Washington County, D.C.
The County of Washington was one of five original political entities within the District of Columbia, the capital territory of the United States. Formed by the Organic Act of 1801, Washington County covered the remainder of the federal district ceded by the state of Maryland beyond the newly founded capital city of Washington and the pre-existing port of Georgetown. The bed of the Potomac River was considered to be part of Washington County as well.[1] The City of Alexandria and adjacent Alexandria County formed the portion of the District ceded by the state of Virginia, but were returned by Congress in 1846.[2]
Contents
Government
Washington County was governed by a levy court that consisted of three Justices of the Peace appointed by the President of the United States. These justices carried out the duties of county commissioners. Despite being within the federal territory, Congress left Washington County subject to the laws of Maryland.[3]
History
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | 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:[4] | |||
Washington County included Pleasant Plains, the estate of the Holmead family; Edgewood, home of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase; and Petworth, the estate of Colonel John Tayloe III. Also contained in Washington County was the U.S. Soldiers' Retirement Home, where President Abraham Lincoln lived during his summers as President. Despite its comparatively large geographic size, Washington County was sparsely populated until the end of the 19th century.
During the American Civil War (1861–65), Washington County contained a partial circle of defensive fortifications that made Washington one of the most heavily fortified cities in the world at that time.[5] The forts surrounding Union-held territory in Virginia completed the defense circle. The Battle of Fort Stevens, July 11–12, 1864, took place in Washington County.
After the Civil War, many of the old estates in Washington County were sold and developed into suburbs for the growing capital city. Among the earliest developments were LeDroit Park and Mount Pleasant, which eventually became the first "streetcar suburb". Uniontown and Barry Farm, a settlement for freedmen, developed east of the Anacostia River.
Washington County was consolidated with the City of Washington and Georgetown in 1871 following the passage of the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871. This law brought the entire District of Columbia under the control of a territorial government headed by an appointed governor, an appointed eleven-member council, and a locally elected 22-member assembly. Two of the eleven council seats were reserved for representatives from the County of Washington.[6] Three years later, Congress abolished the territorial government in favor of direct rule over the District by an appointed three-member commission.[7]
See also
References
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