Named after our first president, Washington County was organized in 1860.  Settlers had started arriving in 1857, and only the hardiest of pioneers could survive those early years of hardship.  Hunting was plentiful, but lack of other food and supplies, very little timber---most settlers lived in "soddies" or "dugouts"---as well as the ever-present fear of Indian attacks, made life precarious.  However, they made the land their own and eventually had comfortable homesteads for their families.  Ranching was (and still is) very important in Washington County, and farms with their neat outbuildings dotted the countryside.

Washington is the county seat.

TOWNSHIPS

Barnes .. Brantford .. Charleston .. Clifton .. Coleman .. Farmington .. Franklin .. Grant .. Greenleaf .. Haddam .. Hanover .. Highland .. Independence .. Kimeo .. Lincoln .. Linn .. Little Blue .. Logan .. Lowe .. Mill Creek .. Sheridan .. Sherman .. Strawberry ll Union .. Washington  

CITIES

Barnes .. Bodaville .. Chepstow .. Clifton .. Greenleaf .. Haddam .. Hanover .. Hollenberg .. Linn ... Mahaska .. Morrowville .. Palmer .. Vining .. Washington