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Pizza Hut closed in early January after a 48-year run in Washington.
In the first year of the program, Gracie Vanquakebake and Grace Mordhorst became the first female wrestlers in WCHS history to make an all-conference team when Vanquakebake made 1st team and Mordhorst 2nd on the Mid-Illini team.
Wes Peterson became the first male WCHS athlete to qualify for the IHSA state bowling tournament.
Washington Central won the IESA Competitive Cheer state championship in both the Game Day and the 2A routine categories.
Washingtonian Susie Knoblauch received the NFHS Citation from the National Federation of High Schools, one of the most prestigious achievements in high school athletics.
The Panther sports accolades continued as the school set new bests with four individual state titles in wrestling (Noah Woods, Peyton Cox, Wyatt Medlin, Josh Hoffer) and also a sectional championship and record number of state qualifiers in boys swimming.
The WCHS girls basketball team took 3rd place in the IHSA state basketball finals.
It was announced that St. Patrick's and St. Monica's churches would merge into one parish, Mary, Mother of God Parish, on March 25, 2025.
Groundbreaking was held for the Washington Police Annex building just west of the fire station. The building was announced to be named the Gary W. Manier Washington Police Annex.
Political history was made in Washington during the April election as the town elected its first female mayor. Lilija Stevens outdueled Mike Brownfield to replace longtime mayor Gary Manier. In the same election, voters overwhelmingly supported a tax referendum to move forward with a District 52 project, relocating the Lincoln School campus to the Washington Middle School property.
Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen opened in April on the square.
Lori Weston was the winner of the 2025 Washingtonian Award.
Police Chief Michael McCoy announced his retirement, effective May 5, 2025.
St. Pat's 7th grader Sadie Gorsage won 3 events at the IESA 7th grade girls track meet.
2024 Miss Illinois Breana Bagley joined Washington for its Memorial Day parade and ceremony.
Interim police chief Jeff Stevens was hired in June to serve in the permanent position.
Also in June, the city council re-passed an ordinance to allow chickens in the city.
The amphitheater project, offered by Jim Hengst in memory of his wife Dee, was pulled off the table by the Hengst Foundation in June.
Events/Products for Washington's Bicentennial in August, 2025:
The Washington Bicentennial committee responsible for the organization and execution of the 200th year celebration (L-R): Leri Slonneger, Kit Zinser, John Amdall, Sharon Amdall, John Stromberger, Jennifer Essig, Kim Brownfield, Jewel Ward, John Ackerman
In September, O'Reilly Auto Parts began construction of their building at the corner of McClugage and Centennial. Also, the Protea Place residential community broke ground across from Cherry Tree Shopping Center. In fall grade school sports, Washington Central finished 2nd in the IESA state softball tournament, and Washington Middle School was crowned state champions in the IESA state baseball tournament.
In October, Washington began the process of hiring a city administrator.
In the fall of 2025, WCHS may have had its most successful all-sport season in school history:
Boys golf: 2nd in state
Volleyball: Reached supersectional
Football: Reached playoff quarterfinals
Boys cross country: 17th in state
Girls cross country: 10th in state
Soccer: 2nd in state
Girls Swimming: Sectional champions
Mud Creek Mercantile opened in the old Foster Jewelry building in late November. Also, a sign went up indicating the G.Y.M. planned to build a standalone building for their business on Cummings Lane, moving out of Cherry Tree Shopping Center.
At the beginning of December, the city installed a 30-foot Christmas tree at Washington Plaza in Sunnyland, a critical first step in the area's revitalization as per the comprehensive plan approved a few years prior.
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