William Penn, Jr., owner of the 7,600-acre tract around Norristown, sold it to Isaac Norris and William Trent for 50 cents an acre in 1704. It became a crossroads for colonial merchants and soldiers; Washington's army camped nearby. Dutch, German, Swedish, Welsh, and English immigrants left their mark on the city. Today Norristown, still a transportation hub, houses many industries and serves as a county government center.