Washington County has a rich heritage beginning with the Native
Americans who inhabited this fertile coastal peninsula for thousands
of years before the appearance of the first European settlers.
During the Colonial period, the Albemarle Sound southern shore
experienced growth by immigration from the north, mostly spillover
from Virginia and the northern side of the sound. It was during this
period that Brick House Landing was established as an important
riverport, and gained its current name of "Plymouth" from the
large number of ships and sailors from Plymouth, Massachusetts who
frequented the port. Prosperity abounded during the Antebellum
period, with the establishment of large plantations and the growth
of the naval stores trade. The Civil War brought both fame and
destruction to the area, with Plymouth being a hotly contested
strategic port for both the Union and the Confederacy. The 1864
Battle of Plymouth was the last major Confederate victory of the
War, and the town was heavily damaged during the conflict. The
Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound have, from the beginning, been the
lifeline of this remote agricultural area, both from a
transportation and subsistence standpoint, with fishing and maritime
trades a mainstay of income and commerce for generations.
We hope you will dig deeper through the "layers" of our rich
history, and learn more about this unique part of the world. Follow
the "History & Heritage Topics" above to explore whatever areas interest you. We are sure you will find unexpected treasures and whet your
appetite to learn more.