The First of Them All  

In July 1749, a 17-year old George Washington noted in his journal, "in the Blue Ridge Mountains . . . I laid off a town ."  The young surveyor, assisted by two chainmen, laid out the town of Washington in the same five-block by two-block grid that exists today.  The town was officially established by the Virginia Assembly in 1796; there are now 28 Washingtons in the United States, but this is "The First Washington of All."

Washington is flanked by the rolling hills of what is now Rappahannock County. Its early settlers were small farmers who constantly encroached upon the Indian lands of the region. These settlers were mostly English, but there were also those of Scotch, Irish and German extraction.  The present county was originally under the authority of Lord Fairfax.  Rappahannock was designated a distinct county in 1833 and took its name from the river that has its source in nearby mountain springs.  Today, the County retains its rustic charm, hosting 5 wineries, 16 orchards/nurseries, and over a dozen commercial farms.

Take time during your visit to stroll through the quiet village.  Many of the streets bear the names of the first families to own land on which the town was founded:  Jett, Wheeler, Porter, and Calvert.  You'll note the variety of architecture.  Washington House is an authentic large colonial-period structure.  Some of the brick government buildings were constructed by Malcolm Crawford, an apprentice of Thomas Jefferson.  Other buildings are frontier cabins, some now covered with clapboard or pebble dash.