Delaware Indian chief Tangooqua, commonly known as "Catfish", had a camp on a branch of Chartiers Creek, in what is now part of the city of Washington.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed an act on March 28, 1781, establishing the County of Washington and naming "Catfish Camp" as the place for holding the first election.

It was the first county in the U.S. to be named in honor of George Washington, commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the nation's first president.

David Hoge laid out a plan of lots immediately after the legislature's action.

His original plot carried the name "Bassett, alias Dandridge Town," but before the plot was recorded, lines were drawn through "Bassett, alias Dandridge Town" with ink, and the word "Washington" was written above.

The original plot dedicated a tract of ground to the people for recreational purposes.

[7] In August 1875, construction began of the 3 ft (914 mm) Waynesburg and Washington Railroad, conceived by John Day in 1874 and chartered in 1875.

[8] Passenger services ended in 1929, conversion to standard gauge followed in 1944, when it was renamed the Waynesburg Secondary.

Freight services ended in 1976, although part of the line still survives for access to a coal mine.

James B. Wilson chartered the Washington Electric Street Railways in 1889 with construction beginning in November 1890.

The racial makeup of the city was (10,373) 75.92% White, (2,803) 20.52% African American,(131) 0.96% Asian, and (107) 0.78% from other races.

Bradford's home was later the birthplace of American realist author Rebecca Harding Davis in 1831.

[19] The PONY League World Series is held at historic Lew Hays Field located in the city's Washington Park.

The Washington Wild Things minor league baseball team has been based out of the city since 1997.

The college's academic emphasis is on the liberal arts and the sciences, with a focus on preparing students for graduate and professional schools.