Located just on the Potomac in the western portion of Washington D.C., Georgetown is a top neighborhood when it comes to historical relevance, beauty, and industry, as you’d expect out of a community situated in America’s capital. Georgetown is home to 14,118 residents and is a highly affluent area with a high concentration of historic sites and buildings, known for its distinctive cobblestone streets. Another thing Georgetown has in spades is notable residents — Francis Scott Key, writer of the U.S. national anthem, lived here during revolutionary times, and the neighborhood continues to be a hub of the famous and wealthy, like actress Olivia Wilde. If you’re looking to live an exciting life in one of the most well-known and well-liked Washington D.C. neighborhoods, look no further than Georgetown!
Georgetown, Washington, D.C. History
Georgetown was the site of a village of Nacotchtank people, whom an English fur trader established trade with in the 1630s, at the time a part of the Province of Maryland. It’s position as the northernmost area most trade ships could navigate to on the Potomac made it valuable real estate. Little is known about what happened to this small village, only that in 1745, a tobacco inspection house was constructed there, and a community began to form around it.
By 1752, land was purchased and surveyed to be the starting point of a new town, with the name Georgetown, theoretically named after King George II. Officially incorporated in 1789, the town continued to grow and grow as the American Revolution came and passed, its position in a trade hub continually advantageous to its economic growth. George Washington himself often frequented the town, and when the time came to establish a federal capital, he chose to incorporate Georgetown, Alexandria, and Washington into the newly-formed municipality of Washington D.C. Now, Georgetown is one of Washington, D.C.’s neighborhoods, and among the best known of them.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Location & Transportation
Georgetown was vitally important to the city of Washington D.C. as it constituted the city’s primary port along the Potomac. Although that aspect may not be so relevant to most Georgetown residents today, the community is laced with canals of all sorts, lending themselves to Georgetown’s unique appearance and feel. In terms of road transport, the neighborhood is only a short distance away from most of Washington, D.C.’s largest highways.
Aside from canals and boats, Washington D.C. has a robust public transportation system to rival most large cities in the country. The vast majority of this is bus lines, an underground metro, and inter-urban train lines, most of which serve industrial needs. The city, and neighborhood, used streetcars quite extensively for most of its history, and many lines snaked through areas all over Washington D.C., but, like many other cities, widespread car use resulted in a shutdown of all streetcar operation in 1962. Although the rest of Washington D.C. has access to the metro, there’s no actual station within Georgetown, thanks to the steep grade of the Potomac liable to cause problems for such an underground structure.
You may not have a metro station within walking distance, but there are plenty of other ways to get around the neighborhood if you don’t have (or don’t want to use) a car. Georgetown’s location is right on the western border of Washington D.C., defined by the Potomac River.
People, Lifestyle, and Culture of Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is home to 14,118 people. Demographically, 82% are White, 6% are Black, and 8% are Asian. As with many American communities, there are also disparate communities of other ethnicities in neighborhood limits as well. Georgetown’s population is skewed towards women, with females making up 53% of the neighborhood’s residents.
A neighborhood older than the USA itself means there’s lots of historic landmarks deeply tied to our national story for you to see here. The City Tavern Club is a private club in the oldest commercial building in Washington D.C., built 1796. The meeting George Washington had to acquire the District of Columbia took place in the Forrest-Marbury House, which now serves as the embassy of Ukraine.
Worried about crime in Georgetown? Washington D.C., like many other cities of its size, has something of a notoriety for criminal activity, and this extends to Georgetown, according to Areavibes. However, violent crime is not much of an issue here — the vast majority of crimes committed in Georgetown are petty theft and other property-related infractions. Therefore, simple best practices like making sure your doors are properly locked will alleviate most of the problems encountered here.
What to Eat, Do, and Shop in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
When it comes to shopping in Georgetown, prospective residents will find just about everything they need in the half-neighborhood, half-shopping center M Street. With dozens of wonderful stores of all types along a beautiful intersection widely considered to be the heart of the neighborhood, this shopping center also features most of Georgetown’s best restaurants and attractions.
Feeling hungry? Georgetown also has plenty of excellent eateries and restaurants, such as Farmers Fishers Bakers, a farm-themed restaurant serving farm-themed fare, as well as sushi and excellent drinks, all of which keep Georgetown’s elite clientele coming back. And, like every neighborhood worth its salt, Georgetown also has a great local Italian restaurant, called Filomena. With pasta made in-house and all sorts of Italian classics, it should not require explanation as to why this is a favorite among Georgetown locals.
With such a high pedigree in attractions and restaurants, it should be no surprise that this town’s parks are a similar story. Georgetown is home to many excellent parks, which, although overshadowed by the other far more famous parks of Washington D.C., have their own merits. One of them is Georgetown Waterfront Park, linking 225 miles of parkland on the banks of the Potomac between 31st Street and Key Bridge. This park is well-known for its variety of interesting amenities, including a Greek-style labyrinth! Watch out for minotaurs! Another, Francis Scott Key Memorial, honors Georgetown’s most historically impactful resident, the previously mentioned writer of the American national anthem.
- M Street Northwest, Washington, DC
- Farmers Fishers Bakers, Harbour at The Georgetown Waterfront, 3000 K St NW, The Washington, Washington, DC 20007, +12021988783
- Filomena, 1063 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, +12023388800
- Georgetown Waterfront Park, 3303 Water St NW, Washington, DC 20007, +12028956000
- Francis Scott Key Memorial, 1198 34th and, M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Georgetown Map
Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Real Estate
Georgetown’s property prices are about what you’d expect for one of the nicest neighborhoods a few miles from the White House — very, very expensive. The median sale price of a home in Georgetown is $1,250,000. This is certainly a massive weight on your wallet, but can you really put a price on being able to see the Lincoln Memorial from your window? According to Redfin, the median amount of time for a house to be on the market in this area is 41 days, with only 0.5% of homes being sold below listing price.
Renting will not shake Georgetown’s reputation of affluence, with the average monthly rent for all apartments being $2,160. Georgetown is widely considered the nicest neighborhood in Washington D.C., and that means it’s going to be expensive no matter which way you slice it. However, there is simply no comparison if you want to live within America’s beating heart. If you are someone who wants to live well in the capital, there is simply no contest in Washington D.C. when it comes to Georgetown.
If you’re interested in looking at listings for Georgetown’ homes, take a look at some Georgetown, Washington, D.C. real estate options here.
Ready to take that last step and start your journey to making Georgetown your new home? Give Suburban Moving a call! Our crew of highly-trained professional movers will ensure your move is a stress-free process at affordable rates! Call now at 301-928-8669 or fill out our online form for a free quote!
