Chapter 3: Foundations of Human Activity

Historical
Washington D.C. is situated in the region first occupied by the Nacotchtank and Piscataway tribes around 4,000 years ago. These tribes were first recorded by English settlers in the early 1600s.

Nacotchtank people with European Settlers (17th Century)
Source: http://www.realtrnva.com/files/159691/people%20having%20a%20meeting.JPG

European settlers would continue to grow in the region, eventually founding present day Georgetown in 1751. After deciding to move the capital of the United States from Philadelphia, an area of land in Maryland was chosen as the new location. This area is know known as Washington D.C. Sites in Virginia, New York and New Jersey were also considered.

Present Day Demographics

Population: 601,723

Population Density: 9,800/sq. mi.

Ethnic Data: 50.7%-African American, 38.5% White, 9.1% Hispanic, 4.1% Other, 3.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American.

• Major sources of immigrants living in Washington D.C. include Vietnam, Ethiopia and El Salvador.
• Population of African Americans living in D.C. has decreased due to movement into suburbs, while the White population has been steadily increased due to Gentrification.

Ethnic Makeup of Washington D.C.
Red-White, Blue-African American, Green-Asian, Orange-Hispanic, Gray-Other
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/4981417821/

Other Data

Religion

• Christian-28% Catholic, 9.1% American Baptist, 6.8 % Southern Baptist, 1.3% Eastern/Oriental Orthodox, 13% Other.
• Non-Christian: 10.6% Islam, 4.5% Judaism, 
• Other/Non-Practicing: 26.8%

Sexuality

• According to the 2000 census, 8.1% of the population labeled themselves as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual.

Income

• Median household income in 2009 was $59,290. (Source: http://www.city-data.com/city/Washington-District-of-Columbia.html)