Who were the first people to live in Washington County? The first people were the Passamaquoddy, “The People of The Dawn” the Native Americans. People Of The Dawn They had been living in Washington County for 12,000 years before the European settlers arrived and during that time had developed ways of living in harmony with the land and making a good living from it. Like all Native American tribes in Maine their way of life was seriously disrupted by the advent of the first European settlers. They put up fierce resistance to their way of life but European settlers over whelmed them by shear numbers. Despite that the Passamaquoddy are still live in Washington County. They continue their traditions and they are now engaged in activities like growing blueberries and growing wood products. If you are thinking of word to describe tough, smart, survivor think Passamaquoddy. Washington County would be served well by listening to a people who have 12,000 years experience living there. Ironically the families of the first European settlers now experience a little bit of what the Passamaquoddy went through every time land is developed and access to traditional uses is lost. The first European settlers to Washington County were French and settled on St Croix Island in the St Croix river in 1604 St Croix Island They moved on in the spring of 1605 after experiencing a very hard winter with much loss of life. Washington County, being far from protection during the French and Indian wars French and Indian War was slow to settle. The land was highly contested for owner ship by the French and English and many bloody atrocities were comiited on both sides. Although there probably were small intenerate trading posts along the Coast of Washington County at the conclusion the French and Indian war in 1760 the first major permanent settlement was quickly built in Machias History Of Machias at the head of the tide in 1763. Machias in Native American means “Bad Little falls” due to the set of falls where the Machias river dumps into the tide water in the Town of Machias. The permanent settlement at Machias along with the end of the French and Indian Wars, gave rise to the other towns in Washington County. County History The war of 1812 ment occupation for the most part for Washington County. Eastport was occupied as well as Machias. Machias and War of 1812 After the war of 1812 the County went through a very prosperous period of ship building fishing, lumbering, and lumber trade. Many small towns in Washington County built sailing ships for the sea trade that was going on at the time. However the advent of the railroads, metal steamships set Washington County in economic decline and in many ways it is still finding its way today. However for the person who can appreciate a place that has changed slowly makes it one of the most unique places visit on the eastern seaboard.