NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Washington DC

Washington, D.C., is the capital city of the United States of America. "D.C." stands for the District of Columbia, the federal district containing the city of Washington. The city is named after George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x782, 340 KB) 030926-F-2828D-080 Washington, D.C. (Sept. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Washington,_D.C..svg The flag of Washington, D.C. It is from openclipart. ... Image File history File links Seal of the District of Columbia This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... It has been proposed below that Flag of Washington, D.C. be renamed and moved to Flag of the District of Columbia. ... The Great Seal of the District of Columbia depicts Lady Justice hanging a wreath on a statue of George Washington; the motto of the District of Columbia, JUSTITIA OMNIBUS (Latin: Justice for All); and 1871, the year of the seals creation. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Bobby, Rab, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Bobadito, Robban, (in Sweden), is short for Robert). ... A motto is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... Image File history File links DC_locator_map_with_state_names_w_usmap. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area Ranked 42nd - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 kmÂ²) - Width 90 miles (145 km) - Length 249 miles (400 km) - % water 21 - Latitude 37Â°53N to 39Â°43N - Longitude 75Â°4W to 79Â°33... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area Ranked 35th - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 7. ... Federal districts are subdivisions of a federal system of government. ... ... A mayor (from the Latin mÄior, meaning larger,greater) is in modern times the title of the highest ranking municipal officer, who discharges certain judicial and administrative functions, in many systems an elected politician, who serves as chief executive and/or ceremonial official of many types of municipalities. ... Anthony Williams Anthony A. Tony Williams (born July 28, 1951) is a United States politician who has served as mayor of Washington, D.C. since 1999. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 kmÂ² and 1000 kmÂ². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... A square mile is an Imperial unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, 1,609. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre (in the U.S., chiefly meter) is a measure of length, approximately equal to 3. ... World map of the population density in 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an Imperial unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, 1,609. ... An urban area is a term used to define an area where there is an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Map of the world color-coded with areas in blue observing daylight saving time. ... EDT (shown in yellow) is UTC-4 The Eastern Time Zone of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of Northern America and the west coast of South America. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | UTC | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7:30 | +8 | +8:30 | +8... Eastern Daylight Time or EDT is equal to: In North America, Eastern Standard Time + 1, or UTC âˆ’ 4 hours. ... for North America see also: Atlantic Standard Time Zone and Eastern Daylight Time Categories: Time zones ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital â€” although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Night view of Taipei City. ... Federal districts are subdivisions of a federal system of government. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 â€“ December 14, 1799) was the Commander in Chief of American forces in the American Revolutionary War (1775â€“1783), and, later, the first President of the United States, an office he held from 1789 to 1797. ... The American Revolution was an upheaval that ended British control of middle North America, resulting in the formation of the United States of America in 1776. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ...

The District of Columbia and the city of Washington are coextensive and are governed by a single municipal government, so for most practical purposes they are considered to be the same entity (this was not always the case, though, as there were multiple jurisdictions within the district as late as 1871, when Georgetown ceased to be a separate city within the District). However, although there is a municipal government and a mayor, Congress has the supreme authority. A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Seal of the Congress. ... Suzerainty refers to a situation in which a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which allows the tributary some limited domestic autonomy but controls its foreign affairs. ...

The centers of all three branches of the U.S. federal government are in the District as well as the headquarters of most independent agencies. It serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States, and other national and international institutions. Washington is the frequent location of large political demonstrations and protests, particularly on the National Mall. Washington is the site of numerous national landmarks, museums, and sports teams, and is a popular destination for tourists. This law-related article does not cite its references or sources. ... Federal independent agencies were established through separate statutes passed by Congress. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means... The logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... The Organization of American States (OAS; OEA in the other three official languages) is an international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA. Its members are the 35 independent nations of the Americas. ... A man holds up a street puppet designed to resemble George W. Bush at a demonstration against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005 in Washington, D.C.. American Civil Rights March on Washington, leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, August 28... Demonstrators march in the street while protesting the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005. ... The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. ... USS Constitution. ... The National Gallery in London, a famous museum. ... A team comprises any group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. ... El Nido, Philippines Tourism is the act of travel for the purpose of recreation and business, and the provision of services for this act. ...

It is commonly known as D.C., the District, or simply Washington. Historically, it was called the Federal City or Washington City. It should not be confused with the state of Washington located in the Pacific Northwest. To avoid confusion, the city is often called simply D.C. and the state is often called "Washington State". The population of the District of Columbia, as of 2003 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is 563,384 persons. The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area surpasses 4.7 million persons. If Washington, D.C. were considered a state, it would rank last in area behind Rhode Island, 50th in population ahead of Wyoming, and 36th in Gross State Product. Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area Ranked 18th - Total 71,342 sq mi (184,824 kmÂ²) - Width 240 miles (385 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 6. ... Darker red states are always considered part of the Pacific Northwest. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... The official U.S. Census Bureau-designated Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV Combined Statistical Area. ... A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area Ranked 50th - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* kmÂ²) - Width 37 miles (60 km) - Length 48 miles (77 km) - % water 32. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area Ranked 11th - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (450 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 0. ... Gross state product is a measurment of the economic output of a U.S. state or an Australian state. ...

History

Main article: History of Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia, founded on July 16, 1790, is a federal district as specified by the United States Constitution. The U.S. Congress has ultimate authority over the District of Columbia, though it has delegated limited local rule to the municipal government. The land forming the original District came from the states of Virginia and Maryland. However, the area south of the Potomac River (39 square miles or about 100 km²) was returned, or "retroceded", to Virginia in 1847 and now is incorporated into Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The term "District of Columbia" is derived from an old poetic name for the United States, Columbia, which has fallen out of common use since the early 20th century. Aerial photo of Washington, D.C. The history of Washington, D.C. is tied intrinsically to its role as the constitutionally mandated capital of the United States. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area Ranked 35th - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 7. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area Ranked 42nd - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 kmÂ²) - Width 90 miles (145 km) - Length 249 miles (400 km) - % water 21 - Latitude 37Â°53N to 39Â°43N - Longitude 75Â°4W to 79Â°33... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... Retrocession, when referring to the District of Columbia, means the return of parts of the District of Columbia to the states from which territory was ceded to create the national capital of the United States. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... Location Location in Virginia Coordinates , Government Country State United States Virginia Founded 1718 Mayor William D. Euille Geographical characteristics Area City 39. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

Planning

L'Enfant plan for Washington

1888 German map of Washington, D.C.

A Southern site for the new country's capital was agreed upon at a dinner between James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, hosted by Thomas Jefferson.^[1] The city was designed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, Major in the United States Army. The initial plan for the "Federal District" was a diamond, measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side, totaling 100 square miles (256 km²). The actual site on the Potomac River was chosen by President Washington. Washington may have chosen the site for its natural scenery, believing the Potomac would become a great navigable waterway. The city was officially named "Washington" on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, George Washington never referred to it as such, preferring to call it "the Federal City". Despite choosing the site and living nearby at Mount Vernon, he rarely visited the city. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x718, 161 KB) Summary Pierre LEnfants original plan for Washington, D.C. Licensing This image is in the public domain in the United States. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x718, 161 KB) Summary Pierre LEnfants original plan for Washington, D.C. Licensing This image is in the public domain in the United States. ... 1888 German Map of Washington, DC File links The following pages link to this file: Washington, D.C. History of Washington, DC Categories: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon | Washington, D.C. maps | U.S. history images ... 1888 German Map of Washington, DC File links The following pages link to this file: Washington, D.C. History of Washington, DC Categories: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon | Washington, D.C. maps | U.S. history images ... James Madison (March 16, 1751 â€“ June 28, 1836) was the fourth (1809â€“1817) President of the United States. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 N.S. â€“ July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801â€“1809), principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and an influential Founding Father of the United States. ... Pierre Charles LEnfant Pierre Charles LEnfant (2 August 1754, Paris, France, â€“ 14 June 1825, Prince Georges County, Maryland) was a French-born American architect and urban planner. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A mile is any of a number of units of distance, each in the magnitude of 1â€“10 km. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words Ï‡Î¯Î»Î¹Î± (khilia) = thousand and Î¼ÎÏ„ÏÎ¿ (metro) = count/measure). ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 â€“ December 14, 1799) was the Commander in Chief of American forces in the American Revolutionary War (1775â€“1783), and, later, the first President of the United States, an office he held from 1789 to 1797. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Back of the main house. ...

Initially, the District of Columbia included four distinct sections, of which the city of Washington was only one. The others were Alexandria County, Georgetown, and the County of Washington. Georgetown occupied its current boundaries. Alexandria County included the present-day City of Alexandria, as well as the current Arlington County, Virginia—essentially all land south of the Potomac River. Washington City occupied much of its current area but ended at present-day Rock Creek Park on the west and Florida Avenue and Benning Road on the north. Florida Avenue was then called "Boundary Street." The remainder of the district was Washington County. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The County of Washington is one of the five political entities contained within the geographic region comprising what was originally the 100-square-mile District of Columbia. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... Rock Creek Park is an urban natural area with public park facilities which bisects Washington, D.C. East of the park, except for a few enclaves, the city has a decidedly urban character. ... Florida Avenue is a major street in Washington, D.C. It was originally named Boundary Street, because it formed the northern boundary of Pierre LEnfants original plan for the Federal City. ...

In 1791–92, Andrew Ellicott and the free African-American Benjamin Banneker surveyed the border of the District with both Virginia and Maryland, placing boundary stones at every mile point; many of these still stand. Andrew Ellicott on a miniature portrait from 1799. ... Benjamin Banneker cartoon by Charles Alston, 1943. ...

The cornerstone of the White House, the first newly constructed building of the new Capital, was laid on October 13, 1792. That was the day after the first solemn celebrations of Columbus Day, marking its 300th anniversary. Cornerstone has several possible meanings and uses: Look up cornerstone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years). ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Columbus Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher Columbuss arrival in the New World in 1492. ...

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) during the winter months, which had left many Canadians homeless. President James Madison and U.S. forces fled before the British forces arrived and burned public buildings, including the Capitol and the Treasury building. The White House was burned and gutted. The Navy Yard was also burned—by American sailors. The home of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, located at the Marine Barracks, was one of the few government buildings not burned by the raiding British soldiers out of a sign of respect and is now the oldest public building in continuous use in the nation's capital. The damage done by the British forces is often exaggerated and was not as reckless as the sacking of York. Civilians were not directly targeted and, initially, the British had approached the city hoping to secure a truce. However, they were fired upon, triggering frustration and anger among the British, which ultimately led to the sacking of government buildings.^[2] August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Great Britain United States Commanders Robert Ross George Cockburn Unknown Strength 4,250 Unknown The Burning of Washington is the name given to the razing of Washington, D.C., by British forces during the War of 1812. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Strength United States Regular army : 99,000 Volunteers: 10,000* Rangers: 3,000 Militia: 458,000** Naval and marine: 20,000 Indigenous peoples New York Iroquois: 600 Northwestern allies: ? Southern allies: ? United Kingdom Regular army: 10,000+ Naval and marine: ? Canadian militia: 86,000+** Indigenous... James Madison (March 16, 1751 â€“ June 28, 1836) was the fourth (1809â€“1817) President of the United States. ... The United States Capitol Capitol Hill redirects here. ... The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department and the treasury of the United States government. ... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ... The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps, who is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ...

During the 1830s the District was home to one of the largest slave trading operations in the country (see Alexandria, Virginia). Location Location in Virginia Coordinates , Government Country State United States Virginia Founded 1718 Mayor William D. Euille Geographical characteristics Area City 39. ...

In 1846, the populace of Alexandria County, who resented the loss of business with the competing port of Georgetown and feared greater impact if slavery were outlawed in the capital, voted in a referendum to ask Congress to retrocede Alexandria back to the state of Virginia. Congress agreed to do so on July 9 of that year. Retrocession, when referring to the District of Columbia, means the return of parts of the District of Columbia to the states from which territory was ceded to create the national capital of the United States. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ...

Newspaper Row, Washington, D.C., 1874.

Washington remained a small city--the 1860 Census put the population at just over 75,000 persons--until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. The significant expansion of the federal government to administer the war and its legacies—such as veterans' pensions—led to notable growth in the city's population. By 1870, the District's populations had jumped to nearly 132,000 persons. Download high resolution version (1635x936, 443 KB)Newspaper Row, Washington, D.C. Engraving from Harpers New Monthly Magazine (January 1874). ... Download high resolution version (1635x936, 443 KB)Newspaper Row, Washington, D.C. Engraving from Harpers New Monthly Magazine (January 1874). ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederate) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties Killed in action: 110,000 Total dead: 360,000 Wounded: 275,200 Killed in action: 93,000 Total dead: 258...

In July 1864, Confederate forces under Jubal Anderson Early made a brief raid into Washington, culminating in the Battle of Fort Stevens. The Confederates were repulsed, and Early eventually returned to the Shenandoah Valley. The site, now called Battleground National Cemetery ^[3] is located near present day Walter Reed Army Medical Center in northwest Washington. The battle was the only battle where a U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, was present and under enemy fire while in office. ^[4] Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861â€“May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861â€“April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3â€“April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans... Jubal Anderson Early (November 3, 1816 – March 2, 1894) was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... Battle of Fort Stevens Conflict American Civil War Date July 11-12, 1864 Place District of Columbia Result Union victory The Battle of Fort Stevens was fought in Washington D.C. in Jubal Earlys attempt to seize the city of Washington. ... Canoeing on the Shenandoah River near Winchester, VA. The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia, from Winchester to Staunton, is bounded by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. ... Walter Reed Army Medical Center is the U.S. Armys premier medical center on the east coast of the United States. ... For other uses of the name Abraham Lincoln, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation) Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 â€“ April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president...

In the early 1870s, Washington was given a territorial government, but Governor Alexander Shepherd's reputation for extravagance resulted in Congress abolishing his office in favor of direct rule. Congressional governance of the District would continue for a century.

In 1878, Congress passed an Organic Act that made the boundaries of the city of Washington coterminous with those of the District of Columbia. This effectively eliminated Washington County; Georgetown, technically made a part of the city, was allowed to remain nominally separate until 1895 when it was formally combined with Washington. In the history of the United States, an organized territory is a territory for which the United States Congress has enacted an Organic Act. ...

The Washington Monument opened in 1888. Plans were laid to further develop the monumental aspects of the city, with work contributed by such noted figures as Frederick Law Olmsted and Daniel Burnham. However, development of the Lincoln Memorial and other structures on the National Mall did not begin until the early 20th century. The Washington Monument at dusk The Washington Monument usually refers to the large white-colored obelisk in the center of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. It is a United States Presidential Memorial built for George Washington, the first President of the United States and the leader of the... Frederick Law Olmsted, oil painting by John Singer Sargent, 1895, Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina Frederick Law Olmsted (April 26, 1822 â€“ August 28, 1903) was a United States landscape architect, famous for designing many well-known urban parks, including Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City, the country... Daniel H. Burnham. ... The Lincoln Memorial, on the extended axis of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial built for United States President Abraham Lincoln. ...

Pennsylvania Avenue in 1998

The District's population peaked in 1950, when the census for that year recorded a record population of 802,178 people.^[5] At the time, the city was the ninth-largest in the country, ahead of Boston and behind Saint Louis. The population declined in the following decades, mirroring the suburban emigration of many of the nation's older urban centers following World War II. Image File history File links Pennsylvania_Avenue,_Washington_DC,_USA,_1998. ... Image File history File links Pennsylvania_Avenue,_Washington_DC,_USA,_1998. ... Boston is a town and small port c. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Missouri Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 66. ... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France/Free France, United States, China, Canada, India, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Burma, Slovakia Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8...

The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on March 29, 1961, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president and have their votes count in the Electoral College. Amendment XXIII was the twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution which permits the District of Columbia to choose Electors for President and Vice President. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... The United States Electoral College is the electoral college that chooses the President and Vice President of the United States at the conclusion of each Presidential election. ...

After the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, riots broke out in downtown Washington. The violence raged for four days. Much of downtown D.C. was burned. At one point, the rioters came within two blocks of the White House. President Lyndon Johnson ordered over 13,000 federal troops to occupy the city--the largest occupation of an American city since the Civil War. Although religious and civic leaders of all races, creeds and colors gathered afterwards to work together to try to rebuild the devastated city, it took decades for D.C.'s downtown to recover, and as late as 2006 there are still vacant lots, 38 years later, which were caused by the rioting as some buildings which were damaged, torn down and never rebuilt after the 1968 riots. Many businesses, theaters and even houses of worship closed or moved to the suburbs. It was the country's bicentennial in 1976 that helped attract investment back to the capital. The train station--which had been a tattered shell known locally as "Amshack"-- was turned into a visitor's center and then eventually transformed to the glittering building it is today. Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908–January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician. ...

One of the most important developments in bringing people back downtown was the building of the subway system. The first 4.6 miles (7.4 km) of the Washington Metro subway system opened on March 27, 1976. The Washington Metro, or simply Metro, is the public transportation system of Washington, D.C. and neighboring suburban communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway. ... Metro is: a general term, synonymous with rapid transit, subway or underground, for an urban underground rail public transit system (see list of rapid transit systems); any of several specific public transport systems, including: Bi-State Development Agency in Missouri and Illinois, d/b/a Metro since 2003 Buffalo Metro... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Walter Washington became the first elected mayor of the District in 1974. Marion Barry became mayor in 1978, but he was arrested for drug use in an FBI sting operation on January 18, 1990, and served a six-month jail term. His successor, Sharon Pratt Kelly, became the first black woman to lead a city of that size and importance in the U.S. Barry, however, defeated her in the 1994 primary and was once again elected mayor for his fourth term, during which time the city nearly became insolvent and was forced to give up some home rule to a congressionally-appointed financial control board. In 1998, Anthony A. Williams was elected the city's mayor and led the city into a fiscal recovery, which made him a popular figure. Williams was reelected in 2002. Walter Washington Walter Edward Washington, (April 15, 1915 â€“ October 27, 2003), was the first elected mayor (and first black mayor) of the District of Columbia, (Washington, D.C.). From 1975 until 1979 he served as mayor in that capacity. ... Marion Barry Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. ... Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Federal police force which is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... In law enforcement a sting operation is an operation designed to catch a person committing a crime, by means of deception. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Sharon Pratt Dixon (later Sharon Pratt Kelly; b. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Anthony Williams Anthony A. Tony Williams (born July 28, 1951) is a United States politician who has served as mayor of Washington, D.C. since 1999. ...

On September 29, 2004, Major League Baseball officially relocated the Montreal Expos to Washington for the 2005 season, now named the Washington Nationals, despite opposition from Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos. A very public lengthy discussion between the city council and MLB threatened to scuttle the agreement until December 21, when a plan for a new stadium in Southeast D.C. was finalized. The Nationals will play at R.F.K. Stadium until the new stadium is ready on the waterfront in 2008. September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... Les Expos de MontrÃ©al (The Montreal Expos) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 to 2004. ... Major league affiliations National League (1969-present) East Division (1969-present) Current uniform Ballpark RFK Stadium (2005-present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None NL Pennants (0) None East Division titles (1) 1981 Wild card berths (0) None The Washington Nationals (nicknamed The Nats) are a Major League... Major league affiliations American League (1901-present) East Division (1969-present) Major league titles World Series titles (3) 1983 â€¢ 1970 â€¢ 1966 AL Pennants (7) 1983 â€¢ 1979 â€¢ 1971 â€¢ 1970 1969 â€¢ 1966 â€¢ 1944 East Division titles (8) 1997 â€¢ 1983 â€¢ 1979 â€¢ 1974 1973 â€¢ 1971 â€¢ 1970 â€¢ 1969 Wild card berths (1) 1996 Major league... Peter Angelos (born July 4, 1929) is a trial lawyer and the current owner of the Baltimore Orioles, a baseball team in the American League East Division. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nationals Ballpark, the planned new ballpark for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball, is projected to open in April 2008. ... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, informally known as RFK Stadium, is a professional sports stadium that opened in the fall of 1961. ...

Geography

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.

Main article: Geography of Washington, D.C.

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. Original image source: USGS satellite image of Washington, DC. Color modifications from original image and boundary labels made by User:Postdlf; to the extent these are independently copyrightable, these have been released under the GFDL. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... Original image source: USGS satellite image of Washington, DC. Color modifications from original image and boundary labels made by User:Postdlf; to the extent these are independently copyrightable, these have been released under the GFDL. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earths surface. ... USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... Zero Milestone, 1923 The Zero Milestone is a monument in Washington, D.C. intended as the initial milestone from which all road distances in the United States should be reckoned. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square mile is an Imperial unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, 1,609. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ...

Washington is surrounded by the states of Virginia (on its western side) and Maryland (on its southeast, northeast, and northwest sides); it interrupts those states' common border, which is the Potomac River's southern shore both upstream and downstream from the District. The Potomac River as it passes Washington is virtually entirely within the District of Columbia border because of colonial riparian rights between Maryland and Virginia. A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area Ranked 35th - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 7. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area Ranked 42nd - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 kmÂ²) - Width 90 miles (145 km) - Length 249 miles (400 km) - % water 21 - Latitude 37Â°53N to 39Â°43N - Longitude 75Â°4W to 79Â°33... Riparian water rights (or simply riparian rights) is a system of allocating water among the property owners who abut its source. ...

The District 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: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District from Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... The Anacostia River is a river that flows about 8. ... Rock Creek is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via Chesapeake Bay. ... Gelmersee is a reservoir in Switzerland. ... The Dalecarlia Reservoir is the primary storage basin for drinking water in Washington, DC, fed by an underground aqueduct in turn fed by a low dam which diverts a portion of the Potomac River near Great Falls. ... Early settlers in the District of Columbia were dependent upon local springs for water until 1850, when the Potomac River was identified by Congress as the Districts principal source of water. ... Howard University is a historically black university in Washington, D.C.. Notable alumni include Toni Morrison, Thurgood Marshall, Ossie Davis, Debbie Allen, and Phylicia Rashad. ... The Georgetown Reservoir is a part of the water supply and treament infrastructure for the District of Columbia. ...

The highest point in the District of Columbia is 410 feet (125 m) above sea level at 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 - Chain Bridge area). The sea level Tidal Basin rose eleven feet during Hurricane Isabel on September 18, 2003. A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... Tenleytown is the historic name for a neighborhood in northwest Washington, DC. It is the second oldest neighborhood in Washington, being surpassed in age only by Georgetown. ... Hurricane Isabel was the ninth named storm, the fifth hurricane, the second major hurricane, and the only Category 5 hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The geographic center of the District of Columbia is located near 4th Street NW, L Street NW, and New York Avenue NW (not under the Capitol Dome, as is sometimes said.)

Geographical features of Washington, D.C. include Theodore Roosevelt Island, Columbia Island, the Three Sisters, and Hains Point. Theodore Roosevelt Island is a national park located in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. named after the 26th president of the United States. ... Columbia Island is located in the Potomac River in Washington, DC. It is accessible from downtown DC and Arlington National Cemetery via the Arlington Memorial Bridge and from Northern Virginia via the George Washington Memorial Parkway. ... The Three Sisters, variously known as the Three Sisters Islands and the Three Sisters Island, are three rocky islands in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., west of the Key Bridge. ... Located at the southern tip of a peninsula extending into the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Hains Point is located at the geographical location where the Anacostia River and the Potomac River diverge. ...

Washington Monument

Download high resolution version (640x981, 268 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (640x981, 268 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Climate

Washington has a temperate climate typical of the mid-atlantic/northeastU.S. (disputed—see talk page), with four distinct seasons. Summer tends to be very hot and humid with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s° to low 90s°F (about 30° to 33°C). The combination of heat and humidity makes thunderstorms very frequent in the summer. Spring and fall are mild with high temperatures in April and October averaging in the high 60s° Fahrenheit (about 20 °C). Winter can bring cold temperatures, frozen precipitation and, on occasions, major snowstorms. Average highs tend to be in the 40s (4 to 8 °C) and lows in the 20s (-6 to -2 °C) from mid December to mid February. While hurricanes (or the remnants of them) occasionally track through the area in the late summer and early fall, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington. Spring is the most favorable time of year, with low humidity, mild temperatures and blooming foliage. This period generally lasts from late March until mid May. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686â€“1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... A degree Celsius (Â°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ...

The average annual snowfall is 15 inches (381 mm) and the average high temperature in January is 43 °F (6 °C); the average low for January is 27 °F (-3 °C). The highest recorded temperature was 106 °F (41 °C) on July 20, 1930 and August 6, 1918 and the lowest recorded temperature was -15 °F (-26 °C) on February 11, 1899.^[6] Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Demographics

Historical populations
of Washington, D.C.

Year	Population
1800	8,144
1810	15,471
1820	23,336
1830	30,261
1840	33,745
1850	51,687
1860	75,080
1870	131,700
1880	177,624
1890	230,392

Year	Population
1900	278,718
1910	331,069
1920	437,571
1930	486,869
1940	663,091
1950	802,178
1960	763,956
1970	756,510
1980	638,333
1990	606,900
2000	572,059

As of the 2000 census, there were 572,059 people, 248,338 households, and 114,235 families residing in the city. The population density was 9,316.4 per square mile (3,597.3/km²). There were 274,845 housing units at an average density of 1,728.3/km² (4,476.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.01% Black or African American, 32.78% White, 2.66% Asian, 0.30% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.84% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. About 7.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, with Salvadoran being the largest Hispanic group. A plurality of whites are of British ancestry. The United States Census of 1800 was the second Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1810 was the third Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1820 was the fourth Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1830 was the fifth Census conducted in the United States. ... The Sixth Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 17,069,453 â€” an increase of 32. ... The Seventh Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 23,191,876 â€” an increase of 35. ... The United States Census of 1860 was the eighth Census conducted in the United States. ... The Ninth United States Census was taken in 1870. ... The Tenth United States Census was taken in 1880. ... The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 1, 1890. ... The Twelfth United States Census was taken in 1900. ... The Thirteenth United States Census was taken in 1910. ... The Fourteenth United States Census was taken in 1920. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1930. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1940. ... The Seventeenth United States Census was taken in 1950. ... The Eighteenth United States Census was taken in 1960. ... The Nineteenth United States Census was taken in 1970. ... The Twetieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,542,199, an increase of 11. ... The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9. ... The 22nd United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... British Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry stems, either wholly or in part, from one of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom. ...

There were 248,338 households, out of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.8% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.0% were non-families. 43.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 3.07. A marriage is a committed relationship between or among individuals, recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religious beliefs of the participants. ...

In the city, the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market

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. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 1035 KB) Summary Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, Saturdays (9am - 1pm), May-December. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 1035 KB) Summary Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, Saturdays (9am - 1pm), May-December. ... Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, Saturdays (May-December). ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

As of 2000, 83.2% of Washington, D.C. residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 9.2% speak Spanish. French is the third most spoken language at 1.8%, followed by African languages at 1.0% and Chinese at 0.5%. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

According to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey, nearly three out of four District residents identified themselves as Christian. ^[7] This breaks down to 72% Christian (27% Catholic, 19% Baptist, and 26% as some other form of Protestant), 13% stating no religion, and minor religions including 4% Buddhist, 2% Muslim, and 1% Jewish. A Christian is a follower of Jesus, whom they regard as a/the Christ. ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, SiddhÄrtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…, Turkish: MÃ¼slÃ¼man, Persian and Urdu: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù†) is an adherent of Islam. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ...

"Friendship Arch" in Chinatown

According to the Census Bureau, the District's daytime population is estimated at 982,853. ^[8] The influx of over 410,000 workers into Washington on a normal business day comprises a 72% increase of the capital's normal population. That is the largest increase percentage-wise of any city studied and the second-largest net increase, behind only New York City. Friendship Arch in Chinatown (Washington, DC); photo taken by User:Postdlf, 12-13-04. ... Friendship Arch in Chinatown (Washington, DC); photo taken by User:Postdlf, 12-13-04. ... Chinatowns Friendship Archway, as seen looking west on H St. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Big Apple Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area City 1,214. ...

As host to over 180 embassies and hundreds of international organizations, Washington, D.C. has a substantial population of foreign residents. There are also many students from abroad studying at the local universities and colleges. This adds a cosmopolitan flavor to the city.

Crime

Main article: Crime in Washington, D.C.

During the violent crime wave of the early 1990s, Washington, D.C. was known as the murder capital of the United States. The number of homicides peaked in 1991 at 482,

Contents

Planning

Geography

Climate

Demographics

Crime