Washington is a small city with an up and coming downtown
Washington, Indiana’s city motto is “A City of Pride and Progress.” This is evident in the way Washington strives to preserve its history while evolving to meet the needs of a modern city. The Washington Commercial Historic District includes seven buildings recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, featuring Italianate, Federal and Classical Revival styles. The city has also seen a lot of change in recent years, including the implementation of a $3 million project called the Washington Commons, a multi-use outdoor space in downtown. According to Bob Grewe, executive director at the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, The Commons paved the way for private investors to further reimagine the area's retail and commercial scene. “We’ve seen investment I don’t think we would have seen in the past,” says Grewe. Along with these changes, Washington has also experienced a slow but steady population increase, growing from nearly 11,500 in 2010 to an estimated 12,500 in 2023. The area's economy is supported by a variety of employers ranging from MacAllister manufacturing to NASCO industries and the local Daviess Community hospital system.
A wide variety of housing priced below the national median
Washington offers a wide variety of housing options, including suburban subdivisions and communities of manufactured homes. Prospective buyers can choose from Victorian era homes dating back to the 1890s, bungalows from the 1930s, ramblers from the 1950s, split levels from the 1980s, and Craftsman designs from the 2010s. The median price of a single-family home in Washington is $203,000, well below the national average. However, prices can vary, ranging from less than $100,000 for a small bungalow to over $400,000 for a larger Colonial Revival. Manufactured homes can start around $50,000, with the price determined by size and layout.
Washington Commons offers downtown gathering space
Washington recently completed The Commons, an outdoor space that spans a full city block and features three pavilions and an open lawn at the heart of downtown. One pavilion has a stage for live music, another is completely open, and the third has tables and space for food trucks, or the local farmers market and other community events. “The city is working on a list of events,” says Grewe. “It’s created a lot of dynamic influences from a lot of different organizations. It’s making downtown a place people want to be.”
Residents can also enjoy the outdoors at Longfellow Park, which has a skate park and pickleball courts, or East Side Park, which has two lakes, a bandstand, gazebos, a miniature train for kids and basketball courts.
Downtown Washington boasts storefronts of local businesses
Downtown Washington has an old-school Americana feel, with rows of attached brick storefronts and colorful awnings. These buildings are occupied by a theater, various boutiques, home goods stores, and cafes. “There’s a whole lot more pride in the downtown area,” Grewe says. “Folks are looking at it as a destination for entertainment, for commerce. It’s more of a point of pride than in years past.” He points to the Cherry Ghost Coffee House as a “third space” where people often gather. The café often hosts live music and has a menu with sandwiches, soups, bakery items and seasonal drinks. For groceries, there’s a Jay C Food Store and Walmart Supercenter in the city.
Washington Transit has bus stops around town
Washington's bus system, called the Washington Transit, has a fixed route that makes stops at shopping centers, the library, the hospital, downtown and City Hall. The closest airport is Evansville Regional Airport, 50 miles away, which offers regular flights to major hubs like Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Orlando and St. Pete-Clearwater. The Indianapolis International Airport is 110 miles away. The closest hospital is the Daviess Community Hospital, which is located right in Washington.
Washington Community Schools score solid marks
The Washington Community Schools system serves this city and earns an overall B-minus rating from Niche and an A-minus rating for clubs and activities. The district's nearly 2,500 students may attend one of three elementary schools, two middle schools or the local high school. Washington High earns a B rating from Niche and touts a student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1.
Important to know
Crime in Washington is overall lower than the national average. The crime rate has held steady over the past decade, with no major increases or decreases in either violent or property crime.
Winter here is cold with snow, while summers are hot and humid. This area can also see tornadoes. The last serious tornado was an EF2 in 2013 that caused major damage to homes.
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