Washington, DC, USA
1854 - Washington

Washington, a city, the political metropolis of the United States, is finely located be tween the Potomac river, and a tributary called the East branch. Its distances from the principal cities of the United States are, on the N. and N. E. from Baltimore, 38 miles ; Philadelphia, 136; New York, 226; Albany, 876; Boston, 432, and Portland, 542 miles ; on the N. W., and W., from Buffalo, 376; Detroit, 526 ; Milwaukee, 700 ; Chicago, 763 ; San Francisco, about 2000, (in an air line;) St. Louis, 856 ; Louisville, 590 ; Cincinnati, 497 ; and Pittsburg, 223 miles ; and on the S. and S. W., from Richmond, 122; Wilmington, (N. C.) 410 ; Charleston, 544 ; Mobile, 1033 ; New Orleans, 1203; and Nashville, 714 miles.

Population. - The resident population of Washington in 1850 was 40,001. But this number is greatly increased during the sessions of Congress, by the accession not only of the members and their families, but of visitors and persons spending the winter or a portion of it here, for the purpose of enjoying the society and gayety of the capital. Though the growth of Washington has not been rapid, it has been steady, and the city has increased within the past few years in a considerably greater ratio than heretofore. There seems no reason to doubt, that as the nation grows in wealth, and the public buildings and collections of art and science accumulate, (as they are rapidly doing,) they will draw after them persons of wealth, leisure, and literary and scientific attainments, who will seek this central point, (agreeable in its latitude for a winter residence.) to spend their wealth, and enjoy the advantages of the best society of the republic congregated from all quarters, and having the additional charm of variety and novelty...

History. - The site for the capital was selected at the original suggestion of President Washington, and by an act of Congress, July 1 8, 1790, the District of Columbia was formed. The corner-stone of the Capitol was laid by General Washington himself, September 18th, 1793, and in 1800 the sent of government wag removed hither from Philadelphia. The census of 1800 gave the population at 3210, which had increased to 8208, in 1810. In 1814, the city was taken by the British, when the Capitol, President's House, and the library of Congress were either wholly destroyed or greatly injured by fire, and other public works defaced. In 1820 the population was 13,247 ; 18,827 in 1830, and 23.304 in 1840. In 1846 was passed the set establishing the Smithsonian Institute; in 1850 the slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia; and in 1851 the foundations were laid for the extension of the Capitol.


A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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