Living in Washington, D.C.Washington is the capital of the United States, located on the banks of the Potomac River with the state of Virginia to the west, and the state of Maryland on the east, north and south. The city, named after first president George Washington, was chosen in the late 18th century to house all three branches of the U.S. government. The D.C. (District of Columbia), named so in honor of Christopher Columbus, was established in order to keep the capital from being part of any one state. Today the city continues to be the political center for the United States, and is also home to other national and international institutions such as the World Bank. Washington, D.C. is visited by many tourists who flock to the city to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, various war and military memorials, and the Library of Congress and National Archives, which houses the original documents Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Washington D.C. is also well known for its many museums—the Smithsonian being the most famous world-wide.
As a place of commerce, Washington D.C. is a city with an expanding economy that has grown to include professional and service based industries along with its federal government opportunities. It is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies including Fannie Mae and Washington Post, and several Fortune 500 companies, including Capital One Financial and Sprint Nextel. The city’s top three employers are George Washington University, Georgetown University, and the Washington Hospital Center.
Due to its growing economy, variety of attractions, and world-renowned status as the political center of the United States, Washington D.C. is a great place to live. When looking for real estate in Washington D.C., you may notice that the skyline is a little different than most American cities. Unlike cities such as Chicago and New York, the skyline of Washington D.C. is not defined by skyscrapers. This is because Congress passed an act in 1910 that restricts the height of buildings in order to prevent the crowding of federal monuments by commercial developments. Because of this, Washington D.C. offers a whole different atmosphere, with more attention to natural beauty, such as expansive green lawns even in the downtown area.
© 2008 Reliance Relocation Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contributed by:  | More Local Area InformationWashington, DC anchors the Mid-Atlantic Region from the banks of the Potomac River. The City, named after first president George Washington, wa... Read moreWashington D.C. can be broken up into four quadrants, each quadrant offering its own unique environment. Northeast D.C. contains the neighborhood... Read moreThe cultural and recreational amenities in Washington DC rank among the best in the world. The Smithsonian museums are extensive and free. Ther... Read moreThe economic influence of federal government made Arlington at one time the most urbanized of all of Northern Virginia counties. It also boasts man... Read moreBeautiful Arlington, Virginia boasts terrific restaurants, shopping, and wonderful neighborhoods for people of all ages to enjoy. Mount Vernon Trai... Read moreBoasting the one country’s first designated historic districts, Alexandria, VA., has the charm and class of a simpler world. The city has a grea... Read moreFirst known for its agricultural community, Fairfax is the most populated county in all of Northern Virginia. Also rich in Civil War history it i... Read moreTakoma Park, a commuter suburb, is located just over the Maryland border in Montgomery County. It is not to be confused with the D.C. community know... Read moreMontgomery County is 494.6 square miles with a population of over 920,000 people. It borders the Northwest district of Washington DC on the Sout... Read moreThe All-America City Award, the oldest and most prestigious civic recognition award in the country, was presented to Montgomery County by th... Read moreMontgomery County, considered a Washington, D.C. suburb because of its proximity to the nation’s capital, is one of the most affluent areas in all o... Read moreThe Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical ParkThe Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park with access to both the Canal and th... Read moreMontgomery County, with a population of 942,000, has the 16th largest public school system in the United States. The system consists of 200 schools... Read morePrince Georges County is a very diverse area, right in the middle of the Baltimore/Washington corridor. It boasts many historical landmarks as wel... Read moreChevy Chase stretches into the District of Columbia on the northwest corner. It is well connected to the metropolitan area with Metrorail bus an... Read moreMore than 2,000 homes make up the New Urban community of Kentlands, located in the city of Gaithersburg. Originally a wheat farm known as Wheatlands... Read moreFalls Church is an established, older community situated just west of Washington, D.C. The Falls Church, the city's namesake, was founded in 1734 an... Read moreBethesda borders Washington DC on the northwest. With the construction of the Metrorail from downtown Washington DC directly through Bethesda, wha... Read moreBethesda, one of D.C. wealthiest suburbs, is located in Montgomery County; more than 56,000 residents are divided among Bethesda’s many upscal... Read moreCollege Park is located in Prince George’s County. It is predominantly known as the site of the 1,250-acre campus of the University of Maryland. Bu... Read more |
