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Quick Reference . City Govt.
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State&Fed Govt. . Housing&Growth . Education&Healthcare
. County Govt. .
Landlord
List .
Day Care/Preschools
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About
Washington
Photo of fountain courtesy
of Cathy Lloyd |
Why is
Washington, Iowa rated as one of the 100 Best Small Towns
in America?
Author Norman Crampton
has three times rated small towns from 5,000 to
15,000 around the country based on a number of factors.
Washington is very pleased to have been selected to appear
on the list all three times. Washington is a unique
community with many strengths. In addition, the
community is enriched by the colorful surrounding towns
and the neighboring Iowa City metro area.
Crampton, Norman,
The 100 Best Small Towns in America, 2nd Edition,
1995. Macmillan, USA
Crampton, Norman, Making Your Move to One of
America's Best Small Towns, 2002.M. Evans and
Company
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Primary Ranking Factors
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1. |
Population. |
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7,047 (-0.4%) |
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2. |
Housing |
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3BR, 2BA house
sells in the range of $80,000-$120,000 |
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3. |
Local banks. |
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4, three are
locally owned |
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4. |
Proportion
of residents in the 20-44 age group. |
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29.64%
(2000) |
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5. |
Crime rate. |
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2.1% (US avg. 5.9%) |
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6. |
Hospital. |
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Washington
County Hospital & Clinics, 40 beds |
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7. |
High School. |
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395 students
in grade 10-12, graduates 97%, sends 90% to
college/university. |
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Secondary Ranking Factors
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1. |
Is the town a county seat? |
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Yes.
Washington County,
Iowa. |
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2. |
Does it have a
newspaper? Daily or weekly? |
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Daily Newspaper is
Washington Evening Journal and the local radio station
is KCII |
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3. |
Does it have a college or university? |
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Kirkwood Community College Satellite Campus, plus
Big-Ten University of Iowa
30 minutes north. |
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4. |
Is there a formally
organized program to train residents to assume positions
of community responsibility? |
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Chamber of Commerce has
operated the "Leadership Washington" program since 1989
with about 18-20 graduates annually. |
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5. |
Is there a community economic development
program? |
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Washington Economic Development Group (WEDG) founded
in 1985. |
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6. |
Is the town a "Main
Street" town (a member of the national organization that
assists towns with downtown redevelopment)? |
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Yes.
Washington was designated a Main Street town on
March 4, 2008. |
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7. |
Is there a local program to assist
low-income residents in acquiring housing, such as Habitat
for Humanity? |
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Washington Habitat for Humanity has built
6 homes, including 2 completed in 2000 and land for 3
more. WEDG
also is developing a 34-lot affordable housing subdivision
with down payment assistance. |
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For all the facts about Washington, refer to Quick Reference.
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The
City of Washington, with a population of 7,100, is
centrally located in Southeast Iowa just 30 minutes south of
Iowa City/Coralville. Washington, founded in 1839, is
the county seat of Washington County, one of the leading hog
producing areas in the nation. The city offers a daily
local newspaper and a local AM-FM radio station. The
city plays host to 17 churches and over 100 social and
service clubs and organizations. There are several
vintage homes and buildings which are listed on the National
Register of Historical Places. Washington supports a
great mini-bus transportation system. The community
hosts several special events throughout the year including:
a Farmer's Market, Car Shows, Craft Shows, Fourth of July
Celebration, Christmas Tour of Homes, and several annual
parades.
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| Centennial
Fountain in Central Park |
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This
fountain was constructed and dedicated in 1939 for
Washington's Centennial Celebration. It is the only
one of its type in the continental United States. The
fountain was refurbished in 1995 by a group of local
citizens. It features a multi-colored light show and
is the focus of Central Park in downtown Washington.
The downtown park is surrounded by a square filled with
unique retail, professional offices, and service businesses.
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Recreation
Washington's extensive Parks system allows for endless recreational opportunities including:
Sunset Park with its new two million dollar Aquatic Center, Frisbee Golf, Large Wooden Playground,
Bike/Skateboard Park, and Tennis Courts. The 13 mile Kewash Nature Trail offers excellent hiking, biking, and cross country
skiing opportunities. In addition, the Washington Community Y offers organized youth and adult sports activities,
a Senior Center, weight and nautilus room, and with an indoor pool they offer swimming lessons for all
ages and water exercise classes for adults.
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| Attractions |
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The community is full of historical sites including: the DAR Log Cabin in Sunset Park, Conger House Museum,
Central Park Fountain with its beautiful multicolored light show, and F-troop Military Museum.
Washington boasts a Municipal Band, a tradition since 1932, which plays a weekly concert series on an open air bandstand
in Central Park each summer. The local Community Center is a 22,000 square foot modern structure accommodating
cultural and educational programming for the surrounding area.
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| Copyright � 2001
Washington Area Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved |
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