Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

Washington County lies within the Ozarks Mountains, and can variously be classed as part of southeastern or east-central Missouri. It is generally rectangular in shape, except in the northeastern corner, where the Big River forms part of its boundary. The county is bordered by Jefferson County to the northeast, [[St. Francois County, Missouri|St. Francois County]] to the east, [[Iron County, Missouri|Iron County]] to the south, Crawford County to the west, and Franklin County to the north.

Washington County lies within the Ozarks Mountains, and can variously be classed as part of southeastern or east-central Missouri. It is generally rectangular in shape, except in the northeastern corner, where the Big River forms part of its boundary. The county is bordered by Jefferson County to the northeast, [[St. Francois County, Missouri|St. Francois County]] to the east, [[Iron County, Missouri|Iron County]] to the south, [[Crawford County, Missouri|Crawford County]] to the west, and Franklin County to the north.

The county's total area is 762.49 square miles, including 759.91 of land and 2.58 of water.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref> It mostly lies in a subdivision of the Ozarks known as the Salem Plateau, with the higher St. Francois Mountains just to the south and east. The western and south-central parts of the county tend to be somewhat higher and more rugged; Pruitt Mountain, lying a few miles southwest of Caledonia near the Iron County line, is the highest point at 1,582 feet. The northeast is much lower and more gently rolling, and a considerable part of the local agriculture is practiced here. The lowest point, at about 550 feet above sea level, occurs at the confluence of Big River and Mineral Fork, near the Jefferson County line.<ref>https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=6571</ref>

The county's total area is 762.49 square miles, including 759.91 of land and 2.58 of water.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref> It mostly lies in a subdivision of the Ozarks known as the Salem Plateau, with the higher St. Francois Mountains just to the south and east. The western and south-central parts of the county tend to be somewhat higher and more rugged; Pruitt Mountain, lying a few miles southwest of Caledonia near the Iron County line, is the highest point at 1,582 feet. The northeast is much lower and more gently rolling, and a considerable part of the local agriculture is practiced here. The lowest point, at about 550 feet above sea level, occurs at the confluence of Big River and Mineral Fork, near the Jefferson County line.<ref>https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=6571</ref>