History
One of 62 counties in the State of New York, Washington County was founded as Charlotte County in 1772 and later named after our first president in 1784. With 30 departments ranging from the approximately 200 employees of Pleasant Valley and 140 employees of the Department of Social Services to the one member of the Department of Weights and Measures, Washington County is charged with providing necessary and incidental services to its 62,000 citizens.
Washington County is governed by a Board of Supervisors (B.O.S.) which is comprised of the town supervisors from each of the County's 17 towns. Votes are calculated on a weighted basis reflecting the population base of each town. The Board of Supervisors is the chief legislative and executive body of the County and makes the laws and resolutions which govern the County's operations.