Washington, DC Facts

Catch up on your trivia with these Washington, DC history firsts and fun facts.

Middle Atlantic

Washington, DC  History Firsts - Washington, DC State Facts

Population:  1998 city population - 523,124. 1996 metropolitan area population - 4,563,000.

Area:  City - 179 sq km (69 sq mi).  Metropolitan area - 10,249 sq km (3,957 sq mi).

Altitude:  7.6 m (25 ft) above sea level.

Founded:  Site chosen, 1791.  Became capital, 1800.

Motto:  Justitia Omnibus (Justice to all)

Bird:  Wood Thrush

Major Industries:  Federal Government, Tourism

Origin of Name:  The District is named after Christopher Columbus

Song:  The Star-Spangled Banner

District; and, historically, the Federal City, is the capital city and administrative district of the  United States of America. Washington, D.C. is part of the  Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, which also includes parts of  Maryland,  Virginia, and  West Virginia. It should not be confused with the  U.S. state of  Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest.

There are thousands of Japanese cherry trees that circle the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. The trees were originally planted as a gift from the people of Tokyo, Japan, in 1912. In 1910, a previous donation of 2,000 cherry trees had to be destroyed after they were infested with insects. Each spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a two-week-long celebration, attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world to see the magnificent trees in full bloom.