Washington County, New York

1852 Rail Yard A Log Church Adamsville Allen Cabin Argyle, New York War Memorial Battenville Battle Hill Baum Encampment Birthplace of the United States Navy Birthplace of the United States Navy Bishops Corners Breastworks of General Fellows British Army Camp Brown's Tavern Burgoyne's Army Buskirk's Red Covered Bridge Cambridge War Memorials Captain Furnival's Battery Checkered House Civil War Enlistment Center Civil War Mound and Urn Clinton Gift Coal Silos Continental Road Duer House Eagleville Covered Bridge Early British Cannon Erected 1784 Erected 1789 First Church in Cambridge Patent Fort Ann Through History Fort Ann War Memorial / Henry Sartwell / Lester Archer Fort Anne Fort Anne Fort Anne First Baptist Church Fort Edward Fort Edward War Memorial Fort Miller Four Mile Post Frank A. Moore Friends Log Meeting House Friends Meeting House Gen. Henry Knox Trail Gen. Henry Knox Trail Gen. Henry Knox Trail Gen. Schuyler's Intrenchments Gen. Washington Gen. Washington Gen. Washington General John Williams Gov. N. Pitcher Granville Veterans Memorial Park Great Indian Warpath Great Northern War Trail Half-Way Creek Headquarters Hebron School District No. 16 Home and Laboratory of Dr. Asa Fitch, Jr. Homestead of Grandma Moses Hon. Silas Wright Hubbard Hall In Memory Of Jane McCrea Jane McCrea Jane McCrea Jane McCrea Judge William Duer Kenyon Lumber Kilmer Mill Kingsbury Street Lakes to Locks Passage Lakes to Locks Passage Lakes to Locks Passage Lest We Forget Little Canada Major Robert Rogers Martindale Boat Basin Memorial to Jane McCrea Middle Granville Military Road Near This Spot Northeast Bastion Old Continental Road Old Fort Edward Old Fort House Museum Old Military Road Old Moat Old Powder House Fort Ann Old Stone House Library Old Turnpike Old Well Old White Church Old White Church Cemetery Oldest House Patten's Mills Cemetery Position of Burgoyne's Bridge Progenitors of Independence Railway Bridge Piers Reformed Dutch Church at Tiossiook Revolutionary Cemetery Revolutionary War Memorial Rexleigh Covered Bridge River Crossing Rogers Island Rogers Island - Fort Edward, NY Rogers Island - Fort Edward, NY Rogers Island -- Fort Edward, NY Sandy Hill Sergeant Frederick W. Mausert, III Shushan Honor Roll Shushan Postmaster Site of British Encampment Site of Home of John Wood Site of Old Mills Site of Skirmish Sixteen Soldiers Skenesborough Museum SkeneÂ’s Mills Smith's Basin Smyth House South Argyle United Presbyterian Church Stockaded Fort Stone Arch Bridge T/SGT Francis J. Clark The Champlain Canal The Coila United Presbyterian Church The Empire State Trail The Family of John Allen The Ghost Story of Duncan Campbell The Grave of Duncan Campbell & Jane McCrea The Hudson River at Fort Edward The Hudson River at Fort Edward The Hudson River at Fort Edward, NY The Hudson River at Fort Edward, NY The Hudson River at Fort Edward, NY The Island The Patt Smyth House The White Creek Fort Town of Putnam Veterans Memorial Townsend Harris Traveling Along the Canal U.S.S. Ticonderoga Underground Railroad Stops in Union Village Underground Railway Marker Union Academy Vaughn's Corners Veterans Memorial Village of Granville Washington County Civil War Monument Welcome To The Feeder Canal Historic Locks Whitehall Whitehall Harbor Whiteside Church William Miller Chapel World War I and II and Korean Conflict Memorial World War II Memorial World War Memorial
Washington County, New York, has a rich and diverse history dating back to its establishment in 1772. Initially settled by European immigrants, the area was home to Native American tribes such as Mohawks and Abenaki. The region played a significant role in the French and Indian War, as well as the American Revolution.

During the colonial period, settlers in Washington County developed a thriving agricultural community. Fertile soils supported the growth of wheat, corn, and other crops, leading to the establishment of numerous farms. The county's location along the historic Champlain Canal also facilitated trade and the transportation of goods between the northern and southern regions of New York.

The American Revolution had a profound impact on Washington County. The region's strategic location near the Hudson River made it a prime target for both British and American forces. The Revolutionary War Battle of Saratoga, one of the turning points in the war, took place in northern parts of the county. The victory at Saratoga bolstered American morale and convinced France to form an alliance with the United States.

In the 19th century, Washington County experienced significant industrial development. The construction of the Erie Canal provided new opportunities for trade and stimulated economic growth. The county became a major center for manufacturing, with mills, factories, and foundries springing up in towns like Fort Edward and Whitehall. However, with the decline of the canal system in the late 1800s, the county's economy shifted towards agriculture and tourism.

Today, Washington County is known for its charming rural landscape, historic villages, and agricultural traditions. It continues to celebrate its heritage through cultural events, including fairs and festivals that showcase the county's rich history. From its early days as a frontier settlement to its role in shaping American history, Washington County remains a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of its inhabitants.
Brief timeline of the history of Washington County, New York:

  • 1772 - Washington County is established and named after President George Washington.
  • 1775 - The Battle of Hubbardton takes place during the American Revolutionary War.
  • 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the Revolutionary War.
  • 1791 - The town of Granville is founded.
  • 1859 - The town of Greenwich is incorporated.
  • 1875 - The Washington County Fair is established.
  • 1900 - The county's population reaches its peak at over 60,000 residents.
  • 1961 - The Batten Kill Railroad is officially abandoned.
  • 1984 - The Battle of Saratoga is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
  • 2006 - The Washington County Historical Society is founded.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Washington County, New York.

Audiobooks about the history of New York.