Named after George Washington, the small Missouri town of Washington (sometimes called Washmo by locals) is historic, charming, and as friendly as they come. The quaint and peaceful town is an ideal place to raise a family with seasonal weather, lovely parks and an exciting historic district. The history of this town, as a matter of fact, is one of the richest in the state. That is partially because the town’s history begins differently than most American communities. It lies along the Missouri River making it a particularly coveted piece of land. This town was first settled during the rule of the Spanish Empire and was the site of the Spanish log fort, San Juan del Misuri. It was later settled by family and followers of Daniel Boone and the settlement was called Washington Landing. But, the town’s story doesn’t end there. As the Civil War began, many abolitionist German families started and quickly displaced the existing population of slave owners, at which time the town became a strong supporter of the Union. Because of its rich and fascinating history, the town of Washington has 445 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a state record and a huge number of buildings for such a small town. The seasonal weather makes walking downtown more pleasant in the warmer seasons. However, the buildings are a great way to get in from the cold and check out the local history and culture. In the warmer seasons, there is a Farmer’s Market downtown which is a great place to visit with community members, buy locally grown produce, and procure the freshest and most nutritious foods in the area. However, it is closed through the late fall and into the winter due to the cold. You will need to check it out before the weather chills.