Now now, Stuyguy. New York was the capital of the US for a total of 5 years, from 1785 to 1790. The capital had already moved to Philadelphia by the time Hamilton proposed that the Fed Govt assume the states’ war debts. Philadelphia held the capital from 1790 to 1800, and as it was the center of politics, people, and culture in America, and had been for several years, I hardly think New York could have gotten the capital back.
But don’t fret. Just think about how much better the NYC subway is than SEPTA (Philly subway.) Of course, there were days when I felt that LA’s subway was better than SEPTA.
And don’t mock my lovely city DC. At least we’ve gotten rid of our malaria mosquitoes.
The original plan for DC was that both Maryland and Virginia would give up land for it. I don’t remember why 69% of the land was from MD, and just 31% was from Virginia. Anyway, during Reconstruction (that period after the Civil War, for the really ignorant), it was decided that the Virginia-side of DC would be returned to Virginia, and is now (mostly) Arlington.
Everytime DC geography is discussed, this question is asked.
That brings up a question. As a resident of the Playground of the Damned, better known as Arlington, why is it that we prefer to remain a county rather than a city?
My guess is that nobody wants to deal with the paperwork.
They did, but the gov’t gave it back. What is now Arlington County is the biggest evidence of this. It completes most of the western part of the original DC diamond.
The southwestern part of the original diamond encompassed the “old town” part of Alexandria. But since it was already there before DC was defined, there’s no street geometry that defines what was DC. However, before Virginia’s “half” was ceded back, VA Route 7 (King Street/Leesburg Pike) was built along the SW border, a la Western, Eastern, and Southern Avenues in DC today.
At the corners of the original diamond, there are borderstones. Then every mile along the original border, there are more. I’ve found most of them along the original SW border; they’re usually in rather out-of-the-way places. I haven’t had the death wish to tour Southern Avenue looking for the borderstones there.
About the C&O canal: it was never completed. It was originally intended to reach Ohio, as the name Chesapeake and Ohio implies. But by the time it reached Cumberland, Maryland in 1850 it was made obsolete by the B&O railroad. I don’t think the canal ever turned a profit.
The canal Washington helped construct was not the C&O, it was a predecessor. A few remnants of Washington’s canal remain on the Virninia side of the Potomac. The C&O survives in much better shape, and makes for a great 3-4 day bike trip, especially this time of year.
It wasn’t really that big a deal that the Redskins moved out of D.C. into Maryland (about five miles out away from the city). In the mid-'90’s, D.C. lost the football team to its suburbs, but it got the basketball and hockey teams back from its suburbs (Prince George’s County in all these cases). So it was really a wash overall.
The Washington area may have never been a major industrial area, but that’s less and less important these days. (Even saying that there were few factories is a bit of an exaggeration. There are a number of renovated buildings in the middle of D.C. that once held factories but are now offices or shops.) The Washington area is one of the biggest high tech centers in the country. And of course the city and its suburbs are full of the sort of workplaces (national offices for organizations, media outlets, and of course government agencies) that are exactly what make for substantial job opportunities these days. That’s why the D.C. area has the most highly educated and one of the richest populations in the country.
The Feds returned Alexandria City and Alexandria County back to Virginia in the early 1840s as they felt that the city of Washington would never extend that far.
The slaveholders of Alexandria City were also concerned that the growing abolitionist movement might ban the slave trade from DC.
There was a vote - though no constitutional change - in Congress and the affected areas. Alexandria City voted overwhelmingly to return to the Old Dominion but Alexandria County voted to stay. However, the combined vote counted.
Quickly occupied by the Feds during the Civil War, there was never any thought of returning the Alexandrias to DC. Federal occupation aided their subsequent development through the building of a score of forts and the “miltary” roads to supply them.
In the early 20th century, Alexandria County decided to change its name, using Mrs. Custis’ plantation name of Arlington.
In a similar vein, Fairfax County Virginia, begged the District of Columbia and Feds to locate a DC maximum security prison in their depressed county in the 1890s. One hundred years later, they were adamant about getting rid of it.
This is one native Baltimoron who heartily wishes DC had a baseball team. Maybe then King Peter would pay attention to the local FAN, instead of spending his time sucking the DC “elite”'s cocks.
Actually, Havre de Grace, Md was almost made the capitol- it missed by one vote. And it is a sleepy backwater on the Susquehanna.
As to the OP, it’s 100% right. DC has NOTHING going for it except the Government and related attractions ( Smithsonian, Nat. Gallery, etc…) Baltimore, on the other hand is a true city, with vibrant neighborhoods, friendly people and lovely scenery. DC is a dump.
Dave, Dave, my friend. How wrong you are. When the Senators play in DC again, come on down for a game, and we’ll go exploring the parts of DC that aren’t governmental or touristy. Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, etc.
And, has been mentioned, Washington has two technology corridors, whereas Baltimore has none.
All of the ones I’ve seen are protected in little cages. There are 11 along this border, 1 miles apart:
Southern tip: In a concrete enclosure on the shore of the Potomac, just south of the old lighthouse in Jones Point Park, Alexandria.
One mile NW of that, there is one at the intersection of Wilkes and Payne Sts., across from Alexandria National Cemetary
Another mile NW, the next one is on the east side of Russell Rd., about 50 ft. north of King St.
The next one is in a church parking lot off of King St. 5. There should be one along King St. just before I-395, but I haven’t been able to find it.
There’s one on Walter Reed Dr., just east of its intersection with King St.
The next on is on a median strip of S. Jefferson St. as it goes between Arlington and Faifax Counties, just south of Columbia Pike. 8. There should be one near Kenmore Middle School, but I can’t find it either. 9. Yet another I can’t find should be along Wilson Blvd.
One on the west side of East Falls Church Park, off of N. Van Buren St.
And finally, the Western Corner stone is off of Meridian St. (Fairfax Co., City of Falls Church). For a brief stretch, this street becomes Arizona St. as it cuts through about 1/10 mile of Arlington. On the west side is a vacant lot with the cornerstone caged.