Washington, D.C.’s oldest neighborhood is also one of the best places to be and live in the capital. Georgetown is a cozy spot in Washington, DC that boasts a picturesque waterfront, rows and rows of outdoor cafes, tree-lined streets and cobblestone sidewalks, as well as some of DC’s most iconic real estate: row houses.
Georgetown covers about 750 acres of land in the Northwest Quadrant. Its boundaries include the Potomac River, Glover Park, Observatory Circle, and Rock Creek.
History highlights:
- Did you know that Georgetown is much older than Washington, D.C.? The neighborhood used to be a port, founded in 1751. It was part of the Province of Maryland then. When the federal capital was established, Georgetown maintained an independent municipal government until 1871. At that time, street names were changed to be similar to the ones used in Washington, D.C.
- Before Georgetown, there was the Native American settlement called Tohoga where Nacotchtank people lived and traded with the English.
- It’s unclear as to whom Georgetown was named after. Some say it’s named after George Gordon, a Scottish merchant who built a tobacco inspection house in the area. Others say Georgetown is named after George Beall, a wealthy landowner. Georgetown might have also been named in honor of George II of Great Britain. He was the reigning monarch when the neighborhood was founded.
Georgetown DC Homes for Sale
History and a great variety of commercial establishments aside, one of the main reasons why Georgetown is a highly sought after place to live in Washington, D.C. is its real estate market. In addition to the ubiquitous and often colorful historic row houses, homes for sale in Georgetown DC also include apartments, upscale condominium complexes, single-family homes on spacious lots, newly-constructed townhomes, and handsome mansions, some of which date back to the city’s early days.
Going through the architectural diversity in Georgetown is like traveling back in time. The oldest homes in Georgetown were usually done in the Georgian, Italianate, Federal, Southern Colonial, Colonial, Second Empire, Greek Revival, and Stick styles. The mid-1800s saw the addition of other styles, such as Romanesque, Jacobethan, Victorian, and Queen Anne, to the neighborhood.
By the 1900s to current times, homes for sale in Georgetown DC also featured Arts and Crafts, revival styles (Federal, Georgian, Greek, Renaissance, etc), Art Deco, post-modern, neo-eclectic, and contemporary architecture.
What is It Like Living in Georgetown DC?
Outstanding educational opportunities
With Georgetown attracting a lot of well-heeled individuals and families in its early days, schools were also established. This made the neighborhood a center of education in the capital. Private schools as well as prep schools became a fixture. These include Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School and Georgetown Day School, with The River School located nearby. Public schools in Georgetown such as Hyde-Addison Elementary School are managed by the District of Columbia Public Schools.
Georgetown is also the home of the famed Georgetown University, situated in a sprawling 102-acre campus. Georgetown University is best known for their business and politics programs.
Getting around Georgetown DC
Although Georgetown doesn’t have its own Metro station, getting in, around, and out of the neighborhood is fairly easy thanks to several modes of public transportation options.
- By Metro: You can hop over to Foggy Bottom Station, which is about 15 to 20 minutes away from the neighborhood center. An alternative would be the Rosslyn, VA Station, which is right across the Key Bridge.
- By D.C. Circulator: Fast, efficient, and inexpensive, you can always take the D.C. Circulator buses. There are two bus stops in Georgetown, located along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. You can also take a D.C. Circulator bus on M Street if you’re headed to the metro stations of Dupont Circle and Rosslyn.
Things to do in Georgetown DC
- Go shopping: The entire lengths of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are lined with an incredible array of fashion stores and specialty shops.
- Hang out by the waterfront: Enjoy an early morning coffee or happy hour cocktail in one of the outdoor cafes and restaurants by the waterfront. You can also rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak from an outfitter and experience the flow of the Potomac River.
- Relax at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal: Although tour boats ply the canal, the area remains a quiet pocket of Georgetown, perfect for walks and runs.
- Check out Georgetown’s most famous homes: There’s the Old Stone House that was built in 1766, the Dumbarton House, Tudor Place, as well as 3307 N Street where John F. Kennedy and his family once lived.
Settle Down in Georgetown
Theo & Partners is a top real estate team in the DC metro region. We are seasoned professionals who know each DC neighborhood well, including coveted Georgetown. We would love to show you around the neighborhood and help you explore homes for sale in Georgetown, Washington, DC. Get in touch with us today and tell us about your real estate goals.
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