Washington County was created in 1800 by proclamation of the governor of Mississippi Territory as the first U.S. civil government in the area that was to become Alabama. Its original boundaries extended from the Chattahoochee to the Pearl River, south to 31° latitude, the present Alabama-Florida line, and north to 32° 28', a line just north of Phenix City, Montgomery, and York. From these 25,000 square miles have come 26 counties in Alabama and Mississippi. Before that, the area was claimed by Spain as part of Florida from 1519 to 1700 by discovery, exploration, conquest, and attempted settlement; claimed by France as part of Louisiana from 1700 to 1763 by exploration and settlement; seized by England as part of West Florida from 1763 to 1780 after defeating the French; regained by Spain from 1780 to 1795 during the American Revolution by invasion and occupation; ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1795; and included in the Mississippi Territory created by the U.S. in 1798.