About Washington County

Washington County is strategically located in the center of northeastern Colorado; ideally situated along Highways 34 and 63, with swift and easy access to Interstates 76 and 70. The County is within 100 miles of Denver and has quick access to U.S. trade routes.

Most of the land is dedicated to family farming and ranching. Washington County is one of the highest agricultural producers in Colorado. The primary crops grown in this County are corn, oats and wheat.

The County area is 2,521 acres with a population of approximately 5,500. Akron is the County Seat and is also home to the Washington County Museum, Colorado Plains Regional Airport, Washington County Golf Course, Washington County Fairgrounds and Events Center with the first home-owned carnival in Colorado. Akron and the surrounding towns offer quality of life without the hustle and bustle of the city. A perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, and get back to the basics of life, our County captures the honesty and determination of rural people and their families.

History

Prior to first settlements in Washington County, buffalo and antelope roamed this prairie in countless numbers. For this reason, it was a favorite camping ground for the Plains Indians including Cheyenne, Arapahoes and Sioux. The Medicine Lodge Treaty, signed in 1867, proposed that the Arapahoe and Cheyennes should be moved south of the Arkansas River into Oklahoma. However, the giving of a few presents and the signing of treaties by a few chiefs did not appease the Indians, whose livelihood, the buffalo, was being destroyed and driven away. Hostilities continued until 1869; concluding with the Battle of Summit Springs, which took place in the north central portion of the county.

In the early 1870's, cattle were grazed on the open range by a few cattlemen from other areas. In the early 1880's several cattlemen had located here permanently and by 1888, several hundred had arrived.

Washington County was formed in 1887 from part of Weld County, and Akron was established as the county seat. In 1903, additional tracts belonging to Adams and Arapahoe Counties were added to form the present county boundaries. The early settlers of the area were mainly from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Most of them were American-born, chiefly of German, Swedish and Swiss descent.

Climate

Moderate summers, crisp falls, cool winters and warm springs are the rule
320 days of sunshine annually
17" annual precipitation
30" average annual snowfall
Average January temperatures 27 degrees Fahrenheit
Average July temperatures 74 degrees Fahrenheit

The summers are wet and the winters are dry in the Great Plains of Colorado. Rainfall begins in April, approaching a maximum in May or June, and reverts to the minimum in November and December. Washington County averages 13 inches of precipitation from March through August, which is sufficient to mature the principal crops. The average length of the growing season is 151 days, with an average temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

Land Formation

Washington County is in the Great Plains physiographic province. The eastern two-thirds of the county is a part of the High Plains section and slopes gently to the eastward. Sand dunes cover an area of approximately 240 square miles in the east central part of the county, which reach a maximum thickness of more than 100 feet. The western on-third of the county is in the South Platte River Basin. This land slopes to the north and west, and the gradient is more pronounced than the High Plains section to the east.

The highest elevation in the County, roughly 5,365 feet, is in the southwestern corner. The lowest elevation, 4,090 feet, is on the South Platte River near Messex, in the Northwestern corner of Washington County.

Vegetation

Aside from agriculture, Washington County vegetation consists almost entirely of native grasses, weeds and flowering plants. The principal native shrub and tree, willow and cottonwood, are confined mostly to the bottom lands of the South Platte River. Small groves grow naturally in widely separated spots where moisture conditions are favorable. Both these species are indicators of ground water. Willow indicates good quality water near the surface,and cottonwood marks good quality water within 20 feet.

Animal Life

The characteristics of the plains animals are meaningful because they indicate the nature of the country. For instance, the antelope and the jack rabbit, both native to this area, are noted for their speed. All native species of animal can get along with little or no actual water supply. The prairie dog and the jack rabbit need none. The antelope exhibits great ingenuity in finding water and, by virtue of its speed, can travel some distance for its supply.

Additional Facts and Information

For an extremely thorough investigation of Washington County, you may want to visit the Washington County COGenWeb Project. A wealth of information can be found in the pages of this website. Information includes Records & Resources, History, Maps & Photos, Researcher Surname Registry, Migrations Project and many other links.

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