Washington, D.C., the whirling, busy, historical capital of the nation, has come to represent many things to the many people who’ve come through it. It’s a city of many sights, such as the White House, Washington Monument and both the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials and it remains as the imperial home to the U.S. President and many other civil servants. Its fascinating little neighborhoods, excellent education system, flourishing world of politics, art and culture, and ceaseless store of entertainment make it a city that many others have relished to call their home.
      The city’s been shaped by deep-rooted patriotism and politics and is currently home to some 572,000 residents who are mostly all, in some way or another, involved with or intellectually inspired by the art and politics that flow through the veins of the city. Its major source of income is tourism, which generates more than $10 billion annually. There are many comfortable bed-and-breakfasts as well as unique restaurants. You can also find a thriving business and shopping center.
      Washington D.C. is full of eclectic and quaint little neighborhoods. They each have their own names and identities, sometimes considering themselves to be their own separate “villages.” Most are a good mesh of residential and commercial establishments. Price for homes in different areas vary, yet the median value is $351,500 and up. Among the many popular neighborhoods are Adams-Morgan, Bloomingdale, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Glover Park, Hillcrest and Woodley Park.

Did You Know...

State Nickname: The Nation's Captial State Flower: American Beauty Rose State Bird: Wood Thrush

      There’s never a lack of things to do in Washington D.C. Some of the choices are the: Smithsonian Institute, Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Holocaust Memorial Museum and World War II, Vietnam and Korea War Memorials. There are also many different festivals and events that reflect the history and culture of the city, including the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Adams-Morgan Festival,

Live on Penn, Taste of D.C. and the Capital Jazz Fest. Washington is a major national center for the arts, with an assortment of performing arts venues. Arena Stage, one of the first not-for-profit regional theaters in the nation, is rich with history and produces an eight-show season ranging from classics to world premieres and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera and Washington Ballet, among many other musical and stage performances.
      The presence of many major government agencies, including the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, has led to business development both in the District itself as well as in the suburbs of Northern Virginia and Maryland. These businesses include federal contractors (defense and civilian), numerous non-profit organizations, law firms and lobbying firms, catering and administrative services companies, among many others. This arrangement makes the Washington economy virtually recession-proof relative to the rest of the country, because the federal government will still operate no matter the state of the general economy, and it often grows during recessions.

      The District of Columbia Public School System operates in Washington D.C. and consists of 167 schools and learning centers. The University of the District of Columbia is the nation's only urban land-grant university and is counted among the historically black colleges. The Department of Agriculture's Graduate School offers continuing education and graduate-level classes in many disciplines and the Department of Defense maintains the National Defense University at Fort McNair. There are also many private, colleges and universities of much repute, such as Georgetown University, George Washington University, American University and Howard University.
      The Washington area is served by the Washington Metro public transportation system, which operates public buses (Metrobus) and the region's subway system (Metrorail). A public-private partnership operates the D.C. Circulator buses downtown. Many of the jurisdictions around the region run public buses that interconnect with the Metrobus/Metrorail system. Union Station is served by MARC and VRE commuter trains and Amtrak inter-city rail. Intercity bus service is available from the Greyhound Bus Terminal in the Northeast and from Chinatown’s Dragon Buses.
      Washington, D.C. is the capital of the nation in more respects than one. Culture and entertainment take full reigns and thrive in many different avenues throughout the city. It also boasts a virtually fixed, strong economy, top-notch school system, easily accessible transportation, and a variety of different neighborhoods that serve as homes for the diverse population it caters.