Washington, D.C.

Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, D.C., taken April 26, 2002. The crosshairs in the image mark the quadrant divisions of Washington, with the U.S. Capitol at the center of the dividing lines. To the west of the Capitol extends the National Mall, visible as a slight green band in the image. The Northwest quadrant is the largest, located north of the Mall and west of North Capitol Street.

Northwest (NW or N.W.) D.C. is the northwestern quadrant of the city, located north of the National Mall and west of North Capitol Street. It is the largest of the four quadrants of the city (NW, NE, SW and SE), and it includes the central business district, the Federal Triangle, and the museums along the northern side of the National Mall, as well as such neighborhoods as Petworth, Dupont Circle, Le Droit Park, Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Glover Park, Tenleytown, Foggy Bottom, Cleveland Park, Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, the Palisades, Shepherd Park, Crestwood, Bloomingdale, and Friendship Heights.

Northwest D.C. has a reputation for being predominantly affluent and white (particularly west of Rock Creek Park), as opposed to the other three quadrants, which are predominantly black (African-American). In reality, Northwest is the most diverse quadrant of the city. Northwest contains many college campuses, including American University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia. The Verizon Center, home of the Washington Wizards, the Washington Capitals, and the Georgetown Hoyas as well as the venue for many concerts and other events, is located in Northwest, as are the National Cathedral, the White House, and Rock Creek Park.

Politically, Northwest is made up of parts of Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, with Wards 1 and 3 being the only wards located entirely within the quadrant.

Northwest is the only quadrant accessible via all lines of the Washington Metro.

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