Washington (District of Columbia)

Geography

Washington is located at the east of the United States and merges with the District of Columbia. It marks the southernmost end of the American Mégalopole, also called BosWash. Its geographical coordinates are. The city is on the limit of the States of Virginia (on its south-western side) and of Maryland (in south-east, the North-East and the North-West). It stops the border between these two States, which is the southern bank of the Potomac to the upstream and the downstream of the District. The part of the Potomac which crosses Washington is entirely included/understood in the District of Columbia. The territory of the city is divided into quadrants which are used to locate a place by a system of Cartesian Coordonnées: Northwest (NW), Northeast (), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). The point origin of this Frame of reference is the capitole. The address of a street thus is always followed mention of the sector: for example the geographical center of the city is near 4th street NW, of L Street NW and New York Avenue NW.

According to the Office of the census of the United States, surface of Washington east of 177 km ², of which 18 km ² (10,16%) are occupied by water levels or rivers, like the Potomac, the Anacostia and the Rock Creek. There exist also several artificial tanks: Dalecarlia Tank, which crosses the north-western corner of the District since the Maryland, McMillan Reservoir close to Howard University and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown. Washington also counts two islands: Theodore Roosevelt Island and Columbia Island.

The culminating point of the District of Columbia is with Tenleytown; it rises with 125 meters. The banks of Anacostia and Potomac are at the average level of the sea.

Climate

The climate of Washington is typical of Eastern frontage of continent. According to the sources, he is regarded as moderate or subtropical with notable variations between the be and the Hiver. The average annual total of precipitations is of 800 Misters the summer tends to being very hot and wet with high temperatures (approximately 30°C, with frequent points beyond 38°C). The hottest temperature ever recorded in Washington east of 41°C on July 20th, 1930 and on August 6th, 1918). The storms are then frequent. Spring and the autumn are soft with average temperatures of approximately 20°C. The winter, which arrives often brutally, brings cold temperatures in general (on average 6°C in January, record: -26°C on February 11th, 1899) and of snow (on average 38 cm per annum, with sometimes abundant falls several tens of cm), although hot days (more than 20°C) are not rare in January. Whereas the hurricanes pass sometimes in the area, they generally very weakened before reaching the city: the Ouragan Isabel in September 2003 had made a death in Washington.

Town planning and urban landscape

Washington DC holds a particular place among the American cities: its statute of capital initially, but especially its landscape and its urban organization make of it a city with share. First of all, there does not exist any district of Gratte-ciel so characteristic of the American metropolises. Then, the orthogonal plane , conceived by the French architect and town planner Pierre Charles the Child, trace of the oblique axes which oppose the structure in checkerwork. Its project of town planning for the town of Washington D.C had initially been refused then after being forgotten, it was finally used to organize the capital.

The history of the installation of Washington is also atypical. At the end of the 18th century, the French gains the contest to build the federal capital ( Federal City ) over banks of the Potomac. The project is launched in 1791, but its plans only are partially carried out during its life. The project is withdrawn to him and, by anger, it carries its plans with him. However, the latter are mainly reconstituted of memory by the mathematician Afro-américain Benjamin Banneker. With the turning of the S, holding them of the movement City Beautiful dream to carry out neo-classic cities by creating a harmonious and monumental framework. Several cities wanted to apply this concept, but Washington DC seems the most succeeded and most homogeneous, with its constructions of white color.

The urban landscape is ventilated thanks to the absence of skyscraper but also thanks to broad avenues (the National Evil for example) and many parks (Rock Creek Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island Memorial Park and the National Arboretum). The density of the District is relatively low compared to other American cities because of the presence of many green areas and the Code of town planning. The official buildings and the monuments hold an important place compared to the buildings intended for the habitat.

Demography

| valign=" top" | |----- |} The census of 2000 gave a report on: 572059 inhabitants: 248338 hearths and: 114235 families residing in the city. The population density was of: 3597.3 inhabitants per km ², the presence of many green areas and nonresidential administrative buildings explain this relatively weak figure compared to New York (: 10292 hab. /km ²) or San Francisco (: 6212 hab. /km ²). The metropolitan surface of the Grand Washington ( The Greater Washington Metropolitan Area ) includes/understands the urbanized sectors of the Neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia; the total population of this agglomeration is estimated at 5,8 million inhabitants in 2003. Conurbation Washington Baltimore concentrates: 8026607 inhabitants, which makes the fourth of the country of it.

Like many others city-centers American, the District of Columbia knows a demographic decline since after war. Between 1950 and 2000, it lost more: 230000 inhabitants, is a fall of almost 30% in fifty years. Since 2005, it seems that this tendency is reversed, since the city attracted: 10000 inhabitants in five years. The pendular migrations are particularly intense in Washington: one estimates indeed at: 410000 the number of workers who come to work each day of the week, which increases by 72% the population resident. Lastly, being given the presence of the 180 embassies and hundreds of international organizations, Washington accommodates a big number from abroad. The city counts an important population coed, which is distributed in the various universities of the district.

According to the most recent data (2005), the income by hearth is of: 43215 dollars. The incidence of poverty is higher than the national average (17,5 % of the population compared with 12,5 % for the United States). However, the income per capita is clearly above the American average (: 51155 dollars per capita against: 33050 dollars per capita). Although a great number of civils servant, lawyers and other professionals highly qualified work in Washington, the majority do not live there, in particular preferring the residential districts of the North-East of the close Virginia, of the Maryland in the North-West (Bethesda, Potomac).

According to an investigation carried out in 2001, close to a resident of the district into three Christianity is claimed. The catholics are most numerous.
The ethnic composition of Washington makes this city a particular case in the United States. The proportion of inhabitants Afro-américain S is important: whereas the Blacks count for 12,8 % of the national population, they are majority at Washington DC. Part of the Afro-Americans living in Washington poor and little is qualified, occupying of subordinates employment and suffers from the delinquency. One can distinguish the districts of the North-West, residential with white majority, of the poor districts, with black majority of the North-East or South-west. One in addition notes the historical presence of a black middle-class in certain districts of the North-West (like Adams Morgan, today rather latino , or U Street).

The ethnic distribution and the sociological characteristics of the districts evolve/move rather quickly in Washington: at the beginning of the 20th century, the White were largely majority in the city, representing 80 % of the total population. The rich families or of the middle-classes started starting from the downtown area after the Second world war to flee the social problems: in the years 1970, Washington was called “Chocolate City” (the chocolate city) and the Blacks counted for two thirds of the population. In 2005, the proportion of Afro-Americans fell of 23 points to be established to 57 % of the population. But at the beginning of the 21e century, their share was of 58 %. By a process of Gentrification, the share of the White increases and several districts, like Columbia Height or Capitol Hill, change quickly. The ghetto Afro-American of Anacostia undergoes this transformation which passes by the establishment of a black middle-class and a rise in the prices of the real estate. The municipality encourages this process, on the condition of making a place with the social housing. The proportion of Latinos is weaker than the national average. Within this community, the Salvadorians are represented. As for the Asian community, its dynamism appears in the Chinatown of the city.

ethnic Distribution in 2005

History

Created officially by the Constitution of the United States (1787), the American federal capital is born from nothing with the whole beginning 19th century. Its plan is the work of Pierre Charles the Child, a military engineer, wire of a painter of the court of France which offers its services to George Washington, of which it made knowledge during the war of Independence whereas it had engaged in 1777, at the 23 years age, at the sides of the American Insurgés.

During the War of 1812, the British and Canadian forces receive the order to burn the public edifices of Washington DC. The city counted then: 8000 inhabitants approximately. The British wished to be avenged for the destruction of the capital of the High-Canada (today Toronto) by the Americans after the battle of York (1813). The destruction of the capital of the United States young people was to demoralize the ennemi.
The August 24th 1814, the British general Robert Ross gained the Bataille of Bladensburg, which opens the way of Washington to him. That causes the retirement of the president James Madison in the mountains of Virginia. The majority of the inhabitants of the city also flee in front of the British projection. The August 25th, the British troops go on Capitol Hill. Not being able to occupy the city, Robert Ross wants to destroy it. The buildings of the Senate, of the Room of the representatives, the Treasury are destroyed, just as the interior of the Bibliothèque of the Congress. Witnesses reported that the fire was visible since Baltimore. The admiral Cockburn wanted to burn the seat of the National Intelligencer , a newspaper antibritannic. But some women dissuaded some while asserting that the fire was likely to be propagated at their houses. The Americans burned the shipyards of Washington to prevent that they are used by the British. The occupation of Washington ended when the British troops were sent against Baltimore. The rebuilding of the capitole started in 1815 and was completed fifteen years later.

The growth of the city is very modest during the first decades of the 19th century. It is the American Civil War (1861-1865) which gives him its legitimacy of federal capital. At the beginning of the conflict, black slaves flee of the Plantation S of the States of the South, towards North, some of them settle in huts in Washington. This exodus develops with the end of the war and the abolition of slavery. When the war is completed, Washington gained inhabitants, but also a special place in the heart of the Americans. It is the symbol of the found unit.

The growth of the city continues then, helped by the two world wars which reinforce its power national and international, and bring more inhabitants to him. The population, which practically reaches an historic summit (: 900000 inhabitants) during the Second world war, loses then inhabitants with the profit of the suburbs. In 1957, the majority of the population is black. Today, the proportion of black inhabitants is stabilized around 65%.

Policy

Washington, cd. does not belong to any the American federate States (its original territory was taken in the States Virginia and Maryland). Administratively, it depends directly on the American Federal state, and the federal Congress defines the law in it. However, a certain local self-management was gradually allowed.

Single case for a modern federal capital, the inhabitants of Washington DC does not have a representation equipped with right to vote near the national legislative power (the Congress of the United States) : they elect a representative having only one role of observer and do not elect anybody with the Senate. Since 1961, they have the right to vote with the presidential elections however, thanks to XXIIIe amendement : the district sends to 3 Great Electors. This is why a movement wishing develops today the replacement of the District off Columbia by a State with whole share, it fifty-and-unième the United States of America, commonly called New Columbia. Although it is not represented with the vote of the federal budget, the district pays the federal taxes, a situation summarized with bitterness and humor by the formula Taxation without representation (" taxes without representation électorale") number plates of the district, making a parallel between the current location of the district and the situation which perdurait before the American Revolution.

It as should be noted as the district is the principal democratic bastion country, since this party there raid generally 80% of the voices, against a little more than 10% with the Republican party. This result is little surprising within sight of the demographic composition of the city.

The District is divided politically into 8 yards and 37 Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

Economy

A long time dependant to nearly 50% to the governmental activities for its economy, the town of Washington east from now on a dynamic city, in particular in the sector of the Arme lies (Northrop Grumman…) and of the Data-processing . In 2002, the federal government accounts for 27% of employment in Washington. More and more of companies settle in the American capital in order to be close to the political decision makers auprès of which they can make Lobbying. The large non-governmental employers are the principal universities and the hospitals, of which the Université George Washington, the Georgetown university and the Washington Hospital Center. The University Howard and the Federal National Mortgage Association form also part of the five large employers.

Culture

Music

The National Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of the the United States of America. It occurs with the Kennedy Center.

Teaching

The public schools are managed by the District off Columbia Public Schools , which gathers 101 elementary schools, 10 colleges, 12 junior high schools , 15 senior high schools , 2 centers of teaching and 40 special schools. The DCPS gathered: 58000 pupils at the time of the school year 2005 - 2006, is a fall of: 7099 pupils compared to the year 2003. A big number chose to follow the courses of the private schools.

Several universities, colleges , and other public institutions of higher education or private are in Washington. The Université of the District of Columbia is the public university of the city. The United States Department off Agriculture proposes varied dies having all of the bonds with agriculture. The Department off Defense manages the National Defense University with Fort Lesley J. McNair. Among the private institutions, one can quote the Georgetown university, which was founded in 1789, that is to say before the foundation of the District: it is the oldest catholic university of the country. The other principal universities are the Université George Washington, The Catholic University off America, Trinity Washington University, the American University and the Gallaudet University.

Television

Series and television serials having for Washington framework:

At the White House ( The West Wing )
Capitol
max the Threat ( Get Smart )
Murphy Brown
Washington Organizes ( The District )
At the borders of reality ( The X-Files )
Bones
Wedding Crashers
JAG
NCIS

Official buildings, memorials and museums

Washington is one of the tourist destinations most popular of the United States. The city accommodates a great number of museums and remarkable buildings. The majority of them are located close to the National Evil, a large park located at the center of the city dedicated to old the leaders of the country, which connects the White House to Capitole. In the center of the park the Washington Monument, large a Obélisque is dedicated to the first President of the Union. One finds there also the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the National World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the District off Columbia War Memorial and the Albert Einstein Memorial. The Bibliothèque of the Congress is the largest library of the world, with 29 million books, that is to say three times the reserves of the National library of France.

The town of Washington is also rich many museums, whose majority, located them also on the National Badly, belong to the Smithsonian Institution. It gathers eighteen museums (including two with New York) and 140 million works: Anacostia Museum, Arthur Mr. Sackler Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum off American History, National Museum off the American Indian, National Museum off Natural History, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, and the National Zoo. The National Air and Space Museum is the museum more visited of the United States. Opened in the middle of the Years 1950, it accommodated 14,5 million visitors in 2001. One finds there in particular the Spirit off Saint Louis (plane of Charles Lindbergh), and the apparatus on which the Frères Wright accomplished the first flight in 1903.

One counts also many art galleries, of which the National Gallery off Art, the National Museum off Women in the Arts, the Corcoran Gallery off Art, and the Philips Collection (modern art: 180289 visitors in 2001).

National museum of the Air and Space.

National Museum off African Art
National Museum off Natural History (National museum of natural history).

Since the Years 1960, the city counts in addition a theater, the Kennedy Center, which shelters a company resident of opera, under the direction of Plácido Domingo.

The Carnegie Institution is a foundation which finances the scientific research.

Sport

To note that the Nationals of Washington are old the Expos of Montreal.

Famous characters

In Washington, cd. were born:

Stalemate Buchanan (1938), journalist
Jack Casady (1944), musician, (Jefferson Airplane)
Duke Ellington (1899 - 1974), type-setter
Marty Friedman (1962), guitarist
Marvin Gaye (1939 - 1984), singer
Nan Goldin (1953), photographer
Dave Grohl (1969), musician, (Nirvana)
Goldie Hawn (1945), actress
Helen Beam (1900 - 1993), actress
Katherine Heigl, American actress
J. Edgar Hoover (1895 - 1972), director of FBI
Eugene James Martin (1938 - 2005), artist-painter
Samuel L. Jackson (1943), actor
Oguchi Onyewu, footballer américian
Pete Sampras (1971), tennis player
John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932), type-setter
Ben Stein (1944), actor
Batista (1969), all-in wrestler with the WWE

Transport

The principal highways are the Interstate 495 (Beltway Capital), Baltimore-Washington Parkway of the Maryland and the Interstate highway S 270, 66, 95, 395, and 295. The other major road axes are: Whitehurst Freeway and Anacostia Freeway in D.C., George Washington Parkway in Virginia, Suitland Parkway with D.C and in Maryland, U.S. Road 50, Clara Barton Parkway and Virginia State Road 267 in Virginia.

Washington has its network of Métro, the Métro of Washington. Like the other means of Public transport, it is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority .

The three principal airports of the city are the International airport of Dulles, the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located at Arlington in Virginia and the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Several smaller airports are dedicated to the General aviation, of which the Montgomery County Airpark (Gaithersburg (Maryland), the College Park Airport (College Park (Maryland)), the Potomac Airfield and the Manassas Regional Airport (Manassas (Virginia). Since 2003, several of these airports saw their access strictly limited by the creation of the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), aiming at preventing the reproduction of attacks similar to those of the 11-September in the capital.

Twinnings

See too

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