George Washington, the first President of the United States, at the Continental Congress

The White House, the residence of the President

The Lincoln Memorial, honoring the 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln

The Nacotchtank tribe of the Algonquian Indian Nation inhabited the area around the Anacostia River in present-day Southeast Washington when the first Europeans arrived in the 17th century.  Georgetown and the City of Alexandria, Virginia, founded in 1749, were originally included within the District. 
 
James Madison argued that the national capital needed to be distinct from the states in order to provide for its own maintenance and safety.  The authority to establish a federal capital was provided in United States Constitution, but did not specify a location for the new capital.  Establishing a tradition of political wheeling and dealing and compromise, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson agreed that the federal government would assume war debt carried by the states on the condition that the new national capital would be located in the South.  On July 16, 1790, the Residence Act provided for the new permanent capital to be located on the Potomac River, the exact area to be selected by President George Washington.

Independence Day Celebration at the US Capitol, in Washington DC

By 1980, the city had fallen into disrepair through neglect and indifference.  The newly elected President Reagan set as one of his initial tasks the revitalization of the National Capital Region by restoring Union Station to its original grandeur and rebuilding National Airport into a world-class facility.  He also had the Capitol building sandblasted to restore it to its gleaming white sheen that makes it the artistic pivot point of the city.  Reagan’s philosophy was that the most powerful city in the world should look the part.

With that philosophy in mind, the city has undergone massive growth and revitalization, with major construction of new office buildings and upgrading neighborhoods to a levels of elegance not seen since the 19th Century.  Today, DC’s numerous landmarks, monuments, museums and performing arts centers make it into an extraordinary tourist attraction, while its political power base makes it the hub of international negotiations as it hosts the major players of this century.

Official Name: District of Columbia & Greater Washington    

Capital: Washington DC is the capital of the United States of America    

Government: Democratic, electoral system    

Population: 589,366  

Area: 177.0 km2    

Time Zone: EST (UTC-5)  - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)   GDP: $136,714.13 per capita       

Official languages: English        

Religion: Christian, Islam, Judaism, other       

Geography: The District's current area consists only of territory ceded by the state of Maryland. Washington is therefore surrounded by the states of Maryland to the southeast, northeast, and northwest and Virginia to the southwest. The District has three major natural flowing streams: the Potomac River and its tributaries the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. Tiber Creek, a watercourse that once passed through the National Mall, was fully enclosed underground during the 1870s.   The highest natural point in the District of Columbia is Point Reno, located in Fort Reno Park in the Tenleytown neighborhood, at 409 feet (125 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level at the Potomac River. The geographic center of Washington is located near the intersection of 4th and L streets NW. Approximately 19.4% of Washington, D.C. is parkland, which ties New York City for largest percentage of parkland among high-density U.S. cities. The U.S. National Park Service manages most of the natural habitat in Washington, D.C., including Rock Creek Park, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the National Mall, Theodore Roosevelt Island, and Anacostia Park.     

Climate: Washington has a humid subtropical climate, typical of Mid-Atlantic U.S. areas removed from bodies of water, with four distinct seasons.  Spring and fall are mild, with low humidity, while winter brings sustained cool temperatures and annual snowfall averaging 16.6 inches (420 mm).  Average winter lows tend to be around 30 °F (-1 °C) from mid-December to mid-February. Blizzards affect Washington on average once every four to six years. The most violent storms are called "nor'easters", which typically feature high winds, heavy rains, and occasional snow. These storms often affect large sections of the U.S. East Coast. Summers tend to be hot and humid, with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s °F (about 30 °C). The combination of heat and humidity in the summer brings very frequent thunderstorms, some of which occasionally produce tornadoes in the area. While hurricanes (or their remnants) occasionally track through the area in late summer and early fall, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington, partly due to the city's inland location. Flooding of the Potomac River, however, caused by a combination of high tide, storm surge, and runoff, has been known to cause extensive property damage in Georgetown.     

Finance and Banking: Banks in Washington DC offer all major industry services such as: providing loans, credit, and payment services, such as checking accounts, money orders, and cashier’s checks. They also offer investment and insurance products.  Banks across the United States are very safe and under federal regulation (FDIC) which generally protects them from fraud, theft and other industry hazards and reassure the client that their funds will be secure.  The money in US banks are also insured by the federal government. 

Federal Reserve banks are Government agencies that perform many financial services for the Government. Their chief responsibilities are to regulate the banking industry and to help implement our Nation’s monetary policy so our economy can run more efficiently by controlling the Nation’s money supply—the total quantity of money in the country, including cash and bank deposits.

Taxes: Taxes are money paid by U.S. citizens and residents to federal, state, and local governments.Taxes pay for services provided by the government. There are different types of taxes, such as income tax, sales tax, and property tax.         Currency: Currency: US Dollar (USD)       

Country Dialing Code: (country code) +1 (202) +the number            

Credit cards and cash: All banks in Washington DC offer customers cash and debit cards. Washington DC has popular, secure and efficient credit card systems which offer flexible payment and spending options.        

Telecommunications:  The telecommunications industry delivers voice communications, data, graphics, television, and video at ever increasing speeds and in an increasing number of ways. Whereas wireline telephone communication was once the primary service of the industry, wireless communication services, Internet service, and cable and satellite program distribution make up an increasing share of the industry.

Industry organization. The largest sector of the telecommunications industry continues to be made up of wired telecommunications carriers. Establishments in this sector mainly provide telecommunications services via wires and cables that connect customers’ premises to central offices maintained by telecommunications companies. The central offices contain switching equipment that routes content to its final destination or to another switching center that determines the most efficient route for the content to take. These companies also maintain the cable network that connects different regions of the country as well as foreign countries, and forms the backbone of the industry. While voice used to be the main type of data transmitted over the wires, wired telecommunications service now includes the transmission of all types of graphic, video, and electronic data mainly over the Internet.

Cable and other program distribution is another sector of the telecommunications industry. Establishments in this sector provide television and other services on a subscription or fee basis. These establishments do not include cable networks.  Distributors of pay television services transmit programming through two basic types of systems. Cable systems transmit programs over fiber optic and coaxial cables. Direct broadcasting satellite (DBS) operators constitute a growing segment of the pay television industry. DBS operators transmit programming from orbiting satellites to customers’ receivers, known as minidishes. Establishments in the cable and other program distribution industry generate revenue through subscriptions, providing Internet access, providing phone service, and advertising sales. They also charge fees for pay-per-view or video-on-demand programs.

Wireless telecommunications carriers, many of which are subsidiaries of the wired carriers, transmit voice, graphics, data, and Internet access through the transmission of signals over networks of radio towers. The signal is transmitted through an antenna into the wireline network. Increasing numbers of consumers are choosing to replace their home landline phones with wireless phones. Other wireless services include beeper and paging services.

Resellers of telecommunications services are another sector of the telecommunications industry. These resellers lease transmission facilities, such as telephone lines or space on a satellite, from existing telecommunications networks, and then resell the service to other customers. Other sectors in the industry include message communications services such as e-mail and facsimile services, satellite telecommunications, and operators of other communication services ranging from radar stations to radio networks used by taxicab companies.       

Medical facilities: Excellent medical care is available throughout the United Staes.  Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to country of origin can cost thousands of dollars.  Most doctors and hospitals expect cash/credit card payment or a major insurer or travel insurance for health services.        

Crime: Visitors should be aware that street crime, burglaries, and car thefts are a daily occurrence in Washington DC's metro area.  Weapons are increasingly used in such crimes, which also may be associated with drug trafficking and usage.  Foreign visitors are sometimes targets for pickpockets, purse-snatchers and petty thieves.  There have also been reports of drink spiking in some areas.  Appropriate, common sense precautions should be taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of opportunity.  To call for fire/police/ambulance services throughout Washington DC, dial “911” for urgent assistance.      

Traffic & Driving in Washington DC: While in a foreign country, visitors may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in their country of origin. Washington DC has extremely modern roads and driving conditions.  There are regular posted speed limits as well as marked roads with street lights, speed cameras, roadside phones and rest areas for travelers, visitors and distressed motorists.