Washington, D.C.
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| Abbreviation | DC Source: United States Postal Service – Abbreviations |
|---|---|
| Capital | It is the capital: of the United States. |
| Population | 705,749 Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
| Mayor | Muriel Bowser (D). |
| Entered the Union | February 21, 1871 (as a municipal corporation) |
| Motto | Justitia omnibus (Justice to all) |
| Flower | American Beauty rose |
| Bird | Wood Thrush |
| Professional Sports Teams | Washington Nationals (Baseball); Washington Wizards (Basketball); Washington Redskins (Football); Washington Capitals (Hockey); D.C. United (Soccer); Washington Mystics (Women’s Basketball). Note: The Washington Redskins football team’s home stadium is in Landover, Maryland. (sports listing policy) |
| Origin of Name | The district is named after Christopher Columbus |
| Historical Sites and Points of Interest | Numerous sites associated with the history of the United States, including the Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials; the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Gallery of Art and the National Air and Space Museum; the National Archives |
| Bordering States | Washington D.C. borders Virginia and Maryland. |
| Flag |  |
Follow these links to read articles about Washington, D.C. from
Encyclopedias and Almanacs:
Official City Links
- Welcome to DC.gov: Welcome to Washington, District of Columbia
http://www.dc.gov/ This is the official website for
Washington, DC. - District of Columbia Public Library,
http://dclibrary.org/ Here is the homepage for the District
of Columbia Public Library. - The United States Capitol Historical Society
http://www.uschs.org/ Here is the homepage for the U.S.
Capital Historical Society. - U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
http://www.archives.gov Here is the homepage for the United
States National Archives. -
National Park Service: Parks and Recreation
http://www.nps.gov/parks.html Here is the homepage for the
United States National Park Service. - Welcome to Washington, DC
http://www.washington.org/ Here is the official tourism site
of Washington, DC. - FirstGov For Kids
http://www.kids.gov/ Explore, learn and have fun at this
special site for kids developed by the Federal Citizen Information
Center.
Other City Links
-
Things To Do in Washington, DC
http://www.thingstodo.com/states/DC/index.htm ThingsToDo.com
is an online guide to information about Washington DC’s entertainment,
recreation, and travel, and includes the city’s interesting facts,
famous people, and special events. -
Roadside America: District of Columbia Attractions
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/dc.html Roadside America
describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site
offers reviews of “weird sites along the highway” in the District of
Columbia. - George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
http://www.mountvernon.org/ In addition to learning basic
information about this famous historic site, online visitors can even
take a virtual mansion tour.
- Washington D.C.’s official tree is the Scarlet oak.
- The District of Columbia is is divided into four quadrants–Northwest,
Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast–and the
U.S. Capitol Building marks the spot where all four
meet. - Washington D.C. was the
first carefully planned capital in the world. - The capital of the U.S. was
transferred from Philadelphia to Washington on Dec.
1, 1800. - In 1978, a proposed constitutional amendment to give the District of
Columbia
voting representation in the U.S. Congress was passed
by Congress; the proposal died in 1985, having failed to get the
needed 28 states to approve it.
Some Famous People from this City
- Billie Burke, comedienne and actress best known for playing
Glenda the good witch in The Wizard of Oz. - Duke Ellington, jazz musician.
- Goldie Hawn, television and movie actress whose credits include
Laugh In and The First Wives Club. - J. Edgar Hoover, former director of the F.B.I.
- John Philip Sousa, composer known for his compositions for
marching bands.