The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

WASHINGTON, a county in the S. E. part of Iowa, has an area of 570 square miles. The Iowa river washes the N. E. border, the Skunk river intersects the S. W. part, and the English river flows through the northern part into the Iowa. The surface is diversified by rolling prairies and groves of timber, which are generally distributed along the large streams; the soil is good, and well watered. Indian corn, wool, and butter are the staples. In 1850 there were raised 277,205 bushels of corn; 30,767 of wheat; 37,654 of oats, and 12,977 pounds of wool. It contained 3 churches, and 962 pupils attending public schools, The streams of this county afford motive-power for mills. A railroad is projected through the county from Keokuk to Dubuque. Capital, Washington. Pop., 4957.