Your path to homeownership starts here!

Washington DC Area Guide

Washington , D.C. is the capital of the nation, and has a population of over 590,000 residents. The district belongs to the Washington Metropolitan Area, which is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the country.

All three branches of the U.S. federal government are located here in D.C., in addition to a variety of museums, libraries, and monuments known all over the world. The district hosts 174 foreign embassies, the headquarters of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States, and the Pan American Health Organization. The headquarters of several trade unions, lobbyists, and professional associations are also located right here in D.C.

Washington DC History

Before English settlers arrived in Washington during the 17 th century, this area was inhabited by an Algonquian tribe known as the Nacotchtank. Most of the Native Americans here moved away from the area by the 18 th century, and Georgetown was chartered by the Province of Maryland in 1751. The city of Alexandria, Virginia was also originally included with the District boundaries.

On January 23, 1788 James Madison presented his “Federalist No. 43”, which argued that the nation’s capital needed to be distinct from the states for safety and maintenance reasons. A few years earlier an attack on Congress called the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 proved the need for tighter security of the capital. After Madison’s paper was released Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution permitted the creation of a District less than ten square miles that could become “the seat of government of the United States”.

The District did not become the nation’s capital until July 16, 1790 when the Residence Act called for a permanent capital location to be chosen by President Washington. On September 9, 1791 the new federal city was named in honor of George Washington and the district was named the Territory of Columbia. The first session was held on November 17, 1800. The Organic Act of 1801 officially organized the District of Columbia and put the entire area, including Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, under the control of Congress.

Washington DC Parks & Recreation

The Parks and Recreation Department of Washington, D.C. provide urban recreation and leisure programs for residents in a number of facilities located in the area. The department maintains parks, pools, athletic fields, and community centers across the District.

For a complete list of parks in the area click here

Washington DC Annual Events

Washington DC Summer Restaurant Week

Washington Auto Show

National Cherry Blossom Festival

FilmFest DC

Smithsonian Craft Show

DC Caribbean Carnival

Veterans Day Celebration

For a complete list of events in the DC area visit the events calendar by clicking here

Washington DC Attractions

National Zoo

U.S. Capitol

White House

National Geographic Museum

For more attractions in the DC area click here

For more information on Washington DC visit the official website by clicking here

For the Official Tourism website of Washington DC click here