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Washington, a town in the North East of England, lies between the River Wear and the River Tyne. It is bounded by the A1(M) motorway and is easily reached from anywhere in the country. Settlement in the area dates back to the Middle Stone Age. Later the Romans, Anglo Saxons and Normans inhabited the region. It is famous as being the first 'Washington' in the world, and is renowned as the ancestral home of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The original Washington family coat of arms, 'argent, two bar and in chief three mullets gules' was adopted by George Washington's ancestor in 1183, and later formed the basis of the USA flag, the Stars and Stripes. Once a thriving coal mining area, Washington had a population of only 1190 in 1801. However, with its designation as a New Town in 1964, it is estimated that its population will eventually reach 80,000.

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