rank, metropolitan area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^2]: U.S. Census Bureau, *QuickFacts: Washington County, Minnesota* (as recorded in project dossier note 78, 2026-09-02) — 2020 census population 267,565; July 2025 estimate 286,895 (+7.2%); median household income $115,345; poverty rate 4.9%; bachelor's degrees 49.1%; median home value $422,000; owner-occupancy 81.3%. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/washingtoncountyminnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "History" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — settlement dates, Dacotah, sawmills, Stillwater Convention of August 26, 1848, territory effective March 3, 1849, county created October 1849, sheriff 1849, school district 1850. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Superfund sites and environmental damage" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — three EPA Superfund listings; two current; Washington County Landfill removed 1996. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Geography" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — boundaries, elevation, area figures, adjacent counties, highways, airports, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Demographics" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2010 census age, race, household and housing figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Politics and government" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — nonpartisan board of commissioners, voting record 1948–2020, congressional districts and CPVI. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Points of interest" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — list of parks and attractions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Communities" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 25 incorporated cities fully in the county, partial cities, unincorporated communities, ghost towns, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Washington County, Minnesota*, "Education" section (revision 1381332508, retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts serving the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Minnesota