About Washington

The City of Washington was once the campsite of Tingoocqua, or “Catfish,” a chief of the Kuskuskee tribe, and was “Catfish Camp” prior to its settlement by immigrants from Scotland and northern Ireland in 1768. Afterwards, the area was to be renamed “Bassett, alias Dandridge Town” but was instead named “Washington” in honor of the first U.S. president, who had known connections to the area.

In 1791, Washington found itself at the center of the Whiskey Rebellion. Today, the David Bradford House, home of the rebellion leader David Bradford and later, the birthplace of American realist author Rebecca Harding Davis, is dedicated as a Whiskey Rebellion museum. Other historic attractions in Washington are the F. Julius LeMoyne House, part of the Underground Railroad, the Washington County Jail; the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum; and Old Main at the Washington & Jefferson College, a historic building that was modified with two towers to represent the unification of Washington College and Jefferson College. Washington & Jefferson College also provides students with a Pet House, Monroe Hall, which enables residents to live with their family pets.

For inexpensive yet high quality food, there’s Shorty’s Lunch, a local favorite that serves from its original 1938 storefront complete with its first eight wooden booths. In 2003, Shorty’s Lunch faced potential demolition in the pursuit of a downtown redevelopment effort to attract more college students, but petitioned its loyal customers and received 23,860 signatures, support of local officials, and even the mayor’s backing. Since then, Shorty’s Lunch has launched three newer locations and continues to operate at its original site.

Transportation in Washington includes the Washington County Airport, located three miles southwest of Washington, and Washington City Transit, which offers an express route to Pittsburgh.

The Washington area contains a variety of residential and historic homes, along with new construction properties, investment properties, farms, properties with ample acreage, and commercial properties.

Looking for homes for sale in Washington? Our Washington real estate office is knowledgeable about the area, and ready to help.