Washington County is a county in Colorado, United States, on the high plains in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 4,817 at the 2020 census and covers 2,524 square miles (6,540 km2), of which 2,518 square miles are land, centred near 39°59′N 103°12′W.
Akron is the county seat and its postal code is 80720. The county has two incorporated towns, one census-designated place, and roughly 18 unincorporated communities and former rail-siding settlements. It observes Mountain Time.
Towns & Villages in Washington County
Washington County holds two incorporated towns — Akron and Otis — plus the census-designated place of Cope and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads and former Burlington Route rail sidings, several now ghost towns. Type key: Town = incorporated municipality, CDP = census-designated place, Unincorp. = unincorporated place with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | Town · seat | 1,757 | 80720 |
| Otis | Town | 511 | 80743 |
| Cope | CDP | — | — |
| Anton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arickaree | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burdett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Calhoun | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elba | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hyde | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Last Chance | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lindon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lone Star | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Messex | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pinneo | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Platner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rago | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thurman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wiladel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodrow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Xenia | Unincorp. | — | — |
Many of these places — Messex, Pinneo, Rago, Wiladel — began as sidings on the Rock Island or Burlington rail lines through eastern Colorado and never grew past a grain elevator and a few houses; several have no year-round residents today.
ZIP Codes
- 80720 — Akron (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 80743 — Otis
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities share a ZIP code with the nearest town rather than having their own; those assignments are not independently confirmed here and are omitted rather than guessed.
Geography
Washington County sits on Colorado’s eastern high plains, a flat-to-gently-rolling shortgrass tableland roughly a mile above sea level. Drainage runs east toward the Republican River basin, mainly via the Arikaree River and its tributaries and Beaver Creek, which cross the southern and central county. The county has almost no natural lakes; farm ponds and reservoirs supply local stock water. Of its total area, 5.9 square miles are water.
Washington County borders Logan County to the north, Yuma County to the east, Kit Carson County to the southeast, Lincoln County to the south, Adams County to the southwest, Arapahoe County to the west, and Morgan County to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 4,817 residents, making Washington County one of the least populous “Washington County” jurisdictions in the country. Akron (1,757) and Otis (511) are the two largest communities, together holding roughly half the county’s population. Household income in the county runs well below the Colorado median of $92,911, typical of the sparsely populated eastern-plains counties. Population density is about 1.9 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Dryland wheat and irrigated corn farming, cattle ranching, and grain elevators anchor the local economy, supplemented by county government and school-district employment based in Akron. Colorado Plains Regional Airport, a general-aviation field just outside Akron, serves the area. The Washington County Fair, held each summer in Akron, is the county’s largest annual community event.
History
Washington County was organized on February 9, 1887, carved out of Weld County and named for George Washington. The county originally extended much farther east; Yuma County split off from it in 1889, giving the county roughly its present boundaries. Like most of Colorado’s eastern plains, it was settled behind the railroad — Akron and Otis both began in 1882 as construction camps on the Burlington & Missouri River line being built west from Nebraska toward Denver.
Getting There
Interstate 76 crosses the northern part of the county, and U.S. Highways 34 and 36 along with Colorado State Highways 59, 61, 63, and 71 provide the main local routes.
- Sterling, Colorado — about 30 miles north
- Fort Morgan, Colorado — about 45 miles west
- Burlington, Colorado — about 75 miles southeast
- Denver, Colorado — about 95 miles southwest
Denver International Airport is the nearest major commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washington County, Colorado?
It lies on the high plains of northeastern Colorado, between Sterling and the Kansas border region, roughly 95 miles northeast of Denver.
What is the population of Washington County?
4,817 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Washington County?
It covers 2,524 square miles (6,540 km2), 2,518 of which are land.
What is the county seat of Washington County?
Akron is the county seat.
How many towns are in Washington County?
Two incorporated towns, Akron and Otis, plus the CDP of Cope and about 18 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Washington County?
Akron uses 80720 and Otis uses 80743; other communities generally share a nearby ZIP.
What is Washington County’s economy based on?
Dryland and irrigated grain farming and cattle ranching, centred on Akron.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Colorado.