Washington, D.C. - Misplaced Pages

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The District of Columbia is part of the United States of America but not a state itself. The District of Columbia is coterminous with Washington, D.C. (D.C. stands for District of Columbia). It serves as both the capital city and administrative district of the United States of America.

It was named after the first president, George Washington. Typically, it is simply called Washington (although that can be confused with the state of Washington). The land for Washington, D.C. was given to the federal government by the states of Virginia and Maryland. In the mid-19th century, the area south of the Potomac was returned to Virginia and now is incorporated in Arlington County and a part of the City of Alexandria.

The population of Washington, and of all of the District of Columbia, as of the 2000 census, is 572,059.

Washington is the home of numerous national landmarks, sports teams and is a popular tourist destination. Washington is also known for an excellent public transportation system known as the Washington Metro. Washington serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States.

Washington serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States.

Residents of the District vote for the President but do not have voting representation in Congress. They are represented in Congress by a non-voting Delegate, who sits on committees and participates in debate.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 177.0 km² (68.3 mi²). 159.0 km² (61.4 mi²) of it is land and 18.0 km² (6.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.16% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 572,059 people, 248,338 households, and 114,235 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,597.3/km² (9,316.4/mi²). There are 274,845 housing units at an average density of 1,728.3 persons/km² (4,476.1 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 30.78% White, 60.01% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.84% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 7.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 248,338 households out of which 19.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.8% are married couples living together, 18.9% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 54.0% are non-families. 43.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.16 and the average family size is 3.07.

In the city the population is spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $40,127, and the median income for a family is $46,283. Males have a median income of $40,513 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the city is $28,659. 20.2% of the population and 16.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 31.1% are under the age of 18 and 16.4% are 65 or older.

Colleges and Universities

Professional Sports Teams

Sites of Interest

Washington is the home of numerous national landmarks and is a popular tourist destination. Landmarks include: