Columbia Heights (Washington, D.C.)

This article is about the neighborhood. For the Metro station, see Columbia Heights station.

Columbia Heights
Neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Top: Tivoli Theatre (left) and Riggs-Tompkins Building (right); middle: National Baptist Memorial Church (left), Meridian Hill Park (center), and All Souls Church (right); bottom: DC USA.
Columbia Heights within the District of Columbia
Columbia Heights within the District of Columbia
CountryUnited States
DistrictWashington, D.C.
QuadrantNorthwest
WardWard 1
Government
 • CouncilmemberBrianne Nadeau
Area
 • Total.85 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total31,696
 • Density37,289.4/sq mi (14,397.5/km2)

Columbia Heights is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in Northwest D.C. Bounded by 16th Street NW, W Street NW, Florida Avenue NW, Barry Place NW, Sherman Avenue NW, Spring Road NW, and New Hampshire Avenue NW. neighborhood is an important retail hub for the area, as home to DC USA mall and to numerous other restaurants and stores, primarily along the highly commercialized 14th Street.[1][2] Columbia Heights is home to numerous historical landmarks, including Meridian Hill Park, National Baptist Memorial Church, All Souls Church, along with a number of embassy buildings.

Developed as a suburb after the U.S. Civil War, the area's growth accelerated in the early 1900s. The extension of the DC streetcar system in 1914 made the neighborhood a popular place to live among federal workers. In the 1940s, the designation of Cardozo High School as a "colored" school resulted in a demographic shift and the neighborhood became predominantly African-American. The 1968 Washington, D.C., riots devastated the area and turmoil in the 1970-80s followed.[3] Beginning in the late 1990s, the addition of the Columbia Heights metro station led to the redevelopment of the neighborhood. Today the neighborhood has diverse demographics.[4][5]

  1. ^ Ramanathan, Lavanya (November 14, 2016). "In the hot D.C. dining scene, the allure of the power restaurant is waning". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
  2. ^ Knowlton, Andrew (August 10, 2016). "Washington D.C. Is the Restaurant City of the Year". Bon Appétit.
  3. ^ Muller, John (May 13, 2014). "In 1979, was your neighborhood "sound" or "distressed"?". Greater Greater Washington.
  4. ^ Kelati, Haben (October 10, 2019). "Columbia Heights is a vibrant, diverse and, for DC, affordable neighborhood". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Fox, Tara (January 22, 2021). "Why Columbia Heights is the perfect neighborhood for new D.C. residents". Common.