Washington is a city in Ozan Township, Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 180 at the 2010 census, up from 148 in 2000. It is part of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city is house to Historic Washington State Park.

From its establishment in 1824, Washington was an important stop on the rugged Southwest Trail for pioneers traveling to Texas. That same year it was established as the “seat of justice” for that area, and in 1825 the Hempstead County Court of Common Pleas was established, located in a building build up next approach to a tavern owned by early resident Elijah Stuart. Between 1832 and 1839 thousands of Choctaw American Indians passed through Washington on their mannerism to Indian Territory. Frontiersmen and national heroes James Bowie, Sam Houston and Davy Crockett everything traveled through Washington en route to the Alamo. Houston is believed to have planned parts of the revolt strategy in a tavern in Washington during 1834. James Black, a Washington blacksmith, is approved with creating a knife which became known as the iconic Bowie knife, carried by James Bowie.

During the War in imitation of Mexico, beginning in 1846, Washington became a rally reduction for volunteer troops on their artifice to serve afterward the US Army. Later, the town became a major service middle for area planters, merchants and professionals. Following the take possession of of Little Rock by the Union Army in 1863, the pro-Confederate States of America state giving out moved the state executive offices to Hot Springs for a sudden time, then ultimately based the state paperwork out of Washington, making it the (rebel) state capital until 1865. Albert G. Simms (1882–1964), a United States representative from New Mexico, was born here. Following the construction of the Cairo and Fulton railroad eight miles to the south of Washington, which linked much of the make a clean breast with Little Rock, the town began a slow decline. Now located on the area’s primary travel route, Hope took on Washington’s formerly important role.

Washington is in north-central Hempstead County, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Hope, the county seat. U.S. Route 278 passes through Washington as Columbus Street, leading southeast to Hope and northwest 19 miles (31 km) to Nashville. Arkansas Highway 195 has its northern terminus in Washington and leads southwest 14 miles (23 km) to Fulton on the Red River.