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Washington, D.C. (more commonly called DC or the District) is home to nearly 700,000 residents. In 2019, it was the 20th most populous city in the nation with a population larger than that of two US states. The city of Washington (named after George Washington) was founded in 1791 to serve as the national capital. In 1801, the land, formerly part of Maryland and Virginia, officially became recognized as the federal district. In 1846, Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia and in 1871, it created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District.
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The original plan for the District was laid out in the L’Enfant Plan, developed by military engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant. DC is administratively divided into geographical quadrants (NW, NE, SW, SE) that radiate from the Capitol Building. Streets running in an east-west direction are named after the letters of the alphabet while the ones running north-south are numerical. Broader diagonal "grand avenues,” named after the states of the Union, cross the north/south-east/west grid and intersect with the north-south and east-west running streets to create circles and rectangular plazas. Some famous examples include Dupont Circle and Logan Circle.
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Each of the District’s 130+ neighborhoods offers something appealing for anyone looking to move to the city. The District is a hub for the arts, history, and politics and offers a diverse food scene. With entertainment, housing, and employment opportunities available in very close proximity, DC is a very walkable city. There is also a wide variety of housing available, including historic rowhouses, single-family Colonials, modern condominiums, and spacious luxury residences.
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The close in-suburbs of Montgomery County, Maryland—including Bethesda and Chevy Chase— are among the most affluent and highly educated in the country. These neighborhoods, located “inside the Beltway” (I-495), offer luxury condominiums and single-family homes. Notable institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Naval Medical Center, are located in Bethesda. A little further from the Beltway is Rockville, the second-largest city in Maryland, and Potomac, which boast a more rural feel.
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On the Virginia side, Arlington County offers its residents excellent job opportunities and a wide variety of home choices; from historic residences and single-family homes to upscale condominiums and luxury rentals, there is a home for every lifestyle. (See our recent article for more about living in Arlington County.) Located along the Potomac River in Virginia is the City of Alexandria and its Old Town—the third-oldest historic district in the country. Old Town boasts over 4,200 historic buildings (dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries) including homes, churches, museums, shops, small businesses, and restaurants.
