Townapedia
Image Denhart Bank Building
Image Denhart Bank Building · Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cemetery Road Bridge, Washington, IL
Cemetery Road Bridge, Washington, IL · Khancrete, CC BY-SA 4.0
Debris strewn around in a heavily damage neighborhood in Washington, IL
Debris strewn around in a heavily damage neighborhood in Washington, IL · State Farm, CC BY 2.0
Dement-Zinser House, Washington, IL
Dement-Zinser House, Washington, IL · Khancrete, CC BY-SA 4.0
Denhart Bank Building, Washington, IL
Denhart Bank Building, Washington, IL · Khancrete, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dement Zinser House
Dement Zinser House · Esvobod2, CC BY-SA 3.0

Washington, Illinois

Washington is a city of 15,919 people in Tazewell County, Illinois, founded in 1834.

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Population15,919 -3.9% since 2019
Elevation758 ft 231 m
Founded1834
Land area8.6 sq mi
ZIP code61571
Nearest airportPeoria International Airport (PIA) 14 mi

Why visit Washington

Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 13 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Cemetery Road Bridge, AMC Classic Sunnyland 10, Dement-Zinser House and Denhart Bank Building.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 17°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Washington

Washington is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. Washington is on U.S. Route 24 and Illinois Route 8, northeast of East Peoria. The population was 16,071 at the 2020 census, a 48.2% percent increase over 2000. It is a suburb of Peoria and is part of the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area.

From the Wikipedia article Washington, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do2

Cemetery Road Bridge

Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi

Historic bridge in Washington, Illinois

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

AMC Classic Sunnyland 10

Cinema and theater · 2.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks5

Dement-Zinser House

Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi

Historic house in Washington, Illinois

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Denhart Bank Building

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi

1870s building in Washington, Illinois

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Farm Creek Section

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi

Exposed glacial stratification in Tazewell County, Illinois

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Veterans Memorial

Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Washington F4 Tornado Memorial

Monument and historic site · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds17

Candlewood Park

Park · 1.3 mi

305 Candlewood Drive, Washington

Open in Google Maps

Westgate Park

Park · 1.0 mi

905 Westgate Road, Washington

Open in Google Maps

Weaver Park

Hiking and trails · 1.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

Babcook Field

Sports field and stadium · 0.7 mi

North Wilmor Road, Washington

Open in Google Maps

Grant Park

Park · 2.1 mi

212 Grant Street, Washington

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Henry F. Ganzhorn Park

Park · 1.6 mi

South Elm Street

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Railroad Park

Park · 1.1 mi

406 Peoria Street, Washington

Open in Google Maps

5 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes13

Monical's Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza, Italian, Sandwich · 0.7 mi

6 Cherry Tree Shopping Center, Washington

Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-309-444-7500

Washington Family Restaurant

Restaurant · American, Breakfast, Pie · 0.4 mi

Peoria Street, Washington

Mo-Sa 06:00-20:00; Sa 06:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps

Kep's Sports Bar & Grill

Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.7 mi

313 Muller Road, Washington

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Khouri's Gyros

Restaurant · Greek · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Michael's Italian Feast

Restaurant · 0.7 mi

1006 Peoria Street, Washington

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Arby's

Fast food · Sandwich · 2.8 mi

2275 Washington Road, Washington

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 309-745-3655

Domino's

Fast food · Pizza · 2.7 mi

2278 Washington Road, Washington

Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr, Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 309-291-3800

Dunkin'

Fast food · Donut, Coffee Shop · 0.8 mi

80 Cherry Tree Shopping Center, Washington

05:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 309-886-3284

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger

1400 Washington Road, Washington

Mo-Th 05:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 05:30-01:00; Su 05:30-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 309-444-9312

Taco Bell

Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.6 mi

1896 Washington Road, Washington

07:00-01:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 309-444-3844

Culver's

Fast food · Burger, Custard, Fish, Chicken · 0.6 mi

115 North Cummings Lane, Washington

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps

DQ Grill & Chill

Fast food · Ice Cream, Burger · 0.4 mi

1224 Peoria Street, Washington

Open in Google Maps · +1 309-444-2912

1 more on the map.

History

Washington was settled in 1825 by William Holland Sr., who came from North Carolina and was hired by the U.S. government to provide blacksmith services to the local Native Americans. During his long and eventful life, he was married three times, and was the father of twenty-one children: fourteen by his first wife and seven by his second wife. He had eighty-two grandchildren and fifty great-grandchildren. He died in Washington on November 27, 1871, at the age of ninety-one. The post office (and later the city) was originally named Holland's Grove on February 12, 1833 before being renamed in honor of the first U.S. president, George Washington, on September 13, 1837.

In the 1920s, a man named George Heyl put Washington on the map as the home of the famous Heyl Pony Farm. Some of the original barns still exist on North Main Street. The Heyl Pony Farm supplied Shetland ponies to buyers around the world; George Heyl also raised purebred poultry. When Heyl died suddenly in 1932, it was recorded as one of the largest funerals ever held in Washington.

From the History section of Washington, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay2

Churches and places of worship12

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Shopping6

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries25

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Healthcare4

Map of Washington

89 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 2.0 in of rainFebruary: 1.8 in of rainMarch: 2.4 in of rainApril: 3.8 in of rainMay: 4.8 in of rainJune: 4.0 in of rainJuly: 3.9 in of rainAugust: 3.7 in of rainSeptember: 3.2 in of rainOctober: 3.1 in of rainNovember: 2.6 in of rainDecember: 2.0 in of rainJanuary: 33°FFebruary: 38°FMarch: 50°FApril: 63°FMay: 74°FJune: 83°FJuly: 86°FAugust: 84°FSeptember: 80°FOctober: 67°FNovember: 51°FDecember: 39°FJanuary: 17°FFebruary: 21°FMarch: 31°FApril: 41°FMay: 52°FJune: 61°FJuly: 65°FAugust: 62°FSeptember: 54°FOctober: 42°FNovember: 32°FDecember: 23°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan33°F17°F2.0 in6.8 in
Feb38°F21°F1.8 in5.2 in
Mar50°F31°F2.4 in2.8 in
Apr63°F41°F3.8 in0.8 in
May74°F52°F4.8 in0.0 in
Jun83°F61°F4.0 in0.0 in
Jul86°F65°F3.9 in0.0 in
Aug84°F62°F3.7 in0.0 in
Sep80°F54°F3.2 in0.0 in
Oct67°F42°F3.1 in0.0 in
Nov51°F32°F2.6 in1.5 in
Dec39°F23°F2.0 in5.2 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Congerville 2Nw (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$95,179median household income
$221,900median home value
$1,155median monthly rent
38.2median age
43.7%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
80.4%of homes are owner-occupied
19.6 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1829%18 to 3418%35 to 6437%65 and over16%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Tazewell County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.

  • 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2013-11-26: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Tornado)
  • 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
  • 2006-12-29: Snow (Snowstorm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Peoria International Airport (PIA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.

  • East Peoria 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
  • Morton 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
  • Peoria 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
  • Pekin 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
  • Normal 26 mi southeast, about 43 min by car
  • Bloomington 29 mi southeast, about 47 min by car
  • Canton 33 mi west, about 53 min by car
  • Lincoln 39 mi south, about 1 h by car
  • Streator 43 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Pontiac 43 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.