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Virginia Railway Express
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is a commuter railroad service that connects the Northern Virginia area with Washington, DC. The VRE operates on two lines, the Fredericksburg line, which starts from Fredericksburg, Virginia and the Manassas line, which starts from Manassas, Virginia, both lines end at Union Station in Washington, DC. Fredericksburg is considered the southernmost suburb of Washington (and the northernmost suburb of Richmond). It is a transportation partnership
of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC).
Its organization consists of the VRE Operations Board, which consists of seven commissioners [the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) and three commissioners each from NVTC and PRTC], which oversees all operating aspects of the Virginia Railway Express, and the VRE Operations Group, which reports to the Board and handles the daily operations of the VRE.
The fare structure is distance-based. Stations are divided up into nine zones. Through a [http://www.vre.org/service/marc.htm cross-honoring agreement] extended through April 2006, VRE and MARC honor each other's tickets traveling in each direction.
MARC
Fredericksburg Line
The Fredericksburg Line runs north-south along trackage owned by CSX.
Manassas Line
The Manassas Line runs east-west along trackage owned by Norfolk Southern.
See also
- List of Washington, DC railroads
- List of United States railroads
External links
- [http://www.vre.org/ Virginia Railway Express] Official site
- [http://www.vre.org/service/systmmp.htm System Map]
- [http://www.vre.org/campaign_2003 VRE Working Towards a Better Tomorrow] Historical info from 2003 campaign
Category:U.S. regional rail systems
Category:Virginia railroads
Category:District of Columbia railroads
Commuter railroads in push-pull commuter service ([http://www.trainweb.com www.trainweb.com] photo).]]
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Commuter rail services in the United States and Canada provide common carrier passenger transportation along railway tracks, with scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis primarily for short-distance (local) travel between a central business district and adjacent suburbs and regional travel between cities of a conurbation. It does not include rapid transit or light rail service.
Commuter rail operators often sell reduced fare multiple-trip tickets (such as a monthly or weekly pass), charge specific station-to-station fares, and have one or two stations in the central business district.
Many commuter railways offer service during peak times only, and on a round-trip basis. For example, West Coast Express runs trains only into Vancouver during the morning rush hour, and out to the suburbs in the evening. This mode of operation is in many cases simplified by ending the train with a special passenger carriage (sometimes referred to as a 'cab coach'), which has an operating cab attached to the end and can control the locomotive remotely so as to avoid having to turn the train around at each end of its route. Other systems avoid the issue entirely by using bi-directional multiple units.
Commuter trains are typically connected to metro or bus services both at their destination and along their route to extend the range of accessibility. Some, such as GO Transit in the Greater Toronto Area, run bus or coach services in tandem with their passenger trains.
Commuter trains are usually powered by diesel-electric or electric locomotives, or in some cases use self-contained multiple units. Electric power in some instances is transmitted via third rail or overhead wire and catenary. Electric power is often favoured where it is available due to quicker acceleration, lower noise, and fewer air-quality issues. Electric power and even more so multiple-unit trains are, however, much less common than on European railways.
Diesel-electric locomotives based on the EMD F40PH design as well as the F59PHI are popular commuter motive power. Gallery cars made by Nippon Sharyo, Budd, or Kawasaki are common rolling stock, as are Bombardier's BiLevel coaches.
Most commuter rail services in North America are operated by agencies of government entities or quasi-governmental organisations. Some share the tracks or rights-of-way used by Amtrak, VIA Rail, freight trains, or other commuter services. The 600 mile-long electrified Northeast Corridor in the United States is shared by commuter trains and Amtrak's Acela Express, Regional, and intercity trains.
List of U.S. and Canadian commuter rail operators
There are 21 commuter rail systems in the United States and Canada. They are:
External links
- [http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/023cxfmf.asp Commuter Railroads]
See also
- Regional rail
- List of suburban and commuter rail systems
- Northeast Corridor
- Transit (transportation)
- Public transport
Category:Public transport
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia is a regional area consisting of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Together with Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland and West Virginia, it makes up the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country.
The Northern Virginia area forms part of the Virginia portion of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA, a Metropolitan Statistical Area. Northern Virginia as a whole is very wealthy and the richest area in Virginia.
Demographics
1.9 million people (about 1/4th of Virginia's total population) live in Northern Virginia.
The racial breakdown of the population of Northern Virginia is as follows:
- 66% White
- 11% Hispanic
- 11% Black
- 9% Asian
- 3% mixed race.
Politics
Despite being the home of The Pentagon and well over 100 defense contracting companies, Northern Virginia is becoming known for being more liberal in its voting patterns than the rest of Virginia, which is more conservative.
In the 2004 presidential elections, 53% of Northern Virginia voters voted for John Kerry, the Democratic candidate, and 46% voted for George W. Bush, the Republican candidate. This contrasted with the rest of Virginia, where 43% of voted for John Kerry and 56% for George Bush. Kerry also carried Fairfax County, the most populous county in Virginia, and Fairfax City, the first time those jurisdictions had voted Democratic in 40 years. The strongest support in the area for the Democrats lies inside the Beltway, in Arlington, Alexandria, and parts of Fairfax County. The more distant areas (i.e., Loudoun County and Prince William County) are generally more conservative though as they have increased in population they have also become more liberal.
The 8th, the 10th, and the 11th congressional districts lie within Northern Virginia. The 8th district votes overwhelmingly Democratic while the other two districts generally elect Republican congressmen but by smaller margins. The current congressman from the 8th district is Jim Moran (D), the current congressman from the 10th district is Frank Wolf (R), and the current congressman from the 11th district is Tom Davis (R). All three districts have moved toward the Democratic Party in recent years, though the Republicans Wolf and Davis have not yet seen serious threats to their seats.
In the 2005 Gubernatorial election, the entire region continued to move away from the Republicans. Fairfax County, Arlington County, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, and Falls Church, and for the first time, Loudoun County and Prince William County, went to Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate. The area continued to be more Democratic the closer it was to Washington, DC, but Richmond native Kaine was able to accomplish what Northern Virginian Mark Warner had been unable to do just four years earlier in 2001: carry Loudoun County and Prince William County (as well as win over 60% of the vote in Fairfax County).
Culture
Northern Virginia is widely considered to be more Northern in its culture than the rest of Virginia. This can be attributed to the movement of Northerners to the area and its location near Washington D.C.
Northern Virginia's population is ethnically diverse with significant number of Pakistani-Americans, Indian-Americans, Korean-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Salvadoran, Peruvian, Bolivian, Somali and Ethiopian immigrants. There are large numbers of restaurants, and international food of nearly any type is easy to find. Immigrants have established many shops and many in ethnic centers.
Due to the proximity to the capital, many Northern Virginians go to Washington D.C. for cultural outings. The Kennedy Center is a popular place for performances as is Wolf Trap Park in Vienna. Nissan Pavilion and the MCI Center serve as popular concert venues and MCI Center also serves as the home of sporting events. Smithsonian museums also serve as local cultural institutions with easy proximity to Northern Virginia and the new Udvar-Hazy center of the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport is popular as well.
Tysons Corner Center ("Tysons I") is one of the largest malls in the country and is a hub for shopping in the area. Tysons Galleria ("Tysons II"), its counterpart across Dolly Madison Boulevard, carries higher-end stores. Other malls include Springfield Mall, Fair Oaks Mall, and The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Reston Town Center and Dulles Town Center serve the newer suburbs near Reston and eastern Loudoun county and are different from traditional malls. Potomac Mills is also one of the largest malls in the region and is located in Prince William County. The Town of Leesburg, in Loudoun County, is locally famous for its outlet mall, Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets.
Fairfax County is the second-richest county in the nation with an outstanding public school system, including Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, an award-winning magnet school. Since the mid-1990s, Loudoun County has become known as America's fastest-growing county.
Transportation
Loudoun County.]]
The area has two major airports, Washington Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. While flights from the older National Airport are restricted for distance, frequency, and flight paths due to the proximity to federal facilities, Dulles is the fastest-growing airport in the world, and as of this writing is number five in terms of aircraft movement. In recent years it has become a major center for low-cost flights as it is the primary hub of Independence Air as well as a major hub for jetBlue, Ted, and others.
Commuters are served by the Washington Metro subway and the Virginia Railway Express, a commuter railroad. Metro is the second-busiest subway system in the nation; only New York City's subway system carries more passengers. A planned expansion project will, if built, extend the system past Dulles Airport. Bus service is provided by WMATA's Metrobus and many local jurisdictions also provide bus service.
Major highways include interstates 495 (Capital Beltway), 95, 395, and 66; US routes 1, 29, and 50; and local routes Fairfax County Parkway and Franconia-Springfield Parkway. High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are used for commuters and buses in I-66 and I-95/395. (Also see slugging.)
Northern Virginia suffers from severe road congestion. The congestion consistently ranks with Los Angeles, California and San Francisco, California as one of the worst three areas in the nation. To alleviate gridlock, local governments encourage using Metro, HOV, carpooling, and other forms of mass transportation. The conditions are only getting worse, however, as the population skyrockets. The roads are one of the biggest local issues. The current reconstruction of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge near Alexandria on the portion of the Capital Beltway which also carries Interstate 95 into Maryland will double the traffic lanes at that particular bottleneck area. Several public-private partnership proposals to increase capacities of the Beltway and Interstate 95 south of Springfield to be funded through collection of tolls are under consideration by VDOT. On November 5, 2002, voters rejected a referendum to raise the sales tax to pay for transportation improvements[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A10828-2002Nov5¬Found=true]. The measure was criticized as a subsidy for developers, who would merely build more houses along the new roads and add to the congestion[http://www.nosprawltax.org/].
Economy
In recent years, Northern Virginia has become so filled with technology companies that it is often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of the East." The best-known of these technology companies is AOL. This economic boom has attracted many people from outside the region, from all over the country and throughout the world. The region has recovered relatively quickly from the effects of the dot com bubble.
It also is a desirable spot for defense contractors because of the Pentagon and the proximity to the national capital.
The Federal government is a large employer in Northern Virginia and Northern Virginia is also home to several government agencies such as the CIA and the Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of Defense. The Federal Government helps to prevent Northern Virginia from feeling the effects of recessions.
The Northern Virginia Royals USL soccer team calls Woodbridge home.
External link
- [http://www.virginia-home.com Virginia Relocation Directory]
- [http://www.pwconserve.org Prince William Conservation Alliance]
Reference
- Melton, R.H.: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A10828-2002Nov5¬Found=true Voters Reject Roads Tax: Defeat Is a Major Loss for Gov. Warner], The Washington Post, Nov. 6, 2002.
Category:Geography of Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia, 50 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 55 miles north of Richmond, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 19,279. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County for statistical purposes. This city is a part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
History
Located on the Rappahannock River near the head of navigation at the fall line, Fredericksburg developed as the frontier of colonial Virginia shifted west out of the coastal plain. The land on which the city was founded was part of a tract patented in 1671. The Virginia Assembly established a fort on the Rappahannock in 1676, just below the present-day city. In 1714, Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood sponsored a German settlement called Germanna on the Rapidan River, a tributary of the Rappahannock upstream from the future site of the city, and led an expedition westward over the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1716.
As interest in the frontier grew, the colonial assembly responded by forming a new county named Spotsylvania (after the governor) in 1720 and establishing Fredericksburg in 1728 as a port for the county, of which it was then a part. Named for Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of George II and father of George III, the colonial town's streets bore the names of members of the royal family. The county court was moved to Fredericksburg in 1732 and the town served as county seat until 1780 when the courthouse was moved closer to the county’s center. Fredericksburg was incorporated as a town, with its own court, council, and mayor, in 1781, and received its charter as a city in 1879. The city adopted the city manager/council form of government in 1911.
The city has close associations with George Washington, whose family moved to the Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg in 1738. Washington's mother Mary later moved to the city, and his sister Betty lived at Kenmore, a plantation house then outside the city. Other significant early residents include the Revolutionary War generals Hugh Mercer and George Weedon, naval war hero John Paul Jones, and future U.S. president James Monroe.
During the 19th century Fredericksburg sought to maintain its sphere of trade but with limited success, promoting the development of a canal on the Rappahannock and construction of a turnpike and plank road to bind the interior country to the market town. By 1837 a north-south railroad linked the town to Richmond, the state capital, but a much-needed railroad joining the town to the farming region to the west remained unfinished until after the Civil War.
Civil War
During the American Civil War, Fredericksburg gained strategic importance due to its location midway between Washington and Richmond, the opposing capitals of the Union and the Confederacy. During the battle of Fredericksburg, December 11-15, 1862, the town sustained significant damage due to bombardment and looting at the hands of Union forces. A second battle was fought in and around the town on May 3 1863, in connection with the Chancellorsville campaign (April 27 - May 6 1863). The battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House were fought nearby in May 1864.
After the war Fredericksburg recovered its former position as a center of local trade and slowly grew beyond its prewar boundaries. The University of Mary Washington was founded here in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women. Adopting the name of Mary Washington College in 1938, the college was for many years associated with the University of Virginia as a women’s liberal arts college. The college became coeducational in 1970 and is now independent of UVa. A separate campus for graduate and professional studies is located in suburban Stafford County.
Today Fredericksburg is the commercial hub of a rapidly growing region in north central Virginia. Despite recent decades of suburban growth, reminders of the area’s past abound. A 40-block national historic district embraces the city’s downtown area and contains more than 350 buildings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Notable homes include Kenmore, home of Washington’s sister Betty, and the Mary Washington House, where his mother spent her final years.
Other historic buildings and museums include the late 18th century Rising Sun Tavern, Hugh Mercer apothecary shop, and the James Monroe law office museum. Significant public buildings include the 1852 courthouse designed by James Renwick, whose works include the Smithsonian Institution’s castle building in Washington and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, and the 1816 town hall and market house. The latter building now houses a local history museum and cultural center.
Nearby points of interest include George Washington Birthplace National Memorial, located 38 miles to the east in Westmoreland County, and the Ferry Farm historic site in Stafford County, where Washington spent his boyhood across the river from Fredericksburg. The historic community of Falmouth lies across the Rappahannock to the north and includes the historic house Belmont, home of American artist Gari Melchers.
The area’s Civil War battles are commemorated in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park. Formed by an act of Congress in 1927, the national military park preserves portions of the battlefields of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. The Fredericksburg National Cemetery, also part of the park, is located on Marye’s Heights on the Fredericksburg battlefield and contains more than 15,000 Union burials from the area’s battlefields.
Geography
1927
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.2 km² (10.5 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.
It is bounded on the north and east by the Rappahannock River; across the river is Stafford County; and is bounded on the south and west by Spotsylvania County.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 19,279 people, 8,102 households, and 3,921 families residing in the city. The population density is 707.6/km² (1,833.0/mi²). There are 8,888 housing units at an average density of 326.2/km² (845.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 73.18% White, 20.41% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. 4.90% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,102 households out of which 21.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.8% are married couples living together, 13.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% are non-families. 39.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.09 and the average family size is 2.81.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 23.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,585, and the median income for a family is $47,148. Males have a median income of $33,641 versus $25,037 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,527. 15.5% of the population and 10.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Media
Fredericksburg's daily newspaper is The Free Lance–Star. The Free Lance was first published in 1885, and was joined by the Daily Star in 1893. In 1900, the two companies merged, and both newspapers continued to be published until 1926, when they merged under the present title. Since that time, the Free Lance–Star has been owned and operated by members of the Rowe family of Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg is often considered part of the Washington, D.C. media market, and city residents receive television and radio signals from both Washington and Richmond, as well as the newspapers of those cities. Fredericksburg and the nearby region also have several radio stations, including (on the FM dial) WJYJ (90.5, Christian), WFLS (93.3, country), WGRQ (95.9, "Rockin' Oldies"), WWUZ (96.9, classic rock), WYSK (99.3, modern rock), WBQB ("B-101.5", adult contemporary), and WGRX ("Thunder 104.5", country). Fredericksburg AM stations include WFVA (1230, news/talk) and WYSK (1350, Spanish-language). WFLS, WWUZ and WYSK are owned by the Free Lance–Star Company.
External links
- [http://www.fredericksburgva.gov Official web site of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia]
- [http://www.fredtalk.com/ FredTalk, a community forum with over 12000 users discussing Fredericksburg, VA area topics]
- [http://www.fredericksburgvirginia.net/ Fredericksburg Virginia]
- [http://www.fredericksburgvirginia.com/ Fredericksburg, Virginia Discount Hotels, Motels & Inns]
- [http://www.fredericksburgareatourism.com/ Fredericksburg Area Tourism]
- [http://www.fredericksburgreceptive.com/ Fredericksburg, Virginia Area Tourism]
- [http://photos.historical-markers.org/va-fredericksburg Fredericksburg's Historical Markers]
- [http://www.historypoint.org/ Local history resources from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library web site]
- [http://www.fredericksburg.com/ Fredericksburg.com, the website of the Free Lance-Star newspaper]
- [http://www.kenmore.org/ George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation (administering Kenmore and Ferry Farm)]
- [http://www.apva.org/apva/mary_washington_house.php Mary Washington House]
- [http://www.mwc.edu/jmmu/ James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library]
- [http://www.famcc.org/ Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center]
- [http://www.nps.gov/frsp/ Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park]
- [http://www.mwc.edu/belm/index.html Belmont, the Gari Melchers Estate and Memorial Gallery]
- [http://www.umw.edu/ University of Mary Washington]
Category:Cities in Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
Manassas is an independent city located in the state of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 35,135. This city is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The Bureau_of_Economic_Analysis combines the city of Manassas (along with Manassas Park) with Prince William County for statistical purposes. The City of Manassas is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.
History
According to legend, the name Manassas was derived from an Indian source or from Manasseh, a Jewish innkeeper at Manassas Gap. Manassas originated in 1852 at the junction of two railroads which linked Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. with the Shenandoah Valley and Richmond.
In 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas), the first major land battle of the American Civil War, was fought near here. The Second Battle of Bull Run (or Second Manassas) was fought near here on August 28-30, 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with rails leading to Richmond, Virginia, Washington, DC, and the Shenandoah Valley. Despite these two Confederate victories, Manassas Junction was in Union hands for most of the war.
The crossroads grew into the town of Manassas following the war, incorporated in 1873. In 1892, it became the county seat of Prince William County, replacing Brentsville. In 1975, Manassas became an independent city.
In modern times, Manassas's development has been strongly developed by its position as a suburb of Washington, D.C.. It has developed major problems with traffic and urban sprawl.
Geography
Manassas is located at 38°45'5" North, 77°28'35" West (38.751415, -77.476396).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.8 km² (10.0 mi²). 25.7 km² (9.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.20% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 35,135 people, 11,757 households, and 8,441 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,366.1/km² (3,537.0/mi²). There are 12,114 housing units at an average density of 471.0/km² (1,219.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 72.05% White, 12.91% African American, 0.36% Native American, 3.43% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 7.89% from other races, and 3.26% from two or more races. 15.13% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,757 households out of which 42.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% are married couples living together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% are non-families. 21.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.92 and the average family size is 3.39.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $60,409, and the median income for a family is $70,141. Males have a median income of $43,646 versus $30,678 for females. The per capita income for the city is $24,453. 6.3% of the population and 3.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.6% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Famous (or Infamous) Residents
In 1993, Lorena Bobbitt severed her husband John Wayne Bobbitt's penis as he slept. The story and trial garnered international headlines and under unfortunate circumstances, put Manassas on the map.
Mary Roach and Travis Tucker both appeared in season four of American Idol (Manassas is one of only a handful, and the smallest, of communities to have more than one unrelated notable contestant in the same season).
In October of 2002, Dean Harold Meyers was shot while pumping his gas at a Manassas gas station. This shooting was one of many linked to the Beltway sniper.
Ryan Brocatto (a boy from Manassas) was accused of killing his mother.
Schools
Manassas is an independent school district. There are five elementary schools in Manassas, one middle school, and one high school.
Elementary Schools
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/baldwin/ Baldwin Elementary School]
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/haydon/ R.C. Haydon Elementary School]
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/round/ George C. Round Elementary School]
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/weems/ Weems Elementary School]
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/dean/ Jennie Dean Elementary School]
Middle Schools
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/metz/ Grace E. Metz Middle School]
- Constructed in 1991.
High Schools
- [http://www.seton-school.org Seton School]
- [http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/osbourn/ Osbourn High School]
- Originally built as a temporary high school while a new, larger structure was being built. Around this time, however, the City of Manassas split away from the Prince William County school system and became an independent school district. In 2000 the entire school, excluding the vocational wing, was rebuilt from the ground up.
External links
- [http://www.manassascity.org/ City of Manassas]
Category:Cities in Virginia
Category:Washington, D.C. suburbs
Category:Geography of Virginia
Union Station (Washington, DC)
Union Station is the grand ceremonial train station designed to be the entrance to Washington, DC when it opened in 1907.
It is one of the busiest and best-known places in Washington DC, visited by 20 million people each year. The terminal is served by Amtrak, MARC and VRE commuter railroads, and the Washington Metro transit system of buses and subway trains.
History
When the Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio Railroads announced in 1901 that they planned to build a new terminal, people in the city celebrated for two reasons. The decision meant, first of all, that the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) would soon remove its tracks and terminal from the Mall. Though changes there appeared only gradually, the PRR's move allowed the creation of the Mall as it appears today. Second, the plans to bring all the city's railroads under one roof promised that Washington would finally have a station large enough to handle large crowds and impressive enough to reflect the Capital's role.
Architecture and construction
Architect Daniel Burnham, assisted by Pierce Anderson, used a number of techniques to convey this message: neoclassical elements combined the Roman architecture of the triumphal arch with the great vaulted spaces of Imperial Roman public baths, such as the Baths of Diocletian in Rome; prominent siting at the intersection of two of Pierre L'Enfant's avenues, with an orientation that faced the United States Capitol, just five blocks away; a massive scale, including a facade stretching more than 600' and a waiting room ceiling 96' above the floor; stone inscriptions and allegorical sculpture in the Beaux-Arts manner; expensive materials such as marble, gold leaf, and white granite from a previously unused quarry.
gold leaf; to the right is the Thurgood Marshall Judiciary Center.]]
Above the main cornice of the central block stand colossal statues designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens whose iconography expresses the confident enthusiasm of the "American Renaissance" movement: Fire, Electricity, Freedom, Imagination, Agriculture and Mechanics. The substitution of Agriculture for Commerce in a railroad station iconography vividly conveys the power of a specifically American lobbying bloc.
Burnham drew upon a well-developed tradition of treating the entrance to a major railroad terminal as a triumphal arch, a tradition that had been initiated in London at Euston Station. He linked the monumental end pavilions with long arcades enclosing loggias in a long series of bays that were vaulted with the lightweight fireproof Guastavino tiles favored by American Beaux-Arts architects. The final aspect owed a great deal to the Court of Honor at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, where Burnham had been coordinating architect. The setting of Union Station's facade at the focus of converging avenues in a park-like green setting is one of the few executed achievements of the "City Beautiful" movement: elite city planning that was based on the "goosefoot" (patte d'oie) of formal garden plans made by Baroque designers like André Le Notre. The radiating avenues can been seen in the satellite view (illustration, right).
Modernist architectural critics detested the imperial bombast of the Beaux-Arts style in all its manifestations, and Union Station has been no exception.
Within the station was a full range of dining rooms and other services, including barber shops and a mortuary. Union Station was equipped with a presidential suite (now occupied by a restaurant) that was prompted by the recent assassinations of Presidents James Garfield and William McKinley. Garfield had actually been shot at Washington's Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station July 2, 1881, while he waited for a train.
Operations
Union Station opened on October 27, 1907 with the arrival of a B&O passenger train from Pittsburgh. The terminal quickly became the portal to the Capital. At no time was it busier than during World War II, when as many as 200,000 people passed through in a single day.
On the morning of January 15, 1953, the Pennsylvania Railroad's Federal Express crashed into the station. When brake couplings failed, the train skidded for two miles and passed right through the stationmaster's office at the end of track 16 at a speed estimated at 30 to 50 mph, demolishing it, but no one was killed. The accident inspired the finale of the 1976 film Silver Streak.
For most of its existence, Union Station served as a hub, with service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, and Southern Railway. The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad provided a link to Richmond, Virginia, about 100 miles to the south, where major north-south lines of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Seaboard Air Line Railroad provided service to the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.
Decline and restoration
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Like the fate which befell most American railroad stations, the financial and physical condition of Union Station deteriorated after World War II as train travel declined and federal funding created a competitive interstate highway system. In 1958, the B&O and Pennsylvania Railroads considered giving away the station or perhaps razing it and constructing an office building on the site. In 1963, the feasibility of transforming the station into a cultural center was evaluated, but that proposal eventually became the Kennedy Center. Two years later, a Smithsonian Institution study suggested using Union Station as a railroad museum, but the organization's secretary felt other projects - including the National Air and Space Museum - took precedence.
In 1967, the chairman of the U.S. Civil Service Commission expressed interest in using Union Station as a visitor center during the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations. Funding for this was collected over the next six years, and the reconstruction of the station included outfitting the Main Hall with a recessed pit to display a slide show presentation. The entire project was completed, save for the parking garage, and opening ceremonies were held on July 4, 1976. Due to a lack of publicity and convenient parking, the National Visitor Center was never popular. Following a 1977 General Accounting Office report indicating Union Station was in danger of imminent structural collapse, the National Park Service closed the presentation in "The Pit" on October 28, 1978.
As a result of the Redevelopment Act of 1981, Union Station was closed for restoration and refurbishing. Mold was growing in the ceiling of the Main Hall, and the carpet laid out for an Inauguration Day celebration was full of cigarette-burned holes. In 1988, then-Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole awarded $70 million to the restoration effort. "The Pit" was transformed into a new basement level, and the Main Hall floor was refitted with marble. While installing new ventilation systems, crews discovered antique items in shafts that had not been opened since the building's creation. The decorative elements of the station were also restored.
Current use
ventilation systems
The station reopened in its present form in 1988. The former "Pit" area was replaced with an AMC movie theater and a large food court, a variety of shops opened along the Concourse and Main Hall, and a new Amtrak terminal at the back behind the original Concourse. In 1994, the passenger concourse was renamed to honor retired Amtrak president W. Graham Claytor Jr. of Roanoke, Virginia, who served for 11 years, from 1982 until 1993.
Today Union Station is again one of Washington's busiest and best-known places, visited by 20 million people each year. The terminal is located at the southern end of the Northeast Corridor, an electrified rail line extending north through major cities to Boston, Massachusetts.
Passenger services include Amtrak's high-speed Acela Express, Amtrak's intercity trains, the MARC and VRE commuter railways, linking Washington to Maryland and Virginia, respectively; and the Washington Metro Red Line.
Amtrak owns and maintains the building and its main headquarters are located here.
Union Station carries the IATA airport code of ZWU. [http://www.lastupdate.com/usairports/airportcodes_us_w.html]
Union Station in the Media
Washington's Union Station has featured as a location in numerous movies, not all as memorable as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Others include Hannibal, The Recruit, Along Came a Spider, Collateral Damage and Wedding Crashers.
Several episodes of the television series The West Wing have used Union Station as a setting.
The station has also been the subject of multiple books. The 128-page Union Station: A Decorative History of Washington's Grand Terminal by Carol Highsmith and Ted Landphair tells the complete history of the station through text and photographs. Presidential daughter Margaret Truman's Capital Crimes mystery series includes a Murder at Union Station novel.
See also
- List of Union Stations
External links
- [http://www.unionstationdc.com/ Official Site]
- [http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/washdc/unionsta/unionstation.html Union Station]
- [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc80.htm Renovation of Union Station]
- [http://www.dcnrhs.org/union_station/ National Railway Historical Society:] brief history
- [http://www.dcnrhs.org/union_station/union_wreck.htm NIHS Wreck of the Federal Express]
- [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&c=am2Station&cid=1080080552526&ssid=91 Amtrak]
Washington
Washington
Washington, D.C.
Category:Washington, D.C. landmarks
Category:Transportation in Washington, D.C.
Category:IATA-indexed train stations
category:Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
category:Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Category:National Register of Historic Places
Washington DC
Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America. "D.C." stands for the "District of Columbia", the federal district containing the city of Washington. The city is named for George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. The District of Columbia and the city of Washington are coextensive and are governed by a single municipal government, so for most practical purposes they are considered to be the same entity. It is known locally as the District or simply D.C. Historically, it was called the Federal City.
The District of Columbia, founded on July 16, 1790, is a federal district as specified by the United States Constitution with limited—and sometimes contentious—local rule. The District is ruled "in all cases whatsoever" by the U.S. Congress, though its residents have no voting representative in that body. The land forming the original District came from the states of Virginia and Maryland. However, the area south of the Potomac River (39 mi² or about 100 km²) was returned, or "retroceded", to Virginia in 1847 and now is incorporated into Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The term "District of Columbia" is derived from an old poetic name for the United States, Columbia, which has fallen out of common use since the early 20th century.
The centers of all three branches of the U.S. federal government are in Washington, D.C., as well as the headquarters of most federal agencies. Washington also serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States, among other international (and national) institutions. All of this has made Washington the frequent focal point of massive political demonstrations and protests, particularly on the National Mall. Washington is also the site of numerous national landmarks, museums, and sports teams, and is a popular destination for tourists.
The population of the District of Columbia, as of 2003 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is 563,384. The Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area includes the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, with a population surpassing 4.7 million. If Washington, D.C. were considered a state, it would rank last in area behind Rhode Island, 50th in population ahead of Wyoming, and 36th in Gross State Product, ahead of 15 states.
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History
Wyoming map of Washington, D.C.]]
A Southern site for the new country's capital was agreed upon at a dinner between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. The initial plan for the "Federal City" was a diamond, ten miles wide on each side, totaling 100 square miles (260 square kilometers). The actual site on the Potomac River was chosen by President Washington. Washington may have chosen the site for its natural scenery, believing the Potomac would become a great navigable waterway. The city was officially named "Washington" on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, George Washington never referred to it as such, preferring to call it "the Federal City". Despite choosing the site and living nearby at Mount Vernon, he rarely visited.
On August 24, 1814, British forces burned the capital during the most notable and destructive raid of the War of 1812. President James Madison and U.S. forces fled before the British forces, who burned public buildings including the Capitol, the Navy Yard, and the Treasury building. The Presidential Mansion was also gutted.
James Madison
Washington remained a small city of a few thousand permanent residents until the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War in 1861. The significant expansion of the federal government to administer the war and its legacies—such as veterans' pensions—led to notable growth in the city's population.
In July 1864, Confederate forces under Jubal Anderson Early made a brief raid into Washington, culminating in the Battle of Fort Stevens. The Confederates were repulsed and Early eventually returned to the Shenandoah Valley. The site, now called [http://www.nps.gov/batt/ Battleground National Cemetery] is located near present day Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Northwest Washington. The battle was the only battle where a U.S. President, Lincoln, was present and under enemy fire while in office [http://www.nps.gov/rocr/ftcircle/stevens.htm 1].
In the early 1870s, Washington was given a territorial government, but Governor Alexander Shepherd's reputation for extravagance resulted in Congress abolishing his office in favor of direct rule. Congressional governance of the District would continue for a century.
The Washington Monument opened in 1888. Plans were laid to further develop the monumental aspects of the city, with work contributed by such noted figures as Frederick Law Olmsted and Daniel Burnham. However, development of the Lincoln Memorial and other structures on the National Mall did not begin until the early 20th century.
Lincoln Memorial
The District's population peaked in 1950, when the census for that year recorded a record population of 802,178 people. At the time, the city was the ninth-largest in the country, ahead of Boston and behind Saint Louis. The population declined in the following decades, mirroring the suburban out-migration of many of the nation's older urban centers following World War II.
The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on March 29, 1961, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president and have their votes count in the Electoral College.
The first 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers) of the Washington Metro subway system opened on March 27, 1976.
Walter Washington became the first elected mayor of the District in 1974. Marion Barry became mayor in 1978, but he was arrested for drug use in an FBI sting on January 18, 1990 and would serve a six-month jail term. His successor, Sharon Pratt Kelly, became the first black woman to lead a city of that size and importance in the U.S. But Barry defeated her in the 1994 primary and was once again elected mayor for his fourth term, during which time the city nearly became insolvent and was forced to give up some home rule to a congressionally-appointed financial control board.
On September 29, 2004, Major League Baseball officially relocated the Montreal Expos to Washington for the 2005 season, now named the Washington Nationals, despite opposition from Orioles owner Peter Angelos. A very public back-and-forth between the city council and MLB threatened to scuttle the agreement until December 21, when a plan for a new stadium in Southeast D.C. was finalized. The Nationals will play at R.F.K. Stadium until the new stadium is ready in 2008.
Geography and climate
Geography
2008, 2002. The axes bounding its quadrants radiate from the U.S. Capitol building.]]
Washington, D.C. is located at (the coordinates of the Zero Milestone, on The Ellipse). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 177.0 km² (68.3 mi²). 159.0 km² (61.4 mi²) of it is land and 18.0 km² (6.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.16% water.
Washington is surrounded by the states of Virginia (on its southwest side) and Maryland (on its southeast, northeast, and northwest sides); it interrupts those states' common border, which is the Potomac River's southern shore both upstream and downstream from the District. The Potomac River as it passes Washington is virtually entirely within the District of Columbia border.
The physical geography of the District of Columbia is very similar to the physical geography of much of Maryland. The District has three major natural flowing bodies of water: the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and Rock Creek. The Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac River. There are also three man-made reservoirs: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District from Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown.
The highest point in the District of Columbia is 410 feet (125 m) above sea level at Tenleytown. The lowest point is sea level, which occurs along all of the Anacostia shore and all of the Potomac shore except the uppermost mile (the Little Falls - Chain Bridge area). The sea level Tidal Basin rose eleven feet during Hurricane Isabel on September 18, 2003.
Geographical features of Washington, D.C. include Theodore Roosevelt Island, Columbia Island, the Three Sisters, and Hains Point.
Climate
Washington's weather is seasonal subtropical with some variations between summer and winter, although it is moderated by its proximity to the coast, making its climate more moderate than cities at a similar latitude further inland. Summer tends to be very hot and humid with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s° to low 90s°F (about 30°C). Spring and fall are mild with high temperatures in April and October averaging in the high 60s°F (about 20°C). Winter can bring cold temperatures and, on some occassions, significant snowfall. While hurricanes (or the remnants of them) occasionally track through the area, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington.
The average annual snowfall is 17 inches (430 mm) and the average high temperature in January is 43°F (6°C); the average low for January is 24°F (−4°C). The highest recorded temperature was 106°F (41°C) on July 20, 1930 and August 6, 1918 and the lowest recorded temperature was −15°F (−26°C) on February 11, 1899.
1899
People and culture
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there are 572,059 people (2004 estimate: 553,523), 248,338 households, and 114,235 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,597.3/km² (9,316.4/mi²). There are 274,845 housing units at an average density of 1,728.3/km² (4,476.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 60.01% Black or African American, 32.78% White, 2.66% Asian, 0.30% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.84% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 7.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race, with Salvadorans being the largest Hispanic group. A plurality of whites are of British ancestry.
There are 248,338 households out of which 19.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.8% are married couples living together, 18.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.0% are non-families. 43.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.16 and the average family size is 3.07.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,127, and the median income for a family is $46,283. Males have a median income of $40,513 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the city is $28,659. 20.2% of the population and 16.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 31.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
As of 2000, 83.2% of Washington, D.C. residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 9.2% speak Spanish. French is the third most spoken language at 1.8%, followed by African languages at 1.0% and Chinese at 0.5%.
According to the 2001 [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf American Religious Identification Survey], nearly three out of four District residents self-identified as Christians. This breaks down to 72% Christian (27% Catholic, 19% Baptist, and 26% as some other form of Protestant), 13% stating no religion, and minor religions including 4% Buddhist, 2% Muslim, and 1% Jewish.
Housing
Due in part to the renewed expansion of the federal government, Washington has experienced a huge housing boom that has seen thousands of units constructed, along with thousands of people moving to the District. While the Census Bureau estimated in 2005 that the District's population will drop to 433,000 by 2030, city officials alleged systemic undercounting and released their own estimate that the District's population will rise to 712,000 by 2030.
Crime
During the violent crime wave of the early 1990s, Washington, D.C. was known as the murder capital of the United States. The number of homicides peaked in 1991 at 482, with violence declining drastically since then. Once plagued with violent crime, many D.C. neighborhoods, such as Columbia Heights, are becoming safe and vibrant areas as a result of gentrification. While not as intensely violent, crime hot spots have since displaced farther into the eastern sections of Washington, D.C. and across the border into Maryland. Although the eastern side of the city has developed a reputation for being unsafe, these crime hot spots are generally concentrated in very specific areas that are associated with drugs and gangs. Other areas east of the U.S. Capitol, as well as the city's wealthier Northwest neighborhoods, experience low levels of crime. Despite the declining trends, Washington D.C. crime rates (2004) remain among the highest of U.S. cities, behind only Camden, New Jersey, Detroit, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri, and Gary, Indiana. [http://www.morganquitno.com/cit05pop.htm#25]
Landmarks and museums
Gary, Indiana
Washington is home to numerous national landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. The National Mall is a large, open area in the center of the city featuring many monuments to American leaders, as well as connecting the White House and the United States Capitol buildings. Located prominently in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument. Other notable points of interest near the Mall include the Jefferson Memorial (see right), Lincoln Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, National World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Albert Einstein Memorial.
The world famous Smithsonian Institution, is also located in the District. The Smithsonian today is a collection of museums that includes the Anacostia Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Zoo.
There are also many art museums in D.C., in addition to those that are part of the Smithsonian, including the National Gallery of Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Corcoran Museum of Art, and the Phillips Collection.
The Library of Congress and the National Archives house thousands of documents covering every period in American history. Some of the more notable documents in the National Archives include the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
Other points of interest in the District include Arena Stage, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Blair House, Folger Shakespeare Library, Ford's Theatre, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, International Spy Museum, National Building Museum, Old Post Office Building, Theodore Roosevelt Island, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Washington National Cathedral.
Media
Newspaper
The Washington Post is the oldest and most-read daily newspaper in Washington, and has developed into one of the most reputable daily newspapers in the U.S., perhaps most notable for exposing the Watergate Scandal, among other achievements. The daily Washington Times and the free weekly Washington City Paper also have substantial readership in the District. On February 1, 2005 the free daily tabloid Washington Examiner debuted, having been formed from a chain of suburban newspapers known as the Journal Newspapers. The weekly Washington Blade focuses on gay issues, and the Washington Informer on African-American issues.
Many neighborhoods in the District have their own small-circulation newspaper, usually published by the neighborhood association on a weekly basis. Some of these papers included the Dupont Current (Dupont Circle), Georgetown Current (Georgetown), In-Towner (Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, & Adams Morgan), Northwest Current (Upper Northwest), the Voice of the Hill, the Hill Rag (Capitol Hill), and East of the River (Anacostia).
Television
The metro area is well served by several local broadcast television stations, and is the eighth largest designated market area in the U.S., with 2,252,550 homes (2.04% of the U.S. population). Major television network affiliates include WUSA 9 (CBS), WJLA 7 (ABC), WRC 4, (NBC), WTTG 5 (Fox), WBDC 50 (WB), WDCA 20 (UPN), as well as WETA 26 and WHUT 32 (PBS) stations. Channels 4, 5, 20, and 50 are owned by the networks themselves. Public Access on Cable Television is also provided by the Public Access Corporation of the District of Columbia on two channels simulcast to both local cable TV Systems. One channel is devoted to religious programming and the other channel provides a diversity of offerings.
Several cable television networks have their headquarters in the Washington area including C-SPAN on Capitol Hill, Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Northeast Washington, and Discovery Communications in Silver Spring, Maryland. Major national broadcasters and cable outlets including NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN also maintain a significant presence in Washington, as do those from around the world including the BBC, CBC, and Al Jazeera.
Radio
Al Jazeera
There are also several major radio stations serving the metro area, with a wide variety of musical interests. Rock stations include WARW 94.7 FM (classic rock), WIHT 99.5 FM (top 40), WWDC, 101.1 FM (alternative rock), and WWZZ 104.1 FM (alternative rock). Urban stations include WPGC 95.5 FM (Rhythmic CHR/Mainstream Urban), WHUR 96.3 FM (student-run Howard University Urban AC station), WMMJ 102.3FM (Urban AC), WKYS 93.9 FM (Mainstream Urban), and Radio CPR 97.5 FM (a popular pirate radio station broadcasting the area around Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights). Stations that concentrate on talk and sports include WJFK 106.7 FM, WMAL 630 AM (conservative), WPGC 1580 AM (Urban Gospel), WTEM 980 AM (sports talk), and WTOP 1500 AM (all news).
There are also two NPR affiliates: WAMU 88.5 FM (usual NPR programs, community programming, and BBC news) and WETA 90.9 FM (round-the-clock news/analysis, broadcasting shows originating mainly from NPR, PRI, and BBC). Other stations include WASH 97.1 FM (adult contemporary), WMZQ 98.7 FM (country music), WLZL 99.1 FM (Latin/Hispanic), WGMS 103.5 FM (classical music), WPFW 89.3 FM (jazz and progressive talk), WJZW 105.9 FM (smooth jazz), and WRQX 107.3 FM (adult contemporary).
XM Satellite Radio and National Public Radio are based in Washington. The Voice of America, the U.S. government's international broadcasting service, is also headquartered in Washington.
Performing arts
There are a number of venues for the performing arts in the city. Arena Stage, one of the first not-for-profit regional theaters in the nation, is rich with history and produces an eight-show season ranging from classics to world premieres, dedicated to the American canon of theater. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, the Washington Ballet, and a variety of other musical and stage performances. Notable local music clubs include Madam's Organ Blues Bar in Adams Morgan; the Eighteenth Street Lounge in the Dupont Circle district; and the Black Cat, the 9:30 Club, and the Bohemian Caverns jazz club, all in the U Street NW area.
D.C. has its own native music genre, called go-go, a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of R&B that blends live sets with relentless dance rhythms (that "go and go and go.") The most accomplished practitioner of go-go was D.C. bandleader Chuck Brown, who brought go-go to the brink of national recognition with his 1979 LP Bustin' Loose. Go-Go band and Washington natives Experience Unlimited hit the American pop charts in 1988 with their memorable dance tune "Da Butt".
Washington was also an important center in the genesis of punk rock in the United States. Punk bands of note from Washington include Fugazi, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat. Native Washingtonians continue to support punk bands, long after the punk movement's popularity peaked. The region also has a storied indie rock history and was home to TeenBeat and Simple Machines, among other indie record labels.
There have also been a number of television series that have featured the District. Most of these have been related to government (The West Wing) or security organizations (The District, Get Smart). Other programs had the nation's capital as a secondary focus, telling stories on their own that were not always tied to the infrastructure of the government either in the district or for the country. For instance, Murphy Brown focused on the lives of the reporters of the (fictional) Washington-based television newsmagazine, FYI. The soap opera Capitol allowed for stories about political intrigue alongside the traditional class struggle sagas. The sitcom 227 portrayed the life of the African-American majority as seen through the eyes of residents in a Washington apartment building.
Sports
Washington Metro area is home to several professional sports teams: the MLS D.C. United, the NHL Washington Capitals, the NBA Washington Wizards, the WNBA Washington Mystics, the MLB Washington Nationals, and the NFL Washington Redskins (now based at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland).
Other professional and semi-professional teams based in D.C. include the USAFL Baltimore Washington Eagles, the NWFA D.C. Divas, the Minor League Football D.C. Explosion, and the Washington Cricket League. It was also home to the WUSA Washington Freedom, and, during the 2000–2002 NLL seasons, the Washington Power was based in the city.
There were two Major League Baseball teams named the Washington Senators in the early and mid-20th century, which left to become respectively the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers. In the 19th century, the town was home to teams called the Washington Nationals, Washington Statesmen, and Washington Senators on and off from the 1870s to the turn of the century.
Washington was also home to several Negro League teams, including the Homestead Grays, Washington Black Senators, Washington Elite Giants, Washington Pilots, and Washington Potomacs.
The MCI Center in Chinatown, Washington, D.C., home to the Capitals, Mystics, Wizards, and the Georgetown Hoyas, is also a major venue for concerts, WWE professional wrestling, and other events.
Washington also hosts the annual Legg Mason Tennis Classic tennis tournament that takes place at the Carter Barron Tennis Center on 16th Street.
Economy
Carter Barron Tennis Center
Washington, D.C. is first and foremost a company town, with the primary company being, of course, the federal government. A significant portion of the metro area's population has some sort of connection to the federal government. Also, the presence of many major government agencies, including the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, or the Food and Drug Administration, has led to a significant amount of business development both in the District itself as well as in the suburbs of northern Virginia and Maryland. These businesses include federal contractors (defense and civilian), numerous nonprofit organizations, law firms and lobbying firms, catering and administrative services companies, and several other industries that are sustained by the enormous economic presence of the federal government.
This arrangement has the effect of making the Washington economy virtually recession-proof relative to the rest of the country, because the federal government will still operate no matter the state of the | | |
