Washington DC Districts

(Washington, District of Columbia - DC, USA)

The city of Washington DC is a planned city dating back to the late 18th century and today it also serves as a major tourist destination, thanks in no small part to its capital status and presidential heritage. Divided into a series of districts, visitors to the city frequently flock to the 2-mile / 3-km National Mall, which is located within the busy downtown neighborhood.

Downtown Washington is very much central to the tourism vibe in the city, being the principal theater district and boasting a variety of quality museums, as well as the oriental restaurants of Chinatown, the city's Convention Centre, and the Central Business District. Downtown is also where you will find the world-famous White House, along with the George Washington University, the Kennedy Center and West Potomac Park.

Foggy Bottom features a number of attractions, whilst also being home to the George Washington University Hospital, which conveniently stands alongside the local metro station. Based on the eastern side of the downtown neighborhood, the recently revitalized Penn Quarter lies close to the Metro Center and has become known for its plentiful theaters and entertainment venues, such as the Verizon Centre arena and the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

Foggy Bottom

The Foggy Bottom area of Washington is situated to the west and northwest of the White House, up to the Potomac River, being very much centered around the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro train station. Named after its original marshy, riverside location, this area is now home to a number of large government offices and expensive apartments. This is a particularly historic neighborhood.

Downtown Washington

Downtown Washington is the largest area of the city and is centered to the north and east of the White House, being bordered by Connecticut Avenue to the west, E Street to the south and Sixth Street to the east. Often referred to as 'Old Downtown', this area is home to numerous shops, department stores, theaters, tourist attractions, museums, restaurants, office blocks and many of the city's most distinctive landmark buildings.

Judiciary Square Area

Judiciary Square is the central area east of Sixth Street and has been the center of Washington's judiciary and local government for many years. This district has few attractions for tourists visiting the capital, although several memorials and the National Building Museum are located in this part of the city.

Penn Quarter

The Penn Quarter can be found on the opposite side of Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Federal Triangle area, and this small district is bordered by Sixth, 13th and E Streets, although the actual borders are fairly loosely defined. In more recent years, Penn Quarter has undergone much redevelopment, including two large movie theaters and many trendy restaurants. Of note, the quarter is also home to the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, which is one of Washington's major tourist attractions, with regular guided tours.

Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is the most lively and cosmopolitan district in Washington DC and is also home to the city's largest gay community. Dupont Circle has numerous restaurants, cafés and bars, and although the name technically refers to a traffic circle located in the center of this district, the area actually stretches north and south from the circle, along Connecticut Avenue.

Adams Morgan

Just one block east of Dupont Circle is 18th Street, which becomes the main strip of the Adams Morgan district, for about nine blocks north. Adams Morgan is best known for its excellent ethnic restaurants and diverse community, and is a particularly vibrant spot. The house prices in this area are fairly cheap and so many young people are attracted to this neighborhood.

Shaw

The Shaw district is a large square, bordered by North Capitol Street and 16th Street on the east and west, and also by Florida Avenue and M Street to the north and south. Shaw has many historic neighborhoods and these include the campus of Howard University, the U Street / 14th Street Corridor of bars, clubs and restaurants, and the residential areas of Logan Circle.

Georgetown

The Georgetown district was originally laid out in 1751 as part of Maryland and was interestingly not actually considered to be an area of the city until 1871. This is a unique part of Washington DC and features many impressive, peaceful streets, lined with imposing mansions. There are also a number of fashionable boutiques and shopping areas here, as well as Georgetown University.

Upper Northwest

This large district is situated west of Connecticut Avenue and north of both the Georgetown and Dupont Circle areas. Often referred to as 'West of the Park', (Rock Creek Park), Upper Northwest is home to some of the wealthiest residents around, including streets such as Foxhall Road, Upper Wisconsin Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue.

Capitol Hill

The Capitol Hill neighborhood is edged to the west by the South and North Capitol Streets, to the south by the Southeast Expressway, to the north by H Street NW, and to the east by 11th Street. This quiet and relaxed district overlays two quadrants, Southeast and Northeast Washington, and includes Union Station and the Eastern Market area.

Mount Pleasant and North Washington

The streets in the Mount Pleasant district of Washington DC are attractive, being lined with many trees and modest homes. This neighborhood is bounded in the north by Rock Creek Park, in the south by Harvard Street, in the west by Adams Mill Road and in the east by 16th Street. This is a largely residential area and features a strong Salvadorean and Vietnamese population.

Anacostia

Located across from the Anacostia River, this section of Washington DC is commonly known as Anacostia, although its actual historic name is 'Uniontown'. Anacostia is bordered by the Anacostia River to the west, Suitland Parkway to the south, Good Hope Road to the north, and Fort Stanton Park to the east. This district is home to many middle-class neighborhoods of detached homes, mature trees and rolling hills.