General Info
Drawn to the abundant natural resources of the St. Croix River Valley, settlers arrived in 1838 and established a sawmill. Early industry was led by lumbering as the area was heavily forested and the river provided ideal conditions for transportation. The area began to develop and Washington County was established in 1849 and named for George Washington. Stillwater was selected as the county seat and schools, churches and businesses were established to meet the growing needs of its residents. By 1900 its population had reached 27,808 and Washington County continued to progress. As timber resources began to decline, industry began to shift towards agriculture and later tourism. Today Washington County is home to approximately 231,958 residents.
