Washington County, Maryland: History
For thousands of years, Native Americans inhabited the lands that would later form Washington County. Archaeological evidence suggests that an Iroquoian people known as the Susquehannock occupied this region around 1600. In the early 17th century, England began to settle lands on the Chesapeake Bay to the east of present-day Washington County. Contact between the Susquehannock and these English settlers was limited until English merchant William Claiborne from Virginia began trading with the Susquehannock in the 1630s.
In 1634, England established the Province of Maryland as an English colony with their founding of St. Mary's City to the southeast of present-day Washington County. English-Susquehannock relations then began to deteriorate, as Maryland formed an alliance with the Piscataway people, who were the frequent target of Susquehannock raids. The founding of the province also disrupted their trade alliance with Claiborne as he refused to acknowledge Maryland's authority. In 1641, the Governor of Maryland declared the Susquehannock "enemies of the province", and Susquehannock raids on Maryland and the Piscataway continued intermittently until 1652.
In the winter of 1652, the Susquehannock were attacked by the Mohawk, and although the attack was repulsed, it led to the Susquehannock negotiating the Articles of Peace and Friendship with Maryland. The Susquehannock relinquished their claim to territory on either side of the Chesapeake Bay and reestablished their earlier trading relationship with the English. In 1696, the province incorporated its western portions (including its claims to present-day Washington County) into Prince George's County. In 1707, Maryland became a British colony as the result of the union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.
In the 1730s, European settlers arrived in present-day Washington County, and in 1748, Frederick County, which then included Washington County, separated from Prince George's County. During the French and Indian War, Marylanders constructed Fort Frederick in 1756. Later, Maryland was one of the colonies that revolted to form the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War in 1775. On September 6, 1776, Maryland formed Washington County from a part of Frederick County. It was the first county in the United States named after George Washington. The State of Maryland ratified the United States Constitution and officially joined the United States in 1788. In 1789, part of Washington County was divided to form Allegany County, which itself was later divided in 1872 to form Garrett County.
Washington County has over 30 historical sites and is home to 3 National Parks, 7 State Parks, 14 County Parks, and numerous City and Town Parks. A number of properties in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county's history includes riots during the Whiskey Rebellion, several Civil War battles including the Battle of Antietam, the site where the abolitionist John Brown planned his raid on Harpers Ferry, and the location of railroads that facilitated westward expansion of the United States.