Washington County, D.C. facts for kids
The County of Washington was an important part of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. It was created in 1801 from parts of Maryland. Washington County included all the land in D.C. east of the Potomac River, plus the islands in the river. Even the riverbed itself was considered part of the county.
Before 1846, another area called Alexandria County was part of D.C. This land was west of the Potomac River and had been given by Virginia. In 1846, Alexandria County, including the city of Alexandria, was given back to Virginia. This left only Washington County as part of D.C. Inside Washington County, there were two main cities: the City of Washington and the City of Georgetown. The areas outside these cities were often called "rural Washington County." In 1871, all three areas were joined under one single government for the entire District of Columbia. This meant Washington County no longer existed as a separate area.
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Exploring Washington County's Past
| Population in County outside cities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1800 | 1,941 | — |
| 1810 | 2,315 | +19.3% |
| 1820 | 2,729 | +17.9% |
| 1830 | 2,994 | +9.7% |
| 1840 | 3,069 | +2.5% |
| 1850 | 3,320 | +8.2% |
| 1860 | 5,225 | +57.4% |
| 1870 | 11,117 | +112.8% |
| Source: | ||
The rural parts of Washington County were mostly open land. They included large estates like Pleasant Plains, Edgewood, and Petworth. Edgewood was the home of Salmon P. Chase, who was a very important government official. The U.S. Soldiers' Retirement Home was also in this area. President Abraham Lincoln lived there during the summers while he was president. Even though it was a large area, not many people lived in rural Washington County until the late 1800s.
Slavery and Freedom in Washington County
Slavery was allowed in Washington County, just like it was in Maryland. However, it was against the law to bring enslaved people from Alexandria County to sell them in Washington County. Slavery officially ended in Washington County in April 1862. This happened because of a law called the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act. This law freed enslaved people and paid their owners for their freedom. This was one of the last places in the United States to end slavery before the 13th Amendment made it illegal everywhere.
Washington County During the Civil War
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Washington County was very important for defense. Many forts were built in a circle around the city of Washington. These forts made Washington one of the most protected cities in the world. The forts in nearby Virginia, held by the Union Army, completed this defense circle. A famous battle, the Battle of Fort Stevens, happened in Washington County on July 11–12, 1864.
Growth and Change After the War
After the Civil War, many of the old estates in Washington County were sold. These lands were then developed into new neighborhoods. These new areas became suburbs for the growing capital city. Some of the first new neighborhoods were LeDroit Park and Mount Pleasant. These became early "streetcar suburbs," meaning people could travel to the city by streetcar. Other communities like Uniontown and Barry Farm also grew. Barry Farm was a special settlement for freedmen, who were formerly enslaved people. These communities developed east of the Anacostia River.
The End of Washington County
Washington County and the cities of Washington and Georgetown stopped being separate in 1871. This happened after a new law was passed, called the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871. This law put the entire District of Columbia under one single government. This new government had a governor, a council, and an assembly. Two spots on the council were for people from the areas outside the cities. Just three years later, Congress changed the government again. They decided to rule the District directly with a group of three appointed leaders.
