Located on the banks of the Pamlico River, Washington has been home to
many famous, infamous, and unique people over the years. Springing from
the community of Forks of the Tar under the watchful eyes of the
everlasting Blount family, the town has grown from a small shipping port
into a prominent county seat. Many pivotal people have called Washington
home. William Blount, son of town founding father John Gray Blount,
signed the US Constitution before scandal drove him from his Senate seat
and into exile in Tennessee. Filmmaker Cecil DeMille was raised here. It
is a place where opportunity has been available no matter the time
period. Susan Dimock broke the gender barrier by becoming a physician
and Joan Little's violation in a local jail led to a precedent-setting
legal battle. Ed Peed served valiantly as a fireman, and his death
during a great waterfront fire shook people of all classes and races in
the community. The people of Washington, from the founding families to
the artistic community that thrives today, have defined the town seen
today.