Washington, D.C.

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District of Columbia
Flag Official seal of District of Columbia Seal
Nickname(s):  DC, The District
Motto:  Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All)
Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia
Country	United States
Federal District	District of Columbia
Government
• Mayor	Adrian Fenty (D)
• D.C. Council	Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack Evans (D) Ward 3: Mary Cheh (D) Ward 4: Muriel Bowser (D) Ward 5: Harry Thomas, Jr. (D) Ward 6: Tommy Wells (D) Ward 7: Yvette Alexander (D) Ward 8: Marion Barry (D) At-Large: Carol Schwartz (R) At-Large: David Catania (I) At-Large: Phil Mendelson (D) At-Large: Kwame R. Brown (D)
Area
• City	68.3 sq mi (177.0 km2)
• Land	61.4 sq mi (159.0 km2)
• Water	6.9 sq mi (18.0 km2)
Elevation	0–409 ft (0–125 m)
Population  (2007)
• City	588,292
• Density	9,015/sq mi (3,481/km2)
• Metro	5.30 million
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Website	http://www.dc.gov/

Washington, D.C., (Template:PronEng) (commonly referred to as Washington; the District; or simply D.C.) is the capital of the United States founded on July 16, 1790. Washington (the city) covers the same area as (i.e. is coterminous with) the District of Columbia and are considered to be the same entity. The centers of all three branches of the Federal government of the United States are located in the District. Also situated in the city are the headquarters of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other national and international institutions, including trade unions and professional associations.

The District of Columbia is located on the banks of the Potomac River and bordered by Virginia to the southwest and Maryland to the northwest, northeast, and southeast. The city was planned and developed in the late 18th century to serve as the permanent national capital; the federal district was formed to keep the national capital distinct from the states. As such, pursuant to Article One of the United States Constitution, the United States Congress has supreme authority over the District, which results in residents of the city having less self-governance than residents of the states. The District has a non-voting at-large Congressional delegate, but no senators.

If Washington, D.C. were a state, it would rank last in area (behind Rhode Island), second to last in population (ahead of Wyoming), first in population density, 35th in gross state product, and first in percentage of African Americans, which would make Washington, D.C. a minority-majority state.

History

Main article: History of Washington, D.C.

Pierre Charles L'Enfant's Plan of the City of Washington, as revised by Andrew Ellicott

James Madison first brought up the need for a Federal district in The Federalist No. 43. He argued that the national capital needed to be distinct from the states in order to provide for its own maitenance and safety. The need for security was emphasized in June 1783 when the Congress in Philadelphia was left defenseless during an attack by a mob of angry soldiers. The location of the new capital was agreed upon at a dinner between Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson. In return for Madison agreeing to allow the Federal government to assume debt carried by the states, Hamilton agreed for the new capital to be located in the South. On July 16, 1790, the Residence Act established the District as the new permanent capital to be located on the Potomac River.

The exact site on the Potomac River was chosen by George Washington and the city was named in his honor on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, President Washington never referred to it as such; he preferred to call it "the Federal City" instead. Despite choosing the site and living nearby at Mount Vernon, he rarely visited the city. The federal district was named the District of Columbia because Columbia was a poetic name for the United States used at the time.

The initial plan for the "Federal District" was a diamond, measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side, totaling 100 square miles (259 km²). As originally platted, the District of Columbia was carved out of two adjacent counties - one in Virginia, one in Maryland — and the portion from each state was organized as a separate county. Alexandria County was on the south bank of the Potomac and the County of Washington was on the north bank. In 1791–92, Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker surveyed the border of the District with both Maryland and Virginia, placing boundary stones at every mile point; many of which are still standing.

View of Washington, D.C., from Arlington

The plans for the City of Washington were largely the work of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French-born architect, engineer, and city planner who first arrived in the American colonies as a military engineer with Major General Lafayette. L'Enfant drew up a basic plan for Washington, D.C. in 1791; the planned city's layout was modeled in the Baroque style, which incorporated broad avenues radiating out from traffic circles, providing for maximum open space and landscaping. As constructed, Washington City was centered on its current area but ended at present-day Rock Creek Park to the west, "Boundary Street" (now Florida Avenue) and Benning Road to the north, and the Potomac and Anacostia rivers to the south and east. Although the new City of Washington was constructed in the geographic and geometric center of the federal territory, there were also a number of other communities located in the District of Columbia including Georgetown, "Tennally's Town" (i.e. Tenleytown), and a village commonly known today as "Anacostia." In time, all of these communities would be annexed by the City of Washington.

The cornerstone of the White House, the first newly constructed building of the new capital, was laid on October 13, 1792.

19th century

The enormous complex of defenses that protected Washington, D.C. (1865).

On August 24, 1814, British forces burned the capital during the most notable raid of the War of 1812 in retaliation for the sacking and burning of York (modern-day Toronto). Initially, the British had approached the city hoping to secure a truce but were fired upon, which ultimately led to the sacking of government buildings. President James Madison and U.S. forces fled before the British arrived. The Capitol, Treasury and White House were burned and gutted. The Washington Navy Yard was also burned, but by American sailors, to keep ships and stores from falling into the hands of the British.

Ford's Theatre in the 19th century — photo by Mathew Brady.

During the 1830s, the population of the Alexandria County was unhappy with their economic conditions and resented the heavy competition with the port of Georgetown, Maryland, which was further inland. At the time, the District was home to one of the largest slave trading operations in the country and the people of Alexandria feared greater economic hardship if slavery was outlawed in the capital as was rumored. A referendum to ask Congress to retrocede Alexandria back to the Commonwealth of Virginia succeeded in 1846 and Congress complied on July 9 of that year. The slave trade, though not slavery, was outlawed in the capital as part of the Compromise of 1850.

Main article: Washington, D.C. in the American Civil War

Washington remained a relative small city until the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. The significant expansion of the federal government as a result of the war led to notable growth in the city's population, as did a large influx of freed slaves. By the 1870s, the District's population had grown to nearly 132,000 and Washington was given a territorial government; however, the new governor, Alexander Robey Shepherd, earned a reputation for extravagance, which resulted in Congress abolishing his office in favor of direct rule. Congressional governance of the District would continue for a century.

20th century

Crowds surrounding the Reflecting Pool, during the 1963 March on Washington

Washington's population remained relatively stable until Great Depression in the 1930s. Washington's population grew dramatically in the period between the start of the depression and the end of World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal legislation led to growth in the federal bureaucracy as did World War II in the 1940s. The District's population peaked in 1950, when the census recorded the District's population at 802,178 people.

After the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968, riots broke out in some sections of the city. The violence raged for four days, and many stores and other buildings were burned. At one point, the rioters came within two blocks of the White House. President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered over 13,000 federal troops to occupy the city — the largest occupation of an American city since the Civil War.

In 1973, Congress enacted the District of Columbia Self-Rule and Governmental Reorganization Act, providing for an elected mayor and city council for the District. With this change, Walter Washington became the first elected and first African American mayor of Washington, D.C. in 1975. In 1979, Marion Barry was elected mayor and then reelected twice more, serving three successive four-year terms. After his arrest for drug use in an FBI sting operation on January 18, 1990, and sentence to a six-month jail term, Barry did not seek re-election. His successor, Sharon Pratt Kelly, became the first black woman to lead a U.S. city of Washington's size. Barry ran again in 1994, defeating Kelly in the Democratic primary and winning the general election for mayor. During his fourth term, the city became nearly insolvent and was forced to give up some home rule to a congressionally appointed financial control board.

21st century

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757, was hijacked and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37AM, just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, causing a partial collapse of one side of the building. Al-Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah told American officials while under interrogation that the White House was the intended target. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh have said that the United States Capitol was the intended target of another hijacked flight that same day, United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Washington, D.C.

See also: List of neighborhoods of the District of Columbia by ward

Topography

Washington, D.C. is divided into four quadrants.

Washington, D.C., is located at 38°53′42″N 77°02′11″W (the coordinates of the Zero Milestone, on the Ellipse). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 68.3 square miles (177.0 km²). 61.4 square miles (159.0 km²) of it is land and 6.9 square miles (18.0 km²) of it (10.16%) is water.

Washington is surrounded by the states of Maryland (on its southeast, northeast and northwest sides) and Virginia (on its western side). The District interrupts those states' common border, the Potomac River, both upstream and downstream from the District. The Potomac River, as it passes Washington, is almost entirely within the District of Columbia due to a colonial-era riparian rights agreement between Maryland and Virginia before the District was established. Washington has three major natural flowing streams: the Potomac River, the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. The Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac River. There are also three man-made reservoirs located in the city: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District into Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir.

The highest natural point in the District of Columbia is 409 feet (125 m) above sea level in Tenleytown. The lowest point is sea level, which occurs along all of the Anacostia shore and all of the Potomac shore except the uppermost portion (the Little Falls area, upstream of Chain Bridge).

Washington, D.C. is divided into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. The axes bounding the quadrants radiate from the U.S. Capitol building. The quadrants are not equal in size; Northwest is the largest quadrant, followed by Northeast, then Southeast, and finally Southwest. As a result, the geographic center of the District of Columbia is located near 4th Street NW, L Street NW, and New York Avenue NW.

Climate

Washington has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). Its climate is typical of Mid-Atlantic U.S. areas removed from bodies of water, with four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are mild with low humidty and high temperatures in April and October averaging in the high 60s to low 70s in °F (about 20 °C). Winter brings sustained cool temperatures and occasional snowfall. Average highs tend to be in the low 40s (6 to 8 °C) and lows in the mid 20s (-5 to -2 °C) from mid-December to mid-February. Additionally, Arctic air can lower nighttime lows into the teens, even in the city. Summer tends to be hot and humid with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s to low 90s (about 30 to 33 °C). The combination of heat and humidity in the summer brings very frequent thunderstorms, some of which occasionally produce tornadoes in the area.

While hurricanes (or their remnants) occasionally track through the area in late summer and early fall, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington partly due to the city's inland location. Flooding of the Potomac River, however, caused by a combination of high tide, storm surge, and runoff, has been known to cause extensive property damage in Georgetown as well as in nearby Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

The average annual rainfall is 39.3 inches (998 mm) and average annual snowfall is 16.6 inches (422 mm). Some outlying suburbs to the north and west receive upwards of six more inches of snowfall each year. The average annual temperature is 57.5 °F (14.1 °C). The highest recorded temperature was 106 °F (41 °C) on July 20, 1930 and August 6, 1918, while the lowest recorded temperature was -15 °F (-26 °C) on February 11, 1899, during the Great Blizzard of 1899. The city averages 36.7 days hotter than 90 °F (32 °C), and only 64.4 nights below freezing.

Nature

See also: List of parks in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area

Most of the natural habitat in Washington, D.C., is managed by the U.S. National Park Service, including Rock Creek Park, the National Mall, Theodore Roosevelt Island, and Anacostia Park. The U.S. Department of Agriculture operates the U.S. National Arboretum while various other federal agencies, both military and civilian, have minor holdings of wild land within the District. The Great Falls of the Potomac River are located upstream (i.e. northwest) of Washington. George Washington once surveyed this area for a "Pawtomack" Canal that would allow barge traffic to bypass the falls. The Potomac Gorge, also known as Mather Gorge, cuts into hard metamorphic bedrock and extends from Great Falls downstream to Georgetown, Rosslyn, Virginia, and Theodore Roosevelt Island, all located at the boundary between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain.

The Potomac River was once called a "national disgrace" by President Lyndon Johnson, who lobbied for the passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act in 1966. The river is now home to a vibrant warm-water fishery and naturally reproducing Bald Eagles have returned to its banks. Despite its intensely urbanized landscape, the District of Columbia is a center for research on urban wildlife management, invasive species management, urban stream restoration, and the aquatic ecology of urban streams. The National Park Service's Center For Urban Ecology is a regional source of expertise and applied science on "land use change and urban development, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem processes" for the region.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Washington, D.C.

Historic sites and museums

See also: List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C. and List of museums in Washington, D.C.

The Jefferson Memorial at dusk

Washington is home to numerous national landmarks. The National Mall is a large, open park area in the center of the city featuring many monuments to American leaders. Located prominently in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument. Other notable points of interest on the Mall include the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial at the east end of the reflecting pool, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Albert Einstein Memorial. Also located on the mall, the National Archives houses thousands of documents important to American history including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Magna Carta.

File:White House Front Image.jpg

Front View of the White House

The Tidal Basin is located directly south of the mall and features rows of Japanese cherry blossom trees that were presented as gifts from the nation of Japan to the city as a symbol of friendship in 1912 and again in 1965 after World War II. Each year the Tidal Basin hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which draws thousands tourists to Washington when the trees are in peak bloom. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the District of Columbia War Memorial are also located around the Tidal Basin.

Smithsonian Castle

Native American Indian Museum

The Smithsonian Institution is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and the city is home to most of its museums and galleries. The Smithsonian is chartered and partially funded by the U.S. government, making the Smithsonian's museums and galleries open to the public free of charge. The most visited of the Smithsonian museums is the National Air and Space Museum located on the National Mall. The Air and Space Museum features exhibits on the history of human aviation and space exploration and houses the Albert Einstein Planetarium. Other Smithsonian Institution museums and galleries located on the mall are: the National Museum of African Art; the National Museum of American History; the National Museum of Natural History; the National Museum of the American Indian; the Sackler and Freer galleries, which both focus on Asian art and culture; the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; the Arts and Industries Building, the original Smithsonian museum; and the Smithsonian Institution Building (also known as "The Castle"), which contains a few exhibits and serves as the Smithsonian Institution's headquarters.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (formerly known as the National Museum of American Art) and the National Portrait Gallery are located in the same building, the Donald W. Reynolds Center, near Washington's Chinatown. The Renwick Gallery is also officially part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum but is located in a separate building near the White House. The Reynolds Center was known as the Old Patent Office Building until 2006, and many still refer to the building using its former name. Other Smithsonian museums and galleries include: the Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast Washington; the National Postal Museum near Union Station; and the National Zoo in Woodley Park. The National Zoo features exhibits and provides education about unique animals, including the zoo's famous giant pandas. Recently however, the National Zoo has been criticized for mismanagement and an overall degradation in quality. A new master plan introduced in 2008 provides for major changes to the park including redesigning exhibits, a new visitors center, and constructing an aerial tram.

Interior of the National Gallery of Art, East Wing

Night view of The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and US Capitol, 2007

The National Gallery of Art is situated prominently on the National Mall near the Capitol, but is not a part of the Smithsonian Institution; it is instead wholly owned by the U.S. government. As a government institution, admission to the gallery is also free. The gallery's west wing features the nation's collection of American and European art through the 19th century. The east wing, designed by architect I.M. Pei, features works of modern art. The National Gallery also has its own sculpture garden located next to the west gallery. Given the similarities in their names and collections, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are often confused with the National Gallery of Art when they are in fact entirely separate institutions. The National Building Museum, located near Judiciary Square, is also chartered by Congress and hosts temporary and traveling exhibits.

There are many private art museums in the District of Columbia, which house major collections and exhibits open to the public such as: the National Museum of Women in the Arts; the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the largest private museum in Washington; and The Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle, the first museum of modern art in the United States. However, as they are not chartered or funded directly by the U.S. government, there is often a fee for admission to these galleries. Other private museums in Washington include the Newseum, the International Spy Museum, the National Geographic Society museum, and the Marian Koshland Science Museum. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum located near the National Mall maintains exhibits, documentation, and artifacts related to The Holocaust.

Other points of interest in the District include: the United States Capitol; the White House; the Library of Congress; the Supreme Court; the Washington National Cathedral in upper Northwest; the United States Navy Memorial in Penn Quarter; the Arena Stage; the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; the National Arboretum; the Folger Shakespeare Library; Ford's Theatre; the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; the African American Civil War Memorial on U Street; the Old Stone House, the oldest standing building in the District; the Mount St. Sepulchre Franciscan Monastery; and the Victims of Communism Memorial.

Performing arts and music

Main articles: Music of Washington, D.C. and Theater in Washington D.C.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Washington, D.C. is a major national center for the arts. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, and the Washington Ballet. The Kennedy Center Honors are awarded each year to those in the performing arts who have contributed greatly to the cultural life of the United States. The President and First Lady typically attend the Honors ceremony, as the First Lady is the honorary chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

Arena Stage, one of the nation's first non-profit regional theaters, produces an eight-show season that features classic works and new American plays. The Shakespeare Theatre Company, a non-profit theatre founded in 1985, is regarded as "one of the world's three great Shakespearean theatres" for its reinterpretations and production of classical plays. Other professional theaters such as The Studio Theatre and the National Theatre bring Broadway and other critically-acclaimed productions to Washington.

Some of Washington's neighborhoods are renowned for the performing arts. The U Street Corridor in Northwest Washington, known as "Washington's Black Broadway", is home to institutions like the Lincoln Theatre which hosted music legends such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. The U Street area has dozens of clubs and restaurants, such as Bohemian Caverns and Twins, that feature near-nightly jazz performances. Other jazz venues feature modern blues such as Madam's Organ in Adams Morgan and Blues Alley in Georgetown.

D.C. has its own native music genre called go-go; a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of R&B that blends live sets with relentless dance rhythms, so called because they "go and go and go." The most accomplished practitioner was D.C. band leader Chuck Brown, who brought go-go to the brink of national recognition with his 1979 LP Bustin' Loose.

Washington is also an important center for indie culture and music in the United States. The label Dischord Records, formed by Ian MacKaye, was one of the most crucial independent labels in the genesis of 80's punk and eventually indie rock in the 1990s. Washington's indie label history includes TeenBeat, Dischord Records, Simple Machines, and ESL Music among others. Modern alternative and indie music venues like The Black Cat and the 9:30 Club near U Street bring popular acts to smaller more-intimate venues.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Washington, D.C.

See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports

MCI Center, now the Verizon Center, home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

Washington, D.C. is home to five major professional mens' teams. The Washington Wizards (NBA) and the Washington Capitals (NHL) both play at the Verizon Center (right) in Chinatown. Nationals Park, which opened in Southeast D.C. in 2008, is home to the Washington Nationals (MLB). The D.C. United (MLS) play at RFK Stadium. The Washington Redskins (NFL) play at nearby FedExField in Landover, Maryland.

The Washington area is also home to a number of women's professional sports teams. The Washington Mystics (WNBA) play at the Verizon Center and the Washington Glory (National Pro Fastpitch softball) play at Westfield H.S. Sports Complex in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Washington Freedom are set to be revived in 2009 within the Women's Professional Soccer league, the successor to the WUSA. Other professional and semi-professional teams based in Washington include: the Washington Bayhawks (Major League Lacrosse), who play at George Mason Stadium; the Washington D.C. Slayers (American National Rugby League); the Potomac Mavericks (PIHA); the Baltimore Washington Eagles (USAFL); the D.C. Divas (NWFA); the D.C. Explosion (Minor League Football); and the Washington RFC (Rugby Super League).

Washington is one of only 13 cities in the United States with a team from all four major mens' sports: football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. When soccer is included, Washington is one of only 8 cities to have all five professional mens' sports. D.C. has won a combined 13 professional league championships: the Washington Redskins have won 5; the D.C. United has won 4 (the most in MLS history); the Washington Bayhawks have won 2; and the Washington Wizards and the Washington Glory have each won a single championship. The Legg Mason Tennis Classic, part of the US Open Series, is held at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park. The Marine Corps Marathon and the National Marathon are both held annually in Washington. The D.C. area is also home to one regional sports television network, Comcast SportsNet (CSN), based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Media

See also: List of newspapers in Washington, D.C.; List of radio stations in Washington, D.C.; and List of television shows set in Washington, D.C.

Newspaper Row, Washington, D.C., 1874

Washington, D.C. is prominent in national and international media. The Washington Post is the oldest and most-read local daily newspaper in Washington, founded in 1877. It is probably most notable for coverage of national and international politics as well as exposing the Watergate scandal. "The Post," as it is popularly called, continues to print only three editions, one for each of the local jurisdictions. Even without expanded national editions, the newspaper is considered to be one of the most important news dailies in the country. The Washington Post Company also has a daily free commuter newspaper called the Express, which summarizes events, sports and entertainment, as well as the Spanish-language paper El Tiempo Latino. The Washington Times, a conservative daily, and the weekly alternative Washington City Paper also have substantial readership in the Washington area. A number of community and specialty papers focus on neighborhood and cultural issues including: the weekly Washington Blade and Metro Weekly, which focus on GLBT issues; and the Washington Informer and The Washington Afro American, which focus on topics of interest to the black community.

NPR headquarters in Mount Vernon Square

The Washington Metropolitan Area is also the ninth largest television media market in the U.S., with 2,308,290 homes (2.05% of the U.S. population). Major television network affiliates include WRC 4 (NBC), WTTG 5 (FOX), WJLA 7 (ABC), WUSA 9 (CBS), WDCW 50 (The CW), WDCA 20 (MyNetworkTV), as well as WETA 26 and WHUT 32 (PBS) stations. Spanish-language television is also represented by WZDC-LP 25 (Telemundo),WMDO-CA 47 (TeleFutura), and WFDC-TV 14 (Univision). Given its proximity, many Baltimore-area television stations can also be seen in the Washington region.

Several cable television networks have their headquarters in Washington, D.C. including C-SPAN, Black Entertainment Television (BET), and the National Geographic Channel. The headquarters of Discovery Communications is located in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. National Public Radio (NPR) is also headquartered in Washington, D.C., as is XM Satellite Radio and Voice of America, the U.S. government's international broadcast news service. Radio One, the largest African American media conglomerate founded by media mogul Cathy Hughes, is also located in Washington, D.C.

Economy

See also: Category:Companies based in Washington, D.C.

Unemployment in the District of Columbia, ranging from 1.5% in Upper Northwest to 16.3% in Ward 8.

Washington, D.C. has a growing, diversified economy with an increasing percentage of professional and business service jobs. As of March 2008, the federal government accounted for about 27 percent of the jobs in Washington, D.C.. Many other businesses such as law firms, independent contractors (both defense and civilian), nonprofit organizations, lobbying firms, national associations of labor and professional groups, catering, and administrative services companies are directly or indirectly sustained by the federal government. It is thought that Washington is relatively immune to downturns in the national economy because the federal government, and those who work with it, continue operations even during economic recessions.

The city also serves as an economic anchor to the metropolitan area. Many of the jobs in D.C. are filled by commuters from the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, thereby contributing to the economic growth of both states. Further, the presence of many major government agencies outside of the District, including the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration, has led to additional economic development in the D.C. area. As of March 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Area had an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent; the lowest rate among the 40 largest metro areas in the nation. It is also significantly lower than the national average unemployment rate of 5.2 percent.

Washington also has growing industry unrelated to government, especially in the areas of education, finance and scientific research. The George Washington University, Georgetown University, Washington Hospital Center, Howard University, and Fannie Mae are the top five non-government-related employers in the city. There are also five Fortune 1000 companies based in Washington (two of which are also Fortune 500 companies). The city has also become a leader in global real estate investment, behind London, New York City, and Paris. In 2006, Expansion Magazine ranked D.C. among the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation for climates favorable to business expansion. Washington, D.C. also has the 3rd largest downtown in the United States in terms of commercial office space, directly behind New York City and Chicago.

Gentrification efforts are also taking hold in Washington, D.C., reviving once-decaying neighborhoods into thriving urban centers. Most notable are the changes made in the U Street Corridor, Logan Circle, the 14th Street Corridor, Shaw, and Columbia Heights. A new shopping mall opened in Columbia Heights in March 2008 represents the first new major retail center in the District in 40 years. The gross state product of the District in 2006 was $87.664 billion, ranking at number 35 when compared with the fifty states. The District also had an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent as of March 2008; however, that rate fluctuates greatly within the city from 1.5 percent in affluent Ward 4, to 16.3 percent in Ward 8 (see above).

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Washington, D.C.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	8,144		—
1810	15,471		90.0%
1820	23,336		50.8%
1830	30,261		29.7%
1840	33,745		11.5%
1850	51,687		53.2%
1860	75,080		45.3%
1870	131,700		75.4%
1880	177,624		34.9%
1890	230,392		29.7%
1900	278,718		21.0%
1910	331,069		18.8%
1920	437,571		32.2%
1930	486,869		11.3%
1940	663,091		36.2%
1950	802,178		21.0%
1960	763,956		−4.8%
1970	756,510		−1.0%
1980	638,333		−15.6%
1990	606,900		−4.9%
2000	572,059		−5.7%
2007 (est.)	588,292

Demographics of District of Columbia (csv)

By race	White	Black	AIAN*	Asian	NHPI*
2000 (total population)	35.34%	61.96%	0.86%	3.17%	0.14%
2000 (Hispanic only)	6.43%	1.34%	0.17%	0.09%	0.03%
2005 (total population)	39.02%	58.04%	0.92%	3.59%	0.14%
2005 (Hispanic only)	7.05%	1.48%	0.17%	0.10%	0.02%
Growth 2000–05 (total population)	6.25%	-9.85%	2.84%	9.05%	-2.22%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only)	6.41%	-10.22%	4.41%	9.25%	6.78%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only)	5.52%	6.98%	-3.49%	2.58%	-34.66%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

The current 2007 U.S. Census Bureau data estimates the District's population at 588,292 residents, continuing a trend of population growth in the city since the 2000 Census. The trend reverses what had been a 50-year decline in the District's population. During the workweek, however, the number of commuters from the suburbs into the city swells the District's population an estimated 71.8% to a daytime population over one million people. The Washington Metropolitan Area, which includes the surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia, is the eighth-largest in the United States with more than five million residents. When combined with Baltimore and its suburbs, the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area has a population exceeding eight million residents, the fourth-largest in the country.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are 572,059 people, 248,338 households, and 114,235 families residing in the city. Even though they comprise the city's largest ethnic group, Washington has a steadily declining African American population, due to many middle-class and professional African Americans leaving the city for suburbs. At the same time, the city's white population has steadily increased, in part due to effects of gentrification in many of Washington's traditionally black neighborhoods. Also using data from the 2000 census, it is estimated that there are 33,000 gay, lesbian, or bisexual adults in the District of Columbia, about 6 percent of the city's population; double the national average of 2.9 percent.

"Friendship Arch" in Chinatown

The median income for a household in the city was $40,127, and the median income for a family was $46,283. Males had a median income of $40,513 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,659. About 16.7% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.1% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those over age 65. According to Forbes magazine it is also the 9th-wealthiest U.S. city by median household income. More than half of its residents having an income of $46,500 a year; the average home costs $429,900. Nevertheless, there is a sharp divide between the affluent and poor residents of the city.

A 2007 report found that about one-third of Washington residents are functionally illiterate, compared to a national rate of about one in five. This is attributed in part to the 170,000 Hispanic, Ethiopian, and Eritrean immigrants, many of whom are not proficient in English. This shows huge disparities in the city because over 45% of residents have a college degree or higher and it ranks 4th in the nation with that educational attainment. A 2000 study shows that 83.42% of Washington, D.C., residents age 5 and older speak only English at home and 9.18% speak Spanish. French is the third-most-spoken language at 1.67%. According to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey, nearly three out of four District residents identified themselves as Christian. This breaks down to 72% Christian (27% Catholic, 19% Baptist, and 26% other Protestant churches), 13% stating no religion, 4% Buddhist, 2% Muslim, and 1% Jewish.

Law and government

Local government

See also: District of Columbia home rule

The John A. Wilson Building houses the offices of the mayor and council of the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Congress has the ultimate authority over the District of Columbia. This power is given to Congress by Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. The 1973 Home Rule Act devolved certain Congressional powers over the District to a local government administered by an elected mayor and a city council; however, Congress retains the right to review and overturn laws created by the city council and intervene in local affairs.

The city is currently administered by Mayor Adrian Fenty and the Council of the District of Columbia. The council is composed of 13 members: one elected from each of the city's eight wards and five members, including the chairman, elected at large. The council conducts its work through standing committees and special committees established as needed. District schools are administered by a chancellor, who is appointed by the mayor. In addition, a Superintendent of Education and a Board of Education are responsible for setting some educational policies. There are 37 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) elected by small neighborhood districts. Suggestions made by ANCs are required to be given "great weight" by the D.C. Council and city agencies.

The mayor and council adopt a budget, which Congress has the right to change. Local income, sales, and property taxes provide most of the revenue to fund city government agencies and services. Like the 50 states, D.C. also receives funds for federal grants and assistance programs like Medicare. Congress also appropriates money directly to the D.C. government to help offset some of the city's costs; these funds totaled $38 million in 2007, approximately 0.5 percent of the District's budget. However, in addition to those funds, the Federal government operates the District's court system, which had a budget of $272 million in 2008, and federal law enforcement agencies which help provide security in the city as well.

Historically, the city's local government has earned somewhat of a reputation for mismanagement and waste, particularly during the mayoralty of Marion Barry. A front-page story in the July 20, 1997 Washington Post reported that Washington had some of the highest-cost lowest-quality services in the entire region. However, the administration of Mayor Anthony Williams oversaw a period greater prosperity, urban renewal, and budget surpluses starting in the late 1990s that continues on today. Mayor Adrian Fenty's administration continues to press forward with reforms, especially in the area of education. Despite these gains, the city still faces daunting problems that affect many urban areas such as lack of decent affordable housing and public health problems. In late 2007, the story broke on a scandal at the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue that involved city employees embezzling over $44 million in city funds by writing fraudulent tax refund checks. The situation resulted in a black mark for the Fenty administration, which had made regaining the public trust a top priority.

There is general support for same-sex unions, including marriage, in the District of Columbia due to the city's relatively liberal political climate and gay population; however, due to Congressional oversight, any attempt at legalizing same-sex marriage would likely be overturned. The D.C. Council passed domestic partnership legislation in 1992, but Congress forbid implementation of the law until 2002. On May 6, 2008 the D.C. Council unanimously passed the Omnibus Domestic Partnership Equality Amendment Act of 2008, which expanded domestic partner legislation to include nearly all the same legal rights as marriage; in effect, creating civil unions like those found in other states. Both same-sex and mixed-sex couples may register. Employees of the District government and their partners are eligible for the same benefits as married couples.

Federal representation and taxation

File:Capitol Building Side.jpg

The U.S. Capitol sits prominently east of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Citizens of the District of Columbia have no voting representation in Congress. They are represented in the House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C. At-Large), who sits on committees, participates in debate, may vote in committee, and may introduce legislation, but cannot vote on the House floor. D.C. has no representation at all in the Senate. Unlike U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico or Guam, which also have non-voting delegates, citizens of the District of Columbia are subject to all U.S. federal laws and taxes. In the financial year 2005, D.C. residents and businesses paid $18.1 billion in federal taxes; higher than the federal taxes collected from 20 other states. The District also pays the most federal taxes per capita.

A 2005 poll found that 78 percent of Americans did not know that residents of the District of Columbia have less representation in Congress than residents of the 50 states. Efforts to raise awareness about the issue have included campaigns by organizations like D.C. Vote as well as featuring the city's unofficial motto, "Taxation Without Representation," on D.C. vehicle license plates. In a show of support for the city, President Bill Clinton used the "Taxation Without Representation" plates on the Presidential limousine; however, President George W. Bush had the tags replaced to those without the motto shortly upon taking office.

There is nationwide approval of D.C. voting rights; various polls indicate that 61 to 82 percent of Americans believe that D.C. should have voting representation in Congress. Despite public support, attempts to grant the District voting representation, including the D.C. statehood movement and the proposed District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment, have been unsuccessful. The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution allows residents of Washington, D.C. to participate in presidential elections; the District is afforded three electoral votes in the selection of the President.

Crime

Crime in the District of Columbia is least common in Northwest Washington and becomes more widespread further east.

Main article: Crime in Washington, D.C.

See also: Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

During the violent crime wave of the early 1990s, Washington, D.C., was known as the "murder capital" of the United States and often rivaled New Orleans in the number of homicides. The number of murders peaked in 1991 at 482, but the level of violence declined drastically in the 1990s. By 2006, the annual murder count in the city had declined to 169. Other forms of property crime, including thefts and robberies, also declined by similar percentages. Despite the declining trends, the FBI's 2006 Uniform Crime Report still ranks overall crime in Washington as the seventh-highest in the nation among cities with populations over 250,000.

Like most large cities, crime is typically restricted to specific areas that are associated with illegal drugs and gangs. The more affluent neighborhoods of Northwest Washington experience low levels of crime, but the incidence of crime increases as one goes further east (see map at right). Once plagued with violent crime, many D.C. neighborhoods such as Columbia Heights and Logan Circle are becoming safe and vibrant areas due to the effects of gentrification. As a result, crime in the District is being displaced even further east and across the border into Prince George's County, Maryland.

On March 16, 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. The plaintiffs in the case argue that the District of Columbia's 36-year-old ban on handguns violates their Second Amendment rights to gun ownership. City leaders, including Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. Chief of Police Cathy Lanier, are in favor of the ban. A decision is expected in June 2008.

Education

Primary and secondary education

See also: List of parochial and private schools in Washington, D.C.

Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School

The public school system in the city is operated by District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and currently consists of 167 schools and learning centers. In the 2007-2008 school year, 49,076 students were enrolled in the public school system. Enrollment in DCPS has been steadily decreasing and by next year the city expects total enrollment to fall to 47,700. DCPS has one of the highest-cost yet lowest-performing school systems in the country both in terms of infrastructure and student achievement. DCPS had only one school in the U.S. News and World Report's 2008 ranking of the nation's top 100 high schools. By comparison, suburban Washington public school systems had a total of 14 schools on the list.

Under a massive restructuring of the city's school system in 2007, the D.C. Council granted the mayor's office near-total authority over D.C. public schools. Mayor Fenty's new superintendent of DCPS, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, has made sweeping changes to the school system by cutting administration staff, firing principals, ending teacher seniority, and even closing schools altogher. Due to the problems with the D.C. public school system, enrollment in public charter schools has increased 13 percent each year since 2001. As of fall 2007, D.C. charter schools had a total enrollment of 21,859 students. The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board monitors the 56 public charter schools in the city.

Despite problems with the city's public school system, the District is home to some of the nation's most renowned private high schools. Many important political figures and their children have attended St. Albans and Sidwell Friends, including Chelsea Clinton who attended Sidwell during her father's presidency. Other private institutions include Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, St. Anselm's Abbey School, Washington International School, St. John's College High School, Georgetown Day School, Gonzaga College High School, Holton-Arms School, National Cathedral School, and Maret School.

Colleges and universities

Further information: List of colleges and universities in Washington, D.C.

Howard University's Founders Library.

Washington, D.C. is home to several universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education. The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is the city's public university. It is the nation's only urban land-grant university and is generally considered to be a historically black institution.

The George Washington University (GW) was founded by an Act of Congress in 1821. It is a private, non-sectarian comprehensive university and the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. Its main campus is located in Washington's historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood. Other GW campuses are located in the Foxhall neighborhood of Northwest Washington and in Ashburn, Virginia.

Georgetown University (GU) was founded in 1789 by Bishop John Carroll, making it the oldest university in the District. Founded by Jesuits, Georgetown is also the nation's oldest Roman Catholic-affiliated body of higher education in the country.

American University (AU) was founded by an Act of Congress in 1893 as a private, independent, co-educational institution under the auspices of the United Methodist Church. The university, situated in the Spring Valley neighborhood of upper Northwest, is well known for the Washington College of Law and the schools of public and international service.

The Catholic University of America (CUA), in Northeast, Washington, D.C. is the only institution of higher education founded and operated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. CUA was established in 1887 following approval by Pope Leo XIII as a graduate school and research center; the university began offering undergraduate education in 1904. The Trinity Washington University, located near CUA, was founded in 1897 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as a Catholic liberal arts college for women. Trinity educates only women in its College of Arts and Sciences, but accepts both women and men in the School of Education and School of Professional Studies.

Howard University is a historically black institution dating to the 19th century. The school is notable for having trained many early black physicians as well as Thurgood Marshall, the first black Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Gallaudet University holds distinction as the nation's first and only liberal arts college for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

The The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), located in Dupont Circle, is dedicated to the graduate study of international relations and international economics. Other universities in Washington include: Southeastern University, which concentrates in business studies; the National Defense University at Fort McNair; the National Defense Intelligence College; and the Corcoran College of Art and Design. The Reformed Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, and the Washington Theological Union offer graduate programs in theology.

Infrastructure

Health systems

Main article: Health in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is a national center for patient care and medical research. There is currently a total of 16 medical centers and hospitals located within the District of Columbia. There are also numerous medical research centers in the Washington area, most notably the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Washington Hospital Center (WHC) is the largest hospital campus in the District and is both the largest private and the largest non-profit hospital in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Immediately adjacent to the WHC is the National Rehabilitation Hospital and Children's National Medical Center. Children's is among the highest ranked pediatric hospitals in the country according to U.S. News and World Report and also provides care at 23 regional outpatient centers throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Other prominent hospitals in Washington, D.C. include: the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a 5,500-bed hospital that provides care for active-duty and retired personnel and their dependents; the Veterans Affairs Medical Center; the George Washington University Medical Center; Georgetown University Hospital; Howard University Hospital; Providence Hospital, which was chartered by Abraham Lincoln in 1861 is the city's oldest hospital in continuous operation; the Specialty Hospital of Washington (SHW); Hadley Memorial Hospital; Sibley Memorial Hospital; and United Medical Center (formerly Greater Southeast Community Hospital). Institutions in Washington dedicated to mental health are: St. Elizabeths Hospital, the first federally-funded institution for the mentally ill; Riverside Hospital; and the Psychiatric Institute of Washington.

Utilities

Washington draws its drinking water from the Potomac River. The Washington Aqueduct, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, operates the water supply and treatment facilities, chiefly the Dalecarlia and McMillan reservoirs and water treatment plants. Treated water is distributed by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA). In July 2007, tests showed unsafe levels of chlorine and lead in the water provided to many parts of the city. Even though 6,500 blood samples taken from city residents showed no increased health risk, WASA still plans to replace 29,000 lead service pipes (i.e. the main water lines) by 2010 at an estimated cost of $400 million. A new water treatment technique introduced by WASA is meant to help slow the corrosion of the lead pipes and current tests show lead levels to be within federal limits. WASA plans to have the city's lead pipes completely replaced by 2016.

Transportation

Main articles: Transportation in Washington, D.C. and Streets and highways of Washington, D.C.

A welcome sign on Pennsylvania Avenue

Pierre L'Enfant's original plan for the city provided for a grid of streets and a diagonal array of avenues, all centered on the Capitol building. The north-south streets are primarily named with numbers and the east-west streets with letters. From the Capitol as the center, one set of numbered streets sweeps eastward (1st Street, 2nd Street, etc.) and another set sweeps westward (1st Street, 2nd Street, etc.) Similarly, sets of lettered streets sweep northward from the Capitol (A Street, C Street, etc.) and southward. The diagonal avenues in L'Enfant's plan are chiefly named after states (e.g., Pennsylvania Avenue). As additional territory was incorporated into the City of Washington, such as Georgetown, the grid system was simply extended into those areas.

Street addresses are identified by their location in one of the four quadrants of the city, in their relation to the Capitol building: Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE) and Southwest (SW). Addresses end with a quadrant suffix to indicate the location (e.g. 4th Street NE, 4th Street NW, 4th Street SE or 4th Street SW). Outside the original city boundaries, street layout and naming practices are less regular. However, the alphabetic order of east-west streets, ending with W Street, is in some areas succeeded by an alphabetic progression of two-syllable names (e.g. Adams, Bryant, Channing), followed by a three-syllable progression (e.g. Allison, Buchanan, Crittenden), and then a progression of botanical names (e.g. Aspen, Butternut, Cedar). In 2008, Forbes magazine found that Washington commuters spend 60 hours a year in traffic, which tied Atlanta, Georgia for having the worst traffic in the country after Los Angeles.

Mass transit

Columbia Heights Metro station

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) operates the city's subway system, Metrorail (most often referred to as simply "the Metro"), as well as Metrobus. The Metrorail system opened on March 27, 1976 and presently consists of 86 stations and 106.3 miles (171.1 km) of track; it is the nation's second-busiest subway system after New York City. The subway and bus systems serve both the District of Columbia and the immediate Maryland and Virginia suburbs. The surrounding jurisdictions in the Washington Metropolitan Area also have local bus systems, such as Montgomery County's "Ride On," which compliment service provided by WMATA. A public-private partnership operates DC Circulator buses in downtown D.C. that connect popular destinations such as Georgetown and Union Station. MetroRail, MetroBus and all local public bus systems accept SmarTrip, a reloadable transit pass.

Union Station is the second-busiest train station in the United States, after Penn Station in New York, and serves as the southern terminus of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service. Maryland's MARC and Virginia's VRE commuter trains also provide service into Union Station. Intercity bus service is available from the Greyhound Lines terminal in Northeast D.C. near the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet Metro station. Other private bus lines, such as the low-cost Chinatown "dragon" buses, mainly provide service between Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Aviation

Washington, D.C. is served by three major airports, one in Maryland and two in Virginia. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA) is located just across the Potomac River from downtown D.C. in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the only Washington-area airport that has its own Metrorail station. Reagan National has noise restrictions and extra security precautions given its proximity to the city. Additionally, Reagan National does not have U.S. Customs and Border Protection and therefore can only provide international service to airports which permit United States border preclearance. Those cities include: Nassau; Bermuda; Toronto; Ottawa; and Montréal.

Major international flights arrive and depart from Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD, ICAO: KIAD), located 26.3 miles (42.3 km) west of the city in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. Dulles is the second busiest international gateway on the East Coast. Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (IATA: BWI, ICAO: KBWI), is located 31.7 miles (51.0 km) northeast of the city in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, near Baltimore.

General aviation is additionally available at several smaller airfields, including Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Maryland, College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield in Friendly, Maryland and Manassas Regional Airport. Out of security concerns, general aviation airports closest to Washington, D.C. have had their access limited since 2003 by the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Holidays

Emancipation Day

Washington, D.C. celebrates April 16 as Emancipation Day. On that day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia. The Act freed about 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia nine months before President Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation which presaged the eventual end of slavery to the rest of the nation. The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act represents the only example of compensation by the federal government to free enslaved persons.

The Emancipation Day celebration was held yearly from 1866 to 1901, and was resumed as a tradition and historic celebration in 2002. On January 4, 2005, Mayor Anthony Williams signed legislation making Emancipation Day an official holiday in the District. Each year, a series of activities will be held during the public holiday, including the traditional Emancipation Day parade celebrating the freedom of enslaved persons in the District of Columbia.

In 2007, the observance of this holiday had the effect of nationally extending the 2006 income tax filing deadline from the 16th to the 17th of April, a delay that will recur in April of 2011.

Sister cities

Washington, D.C.'s sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International</ref> are:

• Accra, Ghana
• Athens, Greece
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Beijing, China
• Brazzaville, Congo
• Brussels, Belgium

• Chongqing, China
• Dakar, Senegal
• Paris, France
• Pretoria, South Africa
• Sunderland, United Kingdom
• Seoul, South Korea

See also

• List of people from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area

External links

• Official Website
• Guide to Washington, D.C., Materials from the Library of Congress
• Template:Wikitravel

Webcams

• Washington Monument Capitol Building Potomac River Webcam
• Washington Monument Capitol Building Webcam

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