Washington Township, Warren County, Indiana

Washington Township
Township
Location of Washington Township in Warren County
Location of Indiana in the United States
Coordinates: 40°16′36″N 87°19′41″W
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Warren
Government
• Type	Indiana township
Area
• Total	19.51 sq mi (50.5 km2)
• Land	19.12 sq mi (49.5 km2)
• Water	0.38 sq mi (1.0 km2)  1.95%
Elevation	669 ft (204 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,349
• Density	120/sq mi (46/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code	765
GNIS feature ID	454022

Washington Township is one of twelve townships in Warren County, Indiana, United States. It is the most populous township in the county; according to the 2020 census, its population was 2,349, with 1,950 of those living in Williamsport, and it contained 1,001 housing units. It has the highest population density of the Warren County townships at about 120 inhabitants per square mile (46/km²).

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,482		—
1900	1,618		9.2%
1910	1,632		0.9%
1920	1,481		−9.3%
1930	1,443		−2.6%
1940	1,523		5.5%
1950	1,556		2.2%
1960	1,664		6.9%
1970	2,075		24.7%
1980	2,251		8.5%
1990	2,212		−1.7%
2000	2,351		6.3%
2010	2,298		−2.3%
2020	2,349		2.2%
Source: US Decennial Census

History

The area that became Washington Township was first settled in 1827. Originally, the county was divided into four townships when it was formed in 1827; Washington Township was created a few years later in March 1830.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 19.51 square miles (50.5 km²), of which 19.12 square miles (49.5 km²) (or 98.00%) is land and 0.38 square miles (0.98 km²) (or 1.95%) is water. The Wabash River defines the township's southeastern border. Big Pine Creek flows through the far northeastern corner of the township on its way to the Wabash River. The streams of Clear Branch, Dry Branch, Fall Branch and Rock Creek also run through this township.

The county seat of Williamsport is in the east part of the township, near the river. Williamsport Falls, the highest waterfall in the State of Indiana, is in downtown Williamsport; the stream of Fall Creek flows through the town and falls 90 feet (27 m) over a sandstone ledge.

Map of Washington Township

1877 map of Washington Township

Cemeteries

The township contains these four cemeteries: Highland, Hillside, Owens and Robb.

Transportation

Indiana State Road 28 passes through the township from east to west. Coming from the Illinois state line and West Lebanon, it goes directly east, then veers to the northeast and goes through Williamsport, then crosses the river and passes east through Attica in Fountain County. U.S. Route 41 and State Road 55 pass through the northeastern corner of the township and briefly share the route of State Road 28.

A Norfolk Southern Railway line passes through the township from east to west, leaving the township when it also crosses the river. For much of its route through the township, it parallels State Road 28, running just south of the highway.

Education

Washington Township is part of the Metropolitan School District of Warren County. It contains one of the three elementary schools in the county, located in Williamsport.

Washington Township is served by the Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library.

Government

Washington Township has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides relief to the poor, manages cemetery care, and performs farm assessment, among other duties. The trustee is assisted in these duties by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.

Washington Township is part of Indiana's 8th congressional district, Indiana House of Representatives District 42, and Indiana State Senate District 23.

Climate and weather

Williamsport, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.7     30 13     1.6     35 17     3.2     47 27     3.6     60 38     4.2     72 49     4.5     81 59     3.7     84 62     3     82 59     2.6     77 51     3     64 39     3     48 30     2.5     35 19 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     42     −1 −11     40     2 −8     80     8 −3     90     16 3     106     22 9     114     27 15     93     29 17     77     28 15     67     25 11     75     18 4     75     9 −1     64     2 −7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Williamsport have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, with a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 99 °F (37 °C) in July 1995. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.59 inches (40 mm) in February to 4.50 inches (114 mm) in June.

References

• "Washington Township, Warren County, Indiana". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
• United States Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles

Bibliography

• Goodspeed, Weston A. (1883). "Part II. History of Warren County". Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Chicago: F. A. Battey and Company. pp. 31–156. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
• Clifton, Thomas, ed. (1913). Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties Indiana. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen and Company. pp. 201–335. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
• Warren County Historical Society (1966). A History of Warren County, Indiana. Williamsport, Indiana.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Warren County Historical Society (2002). A History of Warren County, Indiana (175th Anniversary ed.). Williamsport, Indiana.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)