The site for the future town of Washington was established near the center of Washington County by the appointed commissioners in 1838; and in 1839 it was platted as the seat for the county courthouse. Its site on the open prairie just east of the Crooked River placed it at the center of agricultural production in this region. In 1858 the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad reached the community, and by 1900 Washington was a hub for six railroads.
Writing Credits
If SAH Archipedia has been useful to you, please consider supporting it.
SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning.