Profile for Washington, District of Columbia, DC

Washington is on the Potomac River.

Selected as the U.S. capital in 1790. Designed by Maj. Pierre-Charles L'Enfant, French engineer and architect. Burned by the British in 1814, during the War of 1812.

Public transportation: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit (See the transit and travel sections below.)

Crime: The number of violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 8,839. The number of murders and homicides was 248. The violent crime rate was 15.7 per 1,000 people.

Ranked No. 8 among big cities in the ePodunk College Town Index, 2002

Ranked No. 1 on America's Most Literate Cities list, compiled by the University of Wisconsin in 2003

Ranked No. 6 among best U.S. walking cities by the American Podiatric Medical Association, March 2005

In a 2006 study, AllBusiness named Washington - Arlington - Alexandria as the No. 7 best metro for women entrepreneurs.

See the full list

Filming location for:
· 1996 movie, "Independence Day"
· 1991 movie, "JFK"
· 2007 movie, "Breach"
· 2007 movie, "Talk to Me"

Census 2000 highlights: Among major American cities, ranked No. 9 in percentage black population (60%); more than 4 in 10 people lived alone in 2000, the highest ratio of any city in the country

Well-known residents have included:
· Duke Ellington, musician
· Amerie, singer
· Sandra Bullock, actress
· Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress and art collector

Local bands (past and present) have included Clovers, The Walkmen

Coffee: National and regional coffee companies with outlets here include Seattle's Best Coffee

Local festivals include:

• National Cherry Blossom Festival - March 29-April 13, 2007
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival - June 27-July 1; July 4-8, 2007
• Black Family Reunion - Sept. 8-9, 2007
• DC Green Festival - Oct. 6-7, 2007
• Cinco de Mayo Festival - May 5, 2007

Performing arts: National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Ballet, Washington National Opera

Nearby parks & recreation: Anacostia Park, Constitution Gardens, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, Rock Creek Park

Washington attractions: National Zoo, U.S. Botanic Garden, National Arboretum

Sports teams: Redskins (NFL), Wizards (NBA), Capitals (NHL), Mystics (WNBA), DC United (Major League Soccer), Nationals (NL)

Historic sites and museums: Smithsonian Institution, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument, City Museum

Colleges and universities: Georgetown University, Howard University, George Washington University, American University, Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University

Support for libraries: Local government funding for the local library system, in fiscal years 2001-2002, was above the national average. (See library links below.)

Gays & lesbians
National index: 100
Local index: 263

Quotes:
There's not a one of us who has lived for a long stretch of time in the capital, I believe, who has not experienced that awful moment of realization that a friend or acquaintance with some public responsibility is losing the gift of normal discourse. He will have begun to address us over a casual drink or at the supermarket as if he were orating at the United Nations.
-- Washington
Meg Greenfield

Listed places near Washington

Airports (2)

Archives (4)

Attractions (3)

Cemeteries (85)

Colleges (18)

Communities (121)

Historic sites (2)

Hotels (200)

Libraries (58)

Military bases (5)

Museums (47)

Parks (8)

Add extra pins to the map by clicking on the list above the map. You may click the displayed pins for more information, or search the displayed pins by using the above search field.

Neighborhoods in Washington include 16th Street Heights, Adams Morgan, American University Park, Anacostia, Arboretum, Barnaby Woods, Barry Farm, Bellevue, Benning, Benning Ridge ... More neighborhood info

Neighborhoods in Washington include 16th Street Heights, Adams Morgan, American University Park, Anacostia, Arboretum, Barnaby Woods, Barry Farm, Bellevue, Benning, Benning Ridge ... More neighborhood info

• Washington population
• Ancestry of people in Washington
• Housing in Washington
• Income in Washington
• Marital status of adults in Washington
• Place of birth of people in Washington
• Residence in 1995, of people in Washington
• School enrollment & education levels in Washington
• Transportation & commute times in Washington
• DC data
• State data - District of Columbia
• Data by street address
• Historical census records (Ancestry.com)

Sections below provide additional information and links about Washington demographics, travel and tourism, nearby airports, cemeteries, the DC economy, education, environment, genealogy, government, historic sites, Washington area jobs, libraries, maps, museums, newspapers and other media, nonprofit groups, real estate, recreation, religion, transportation, and weather in the 20005 ZIP code.

(Also see local map below.)

• Washington city government
• Washington Chamber of Commerce
• Washington tourism

5% of Washington residents report German ancestry, and 5% report Irish. For more info on local ancestry groups, see the Washington ancestry & family history guide.

• Cemeteries in or near Washington
• Libraries in or near Washington

Post a query on a message board:

• DC Ancestry forum
• GenForum

Records & databases:

• Ancestry.com - DC data
• Birth, marriage & death records
• Cemetery records
• County history catalog
• Census records (historic)
• Court, land & probate records
• Death index
• Family & local history
• Immigration records
• Military records (historic)
• Newspaper articles

Dance

• Washington Ballet

Music

• National Symphony Orchestra
• Washington National Opera

• Washington area attractions
• Washington museums
• Washington historic sites
• Washington area parks
• Wineries near Washington

• Washington

• Add a local cemetery to our listings
• Washington area cemeteries
• Cemetery record compendium
• District of Columbia cemetery message boards
• National database of cemetery records
• Veteran grave locator

• Communities near Washington
• Nearby cities of 10,000 or more
• Nearby cities of 50,000 or more

• Washington business guide
• Washington Chamber of Commerce
• Better Business Bureau
• Business licenses

• Courts in District of Columbia
• Local ordinances in District of Columbia

• Crime in DC
• Arrests in DC

• Obituaries - search nearby newspapers
• Obituary database - Ancestry.com
• Charitable donations

• Local information on disability access
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Independent living centers in District of Columbia
• National Council on Independent Living

At the time of the 2000 census, the per capita income in Washington was $28,659, compared with $21,587 nationally.

• Banks
• Building permits
• Current labor force
• Wage estimates
• DC economic census
• DC economic summary
• DC employment growth
• DC unemployment rate
• District of Columbia economic data

39% of Washington residents age 25 and older have a bachelor's or advanced college degree.

• Colleges in or near Washington
• Colleges in District of Columbia
• Learning Disabilities Association in District of Columbia
• Schools in or near Washington
• School districts in or near Washington
• Yearbooks (old) of District of Columbia high schools

• Movies & TV shows filmed in Washington
• Movies playing in or near Washington
• YouTube videos about Washington

• Air pollution in DC
• Diesel soot in DC
• Land contamination in DC
• Nature Conservancy projects in District of Columbia
• Ozone status & air pollution - American Lung Association
• Toxic chemical releases in DC
• Water levels & streamflow conditions in District of Columbia

Washington festival dates:

• National Cherry Blossom Festival - March 29-April 13, 2007
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival - June 27-July 1; July 4-8, 2007
• Black Family Reunion - Sept. 8-9, 2007
• DC Green Festival - Oct. 6-7, 2007
• Cinco de Mayo Festival - May 5, 2007

Dates often change. Check with local tourism officials to be sure.

Washington festival web sites:

• National Cherry Blossom Festival

• ePodunk festival listings
• District of Columbia county fairs
• District of Columbia festivals (District of Columbia tourism department)
• Send us festival info for Washington

• Confluence of latitude & longitude near Washington
• Geocaches in District of Columbia

• Washington items now on sale

• Washington local government Web site
• DC government
• District of Columbia state government
• Driver's licenses
• Motor vehicles
• Passports
• Social Security
• Veterans affairs
• Where to write for birth, death, marriage or divorce records

• Ancestry & family history
• Business
• Demographics
• Health
• Moving
• Nonprofit resources
• Sports & rec
• Travel

• Washington medical services & health statistics

• State historical society

Historic districts in Washington include Anacostia Historic District, Capitol Hill Historic District, Cleveland Park Historic District, Dupont Circle Historic District, Georgetown Historic District, Lafayette Square Historic District, Massachusetts Avenue Historic District, Mount Pleasant Historic District, Sheridan - Kalorama Historic District, Sixteenth Street Historic District ... View historic districts

• Historic sites in or near Washington
• Historic sites in District of Columbia
• Museums in or near Washington
• Museums in District of Columbia
• National Historic Landmark search
• Search the Library of Congress
• Search the National Register for historic properties
• Post history questions in DC genealogy forum

Median rent in Washington, at the time of the 2000 Census, was $577.   Monthly homeowner costs, for people with mortgages, were $1,291.

• Research Washington Apartments
• Find Foreclosure in Washington
• Homes for sale in Washington
• Find a Washington Realtor
• Get free moving quotes
• Free home valuation
• Check District of Columbia mortgage rates
• Property and neighborhood reports
• Mortgage calculator

• Help wanted ads - newspapers
• Job services in District of Columbia
• Minimum wage laws by state

Libraries in Washington include Anacostia Neighborhood Library, Benning Branch Library, Capitol View Branch Library, Chevy Chase Branch Library, Cleveland Park Branch Library, DAR Library, Deanwood Kiosk, Folger Shakespeare Library, Francis A. Gregory Branch Library, Georgetown Branch Library ... View libraries

• Get directions from Washington
• Get directions to Washington
• Census map of Washington area
• Historic maps of DC cities - Library of Congress
• Historic maps of District of Columbia
• Topographic map of Washington

Newspapers in Washington include Takoma Voice, Washington Post, Washington Times

TV stations in Washington include WBDC, WDCA, WETA, WHUT, WJLA, WRC, WTTG, WUSA.

National Public Radio programming is carried locally by WAMU., WETA.

• Daily newspapers in or near Washington
• AM radio stations in or near Washington
• Commercial FM radio stations in or near Washington
• Public & educational radio stations in or near Washington
• TV stations in or near Washington
• Media ownership in the Washington area
• Search historic newspaper articles
• Search recent news archives in District of Columbia

• Military bases in District of Columbia
• American Legion post locator
• Veterans of Foreign Wars post locator

• Check daily newspapers in or near Washington
• Search obituaries in District of Columbia
• Recent death notices - selected DC newspapers

• Washington Chamber of Commerce
• Community foundations (by state)
• Foundations (by name)
• Kiwanis clubs in District of Columbia
• Lions clubs in District of Columbia
• Nonprofit groups
• Nonprofit guide for Washington
• Rotary club search
• Volunteer opportunities in or near Washington

• Parks near Washington
• National forests in District of Columbia
• State parks in District of Columbia

• craigslist
• Find friends & family
• Photos of people from Washington

• Find a local animal shelter
• Report animal cruelty

• Aerial photo of Washington
• Historic photos of U.S. cities
• Panoramic photos of District of Columbia communities
• Photo exhibits of Washington
• Photos of District of Columbia places
• Post cards of District of Columbia communities

• District of Columbia Democratic party
• District of Columbia Republican party
• DC elections board
• District of Columbia elections board

• ZIP codes (by street address)
• ZIP codes (by city)
• ZIP code reverse lookup (find cities in a ZIP code)

• Churches, other places of worship in or near Washington
• Total membership by faith, in DC

Washington restaurants taking online reservations include 14 K Restaurant & Lounge, 15 ria, 1789, 21 P Restaurant, 600 Restaurant at the Watergate, 701 Restaurant, Acadiana, Agraria Restaurant, Agua Ardiente, American Sea Grill ... View restaurants

• Nearby restaurants taking online reservations
• Chowhound message boards for DC

The average commute time for Washington workers is 30 minutes, compared with 26 minutes nationwide.

A total of 163 fatal motor vehicle accidents occurred in Washington between 2001 and 2003, according to reports gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This is a rate of 2.8 fatal crashes per 10,000 population, which was lower than the national norm.

• Subway map

• Washington travel guide
• Airports near Washington
• Amtrak station in Washington
• Hotels near Washington

• Monthly averages & records
• Major storms (searchable by county)
• District of Columbia coastal water temperatures
• National weather map

• Audubon centers
• Wildlife refuges in District of Columbia

Browse list of District of Columbia community profiles