Georgetown Neighborhood
Georgetown offers luxury homes, a yacht-filled waterfront, fine dining, upscale retail, luxe hotels and a famous university. From tobacco port to elegant residential address and commercial success, Georgetown has always been integral to DC’s identity.
Georgetown is one of Washington DC’s most iconic neighborhoods. A historic enclave renowned for cobblestone streets, Federal-style architecture, and a waterfront destination along the Potomac River, Georgetown exudes a unique blend of historical charm and contemporary sophistication.
You’ll find an array of high-end boutiques, fine dining venues, and cultural institutions, including Georgetown University. Its picturesque streets are lined with well-preserved row houses, many of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, contributing to the neighborhood’s distinctive character. The C&O Canal, trails, and scenic waterfront offer recreational activities.
Georgetown Real Estate
The real estate market in Georgetown is dynamic and competitive, offering a mix of historic luxury homes and modern residences. Historic townhouses with iconic red-brick facades coexist with upscale waterfront condominiums, providing a diverse range of options for potential buyers.
Georgetown’s desirability is driven by its history and national recognition, proximity to prominent institutions and Key Bridge, as well as its strong sense of community. The demand for real estate in this neighborhood is robust, attracting a mix of affluent professionals, diplomats, and individuals who value the unique ambiance and prestige associated with living in Georgetown.
Unique history
Nationally reknowned
Exceptional homes
Desirable schools
Platinum real estate values
Nearby:
Burleith
West End
Foggy Bottom
Georgetown History
“Tohoga”
Before becoming an English port, Georgetown was a fur trading post. English fur trader Henry Fleet documented a Nacotchtank village named “Tohoga” in 1632 and established trade there. A tobacco inspection house was added by George Gordon along the Potomac in the mid-1700’s. The site was already a tobacco trading post by then. Warehouses, wharves, and other buildings followed, and Georgetown rapidly grew into a ambitious community that evolved into a bustling port and town. The port of Georgetown was active 40 years prior to the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington. Georgetown was built on the fall line and was the last port upstream that oceangoing vessels could travel on the Potomac River.
George II of Great Britain
Georgetown was founded during the reign of George II of Great Britain and it is widely believed that the town was named for him, although its founders were both named George (Beall and Gordon). Georgetown was officially founded in 1751 and issued a charter by the Maryland Legislature and incorporated in 1789, but never officially made a city. Georgetown held to its status as a separate municipality until Congress created a new consolidated government for the District of Columbia in 1871. It wasn’t until 1895 that Georgetown’s remaining local ordinances were repealed by a separate Act. The neighborhood’s streets were then renamed to conform with the street plans in the City of Washington.
The Old Stone House
The Old Stone House was built in 1765 on M Street and is the oldest original structure in the District. The first church in Georgetown was a Lutheran house of worship located on High Street. A Presbyterian church followed in 1784 and the Trinity Catholic Church was built in 1795 including a parish school-house. St. John’s Episcopal was consecrated in 1809. Georgetown’s first newspaper was the Republican Weekly Ledger, first printed in 1790, followed by The Sentinel, published in 1796, and others. Next came the banks. Farmers and Mechanics Bank opened in 1814, followed by the Bank of Washington, Patriotic Bank, Bank of the Metropolis, and the Union and Central Banks of Georgetown. Postal service began in 1790. The neighborhood’s first tavern, City Tavern, was established in the late 1700’s and is still operating today near Wisconsin Avenue and M Street.
Georgetown Schools
Georgetown, Washington, D.C. is served by a specific by-right public school feeder pattern under District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), centered around Hyde-Addison Elementary School, Hardy Middle School, and the newly established MacArthur High School.
Hyde-Addison Elementary School Public Grades PK3–5 in-boundary for most of Georgetown
Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6–8 in-boundary for Georgetown and Burleith
MacArthur High School Public Grades 9-12 The designated by-right destination high school for graduating 8th graders from Hardy Middle School.
Disclaimer
We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.