Washington is a town located in Western New Hampshire in the Dartmouth/Sunapee region of the state. It is situated in the Southeastern part of Sullivan County and encompasses a total area of 47.6 square miles, 2.2 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Washington was home to 1,123 people.
The land that comprises Washington was originally granted by Governor Jonathan Belcher in 1735. At the time, it was known as Monadnock Number 8, as it was the eighth in a number of forts designed to protect against Indian attacks. In 1751, the area was granted a second time by Governor Benning Wentworth. Then, it was called “New Conchord.” The charter was later revoked, as the original grantees never settled the area. The area was granted for a third time and renamed Camden. Settlement began in 1768 and, eight years later, the area was incorporated as a town and renamed Washington, in honor of George Washington.
For recreation and entertainment, Washington residents can enjoy the town’s municipal parks, youth organizations, sports leagues, campgrounds, fishing and hunting areas, boating marinas, snowmobile trails, cross country skiing and local waterfront areas. Washington also boasts Pillsbury State Park and an annual Ice Fishing Derby.
More than 4 percent of Washington’s total area is made up of water. The town is home to Highland Lake and Ashuelot Pond, and its highest point lies at Lovewell Mountain, where elevation reaches 2,496 feet above sea level. The area is served by New Hampshire Route 31 and Interstate 89. Notable sites in the area include the Washington Historical Society and Museum, the Shedd Free Library and the Birthplace of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Washington is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. It boasts a municipal police department, a volunteer fire department and volunteer emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Eccardt Farm, Washington Highway Department and Washington General Store. Children in the area attend Washington Elementary School for grades kindergarten through fifth. For grades six through 12, they attend schools in the Hillsborough-Deering Cooperative School District, which also serves the nearby towns of Deering and Hillsborough.