Washington was founded in the 12th century by the ancestors of George Washington the first President of the United States, between 1113 and 1613 his ancestors inhabited Washington Old Hall, a local mansion. Washington was designated a new town in 1964 and expanded dramatically to house overspill population from surrounding cities.
Washington's main industries include textiles, electronics, car assembly, chemicals and electrical goods.
The Beamish Open-Air Museum is located nearby, as is the WWT Washington nature reserve.
There is also a village in West Sussex called Washington in the South Downs, located roughly 10 miles (16 km) north of Worthing.External link