About Washington, GA
Less than a two-hour drive from Atlanta, Georgia, Washington is full of historical significance. For more than 240 years, Wilkes County, which was founded in 1777 and named after an English supporter of the colonies, John Wilkes, has given history enthusiasts a chance to step back in time. Many of the structures and homes in the area have been preserved, in part thanks to the Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation and caring residents of the community.
For Revolutionary War buffs, the Battle of Kettle Creek is where Patriot forces were able to break the British hold on upper Georgia. After the war, Washington, the county seat, was reportedly the first incorporated town in the nation to be named for the country’s first president, General George Washington.