U Street (Washington, D.C.)

U Street Corridor
Top: Lincoln Theatre (left) and Ben's Chili Bowl (right); middle: view of U Street; bottom: U Street by 16th Street (left) and U Street by 14th Street (right)
Map
Coordinates: 38°55′01″N 77°01′59″W / 38.917046°N 77.03293°W / 38.917046; -77.03293
CountryUnited States
DistrictWashington, D.C.
WardWard 1
Government
 • CouncilmemberBrianne Nadeau (Ward 1)
Area
 • Total.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total5,385
 • Density26,732/sq mi (10,321/km2)
Websitehttps://washington.org/dc-neighborhoods/u-street
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The U Street Corridor or Greater U Street, sometimes known as Cardozo/Shaw, is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in Northwest D.C. Centered along U Street, the neighborhood is one of Washington's most popular nightlife and entertainment districts, as well as one of the most significant African American heritage districts in the country.[1]

The area was largely built after the U.S. Civil War and with the arrival of the Washington streetcar system in the 1880s, the neighborhood development boomed. By 1920, the neighborhood was predominantly African-American and flourished as the "Black Broadway", the heart of African-American culture in Washington.[2][1] The area declined for a period following the 1968 Washington riots, but recovered following the 1991 opening of the U Street station of the Washington Metro. Since the 2000s, the area has been subject to significant urban redevelopment and gentrification.[3]

  1. ^ a b "10 Things to See & Do On U Street". Washington.org. March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Jones, Erica. "A Look Back at DC's 'Black Broadway'". NBC New York. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference acs2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).