Washington County is a county located in the southwestern part of Rhode Island, a U.S. state. Washington County borders Kent County to the north, New London County in Connecticut to the west, Suffolk County in New York to the southwest and Newport County, Rhode Island to the east. As of 2000, the population was 123,546.
Originally named King's County and changed to its present name in 1781, the county is usually known within the state as South County.