Washington
History
by
Elsie Beard
Washington is a twice chartered town. The original charter, granted
in 1770 be the royal governor of New York, was for Kingsland in the
County of Gloucester. Although there is no record of any residents
during this period, Kingsland was designated as one of two county seats
and a log jail was constructed close to what is now the geographical
center of Washington, at the head of a stream named Jail Branch.
During the period when Vermont was an independent nation, a charter
was issued naming the town as Washington. Although the exact date
of this charter is not clear, most historians agree that the year
was 1781. The fist record of any settler in Washington is in 1785 when
one Daniel Morse received title to 100 acres. By 1792 Washington was organized
and the records show that in 1794 there were 32 freemen on the checklist.
For the next 45 years the population grew rapidly until it reached
a peak of 1400 in 1840. The town's population was dispersed about on numerous
small farms with wool production being the main cash crop. In 1840
there were 7500 sheep and 840 cows on Washington farms. Between 1820 and
1829 there were two fulling mills and one carding mill in operation;
processing the wool and homespun wool cloth. Sheep raising peaked
around 1830 and after 1840 there was a steady decline due to tariffs and
increasing cheaper competition. After 1840 there was also a steady
decline in the human population due to the westward movement. The numerous
cellar holes and stone wall remnants that one can find on the hillside
forests are mute testimony to the numerous farms that existed here in
the 19th century.
With the arrival of railroads in Vermont in the 1850's, the dairy
industry began to take over because new urban markets were now accessible.
By 1895 Washington had a creamery to process its milk production.
During this period the railroads were expanding with subsequent industrial
development in some nearby towns. Both the railroads and industry
bypassed Washington and it remained a rural community with an agriculturally
based economy.
In the twentieth century the dairy business became increasingly
competitive and by mid-century many small farms could not continue.
By 1960 the population of Washington had declined to 565, its lowest
since early in the 19th century. As these marginally productive farms were
closed, land prices fell and much of this land was quickly purchased
by non-residents. Those farmers who were able to retain some of their
property were forced to seek work in nearby localities. Although Washington
remains a rural community, it is no longer predominately agricultural
but rather a bedroom community whose members commute for their livelihood.
The census of 1970 showed that approximately 20% of Washington residents
were not native Vermonters. This percentage continues to grow as
more and more people seek escape from urban life-style. For better
or for worse this trend will increasingly influence decisions that will
determine the future of our town.
~
Courtesy of the ~
The
Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
See Also:
History
of Washington Library
