Incorporated: 1776
Population: 908
County Name: Sullivan
(county map)
Town Contact:
Town of Washington
PO Box 473
Washington, NH 03280

Phone: 603-495-3661
Fax: 603-495-3299
Website: washingtonnh.org

Origin:
First granted in 1735, the town was one of the fort towns designated to protect the colonies from Indian attack, named Monadnock Number 8. In December 1776, the newly established American revolutionary government incorporated the town as Washington, in honor of General George Washington. It was the first town in the United States to bear the name.

More about Washington:
Washington, New Hampshire is a scenic small town in southwestern New Hampshire. It has always been a very rural place, and the landscape is hilly, rugged, rocky, forested — and lovely. By 1840 the town had two hundred farms and a population of over 1100. Then, like many rural New England towns, it experienced a long decline, as people moved to the cities for employment and to the Mid-West for serious farming. By 1960 the population was down to near 200.

In recent decades the population has been increasing (2nd fastest growth in NH by the 2000 US Census), colonial homes have been restored, and the town appears to be prosperous; there is now a richly varied and growing mix of professional, working and retired people. The town has no major industry, but many folks travel to Hillsboro (14 miles) and beyond for their daily employment. Washington is rich in lakes and ponds and there are a number of settlements and developments on their shores.