Washta
City in Cherokee County, Iowa
Washta is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, with 209 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 1,148 ft (350 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Quimby, 5.4 miles NE.
- 209residents (2020 Census)
- 1,148 ftelevation · 350 m
- 1.0 sq miland area · 2.6 km²
- 207 / sq mipopulation density
- 51061ZIP code
About Washta
Washta is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 209 at the time of the 2020 census. It is called "The Coldest Spot in Iowa", recording a temperature of −47 °F (−44 °C) without wind chill on January 12, 1912.
Washta's name dates back to 1868 when a local man named Whisman turned his farm into a trading post/mail stop for the freight train going from Correctionville, Iowa, to Cherokee, Iowa. He was asked to be the official postmaster for the area. When asked what the name of his town would be, he recalled an interesting encounter with two Native Americans the year before: While Whisman was out hunting, the two came upon him, removed his gun, looked at it, and handed it back while saying, Wash-tay, Wash-tay, meaning "good". Changing the pronunciation slightly, Whisman decided he would call the town Washta.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Washta weather: 7-day forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast…
Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Washta
Webcams: Windy.com
Living in Washta
- Median household income
- $46,979
- Median home value
- $48,600
- Median rent
- $500/mo
- Median age
- 56.8
Do you know Washta? Tell us about it
Help other travelers: share what makes Washta special. We review every message before publishing it.
Map of Washta
Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Washta Street View
Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.
Open in Google Maps ›Washta, IA population
Washta had 209 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 209 |
|---|---|
| Density | 207 per sq mi (80 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Washta at a glance
| State | Iowa (IA) |
|---|---|
| County | Cherokee County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 209 (2020) |
| Land area | 1.01 sq mi (2.6 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,148 ft (350 m) |
| Coordinates | 42.5756° N, 95.7201° W |
| ZIP code | 51061 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 1982380 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Washta
- Quimby5.4 mi NE
- Correctionville7.5 mi SW
- Pierson7.8 mi W
- Cushing8.0 mi S
- Holstein10.9 mi SE
- Kingsley12.6 mi W
- Cherokee14.7 mi NE
- Anthon14.9 mi SW
- Meriden15.7 mi N
- Galva16.1 mi E
- Cleghorn16.4 mi N
- Aurelia17.2 mi NE
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Washta
What county is Washta in?
Washta is in Cherokee County, Iowa.
What is the population of Washta, IA?
209 people lived in Washta at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Washta, IA?
The ZIP code of Washta is 51061.
What is the elevation of Washta?
1,148 feet (350 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Washta?
Quimby (5.4 mi), Correctionville (7.5 mi), Pierson (7.8 mi), Cushing (8.0 mi), Holstein (10.9 mi).
Last updated: