Name: WASHINGTON D.C.
(District of Columbia) |
Nickname(s): The Capital, DC
Status: Independent federal district (not part of any of the 50 U.S. states)
Population:
Washington D.C.: approximately 700,000 inhabitants
Washington Metropolitan Area (including parts of Maryland and Virginia):
approximately 6.3 million inhabitants
Rank in the USA: Federal capital of the United States
Federal capital = is a capital city chosen to be the political center of a federal
country. It's where the main national government institutions are located.
Gross Metropolitan Product: $561 billion (2023)
Main Financial Activities:
Headquarters of major international financial institutions: World Bank,
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Presence of numerous NGOs, economic think tanks, and research institutions
Main Economic Activities:
Public sector: Largest employer (federal government, agencies, departments)
Professional services: Law firms, lobbying groups, political consulting
Technology and Cybersecurity: Rapidly growing sector in the region,
supported by proximity to federal agencies
Main Political Activities:
Federal capital: Location of the White House, (official residence and
workplace of the President of the US ), and also there is U.S. Capitol,
Supreme Court Headquarters of more than 170 embassies and international
diplomatic missions Center of U.S. and global political decision-making
Main Scientific and Cultural Activities:
Prestigious universities: Georgetown University, George Washington
University,
American University
National media presence: Headquarters of The Washington Post, national
political broadcasters like C-SPAN
There is also scientific events: The 2025 Humans to the Moon & Mars
Summit for example. (Talks about breakthrough of strategies to sending
humans to the moon)
• Rich in culture and history:
Museums: offers an unrivaled treasury of the country's history and artifacts of
the famous Smithsonian museums. The Smithsonian institution is a group of
museums research center et. It is the largest museum complex in the world.
It was created in 1846. It includes 20 museums like free museums like Air and
Space, Natural History, etc.)
Also : Monuments: Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Martin Luther
King Jr. Memorial
Performing arts: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It is a
campus of theaters and artistic spaces that it presenting over 2000
performing arts shows and event each years like dance, theater, jazz etc
Hosts numerous international events, parades, demonstrations, and political
conferences. For example: in 2025 the National Cherry Blossom Festival
parade from April 20 to June 30 2025 (it's an annual event, it's a festive
parade that celebrates the arrival of spring and especially the blooming of
cherry blossom trees )
Main Transportation Hubs:
• Train Station: Union Station - major hub for Amtrak and regional rail Airports.
It's one of the first great union railroad terminals of the country. It includes: 18
train platforms and 22 track for passager rail service.
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (domestic and nearby
international)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (major international gateway). It
serves over 25 millions passengers.
Public Transit: Washington Metro (WMATA) - extensive subway and bus
network serving the capital and surrounding suburbs
Number of Annual Tourists:
• Approximately 24 million visitors per year
Special Sign:
Federal city: Unique status - does not belong to any U.S. state
Cosmopolitan and international: High density of diplomats, foreign
professionals, international students
Major global decision-making center: Influence in politics, economics,
international relations, law, and security
