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Washington, DC Area Hotels
 Washington, D.C., city and district, capital of the United States of America, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and flanked by Maryland on the north, east, and southeast and by Virginia on the southwest. The city of Washington is coextensive with the District of Columbia (D.C.), the federal district of the United States. Established in 1800 as the seat of national government, a role that still dominates its existence, Washington is today the core of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country and serves as a center of both national and international politics and diplomacy.
 Some of the hotels, motels and resorts available for booking in our reservation network include, Ramada Inn, Marriott Hotels, Super 8 Motels, Econo Lodge, Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Express, Travelodge, Hampton Inn, Sheraton, Hilton, Best Western, Hyatt and Hyatt Regency, Wyndham Inn, Ritz and Ritz Carlton, Days Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, La Quinta Inns, Comfort Inn and Comfort Suite, Embassy Suites, Quality Inn, Radisson Inn, Sleep Inn, Numerous Resorts and Resort Villas throughout the globe, along with Plaza and Plaza Suites and and array of private and Golf Clubs and Golf Resorts.
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District of Columbia
Population
The city's population decreased from 638,432 in 1980 to 606,900 in 1990, as many of its residents moved into other parts of the metropolitan region. Meanwhile, the metropolitan region, which includes the district and parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, increased from 3,478,000 in 1980 to 4,223,000 in 1990. According to the 1990 census, blacks constitute 65.8 percent of the city's population; whites, 29.6 percent; people of Asian origin, 1.8 percent; and Native Americans, 0.2 percent. Hispanics, who may also be counted among other groups, make up 5.4 percent of the population. For more information about the history of Washington's city and regional population, see the history section of this article.
Economy
Washington's economic life is bound to the city's role as the federal capital. No other large U.S. city has an economy so clearly driven by a single economic force. About one-third of Washington's workers are federal government employees. The executive branch is the largest federal employer; the legislative and judicial branches employ fewer people directly, but they draw various service industries to the city. Thousands of organizations such as trade associations, labor unions, and private interest groups are located in the city, and lawyers and consultants abound. Functionally related to the U.S. government are the embassies and legations representing some 140 nations. Major international organizations, such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Organization of American States, add to the international flavor and to the financial and political importance of the city.
Tourism is the second most important aspect of the city's economy. The national monuments and museums attract more than 18 million visitors each year. The city hosts many conventions annually; hotels are numerous, and a major convention center was opened in 1983. The functions of federal and local government and the tourism industry have created a large service economy, which employs over one-third of all Washington's workers. Manufacturing is of minor importance and is dominated by the printing, publishing, and food industries. The city's main daily newspapers are the Washington Post and The Washington Times.
A subway system, which upon completion will be about 160 km (about 100 mi) long, was opened in the mid-1970s and extends into the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Subway service combined with bus service provides an effective transportation network. The city is served by three commercial airports-Washington National, Dulles International, and Baltimore-Washington International-with extensive national and international connections. Union Station, located north of the Capitol, is Washington's principal railroad station.
"Washington, D.C.," Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia.
© 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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