Washington

Formed February 20, 1879 (12^th county)

Washington County (10,500), Weiser (5,631)

An Art Deco building of white masonry and black concrete is the courthouse for Washington County.  It was built in 1940 to replace a classier 1888 courthouse.  A war memorial sits on the courthouse grounds.  It is sited on Court Street between 2^nd and 3^rd avenues.  United States Highway 95 is four blocks east of the location.  Tourtelotte and Hummel are the architects.  The county is named for President George Washington.  The county seat is named for settler Jacob Weiser.  Washington County was established on February 20, 1879 from Ada County as the 12^th county with Weiser as the only county seat. 

Washington County government consists of a sheriff, a prosecuter, a coroner, a clerk, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Six Circuit Court Judges and a Magistrate Court Judge serve Washington, Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, and Payette counties (judicial.) Washington County is in southwest Idaho on the border with Oregon.  The Snake River forms its western border with Oregon.  Boise, Idaho is southeast of the county.  The county center is 24 miles Northeast of Weiser nearer Midvale.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Adams, Gem, and Payette counties and Oregon. 

The area of the county is 1456 square miles.  It is 20 out of 44 in the state.  It ranks 29 out of 44 in population in the state.  It has a density of 7.2 persons per square mile making it 26 out of 44 in the state.  Washington County has 58.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 95 crosses the county north to south from Adams County to Payette County.  The county is shaped like an overstuffed chair with a bulging back.  Weiser is located in the extreme southwest part of the county on the river.  Weiser is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 53.6% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced WEE-SIR.