Washington County named for George Washington who at the time of the creation of the county was Commanding General of Continental Army. Created Dec. 1776 from Fincastle County. County seat, Abingdon,1778. Major events between 1765 and 1770 the small villiage of Wolf Hills with it's small fort established on land beloning to Dr.Thomas Walker. Black's Fort provided the only protection for settlers in the area. In 1776 county seat located on 120 acre tract of land adjoined the Fort. Two years later the villiage of Abingdon was established. Evan Shelby, noted Indian fighter settled here about 1765 on a tract called Sapling Grove. His home was a neighborhood fort, the refuge of settlers in Indian attacks. Bristol grew around this place and became an early railroad center. Evan Shelby is buried in East Hill Cemetery.