History of Georgetown, DC

Feb 21

The Story of Georgetown, D.C.: From Port Town to Power Address

Long before Washington, D.C. even existed, Georgetown was already thriving.

Colonial Beginnings (Pre-D.C. Era)

The land that became Georgetown was originally inhabited by Nacotchtank (Anacostan) Indigenous people, who used the Potomac River as a trade route.
In 1751, the Maryland General Assembly officially founded Georgetown as a tobacco port, making it 40 years older than Washington, D.C.
With its deep-water access, it quickly became a bustling commercial hub — warehouses, wharves, taverns, and slave auctions lined the waterfront.

Slavery & Economy

Georgetown’s economy heavily relied on enslaved labor, both on local farms and in town trades.
It also became a significant domestic slave-trading center, with people bought and sold at taverns like the notorious Yellow Tavern (located where M Street meets Wisconson Avenue).
At the same time, Georgetown had one of the largest free Black populations in America by the early 1800s — many living in “Herring Hill,” near 27th–30th Streets below P Street.

Becoming Part of the Capital

In 1790, when George Washington chose the Potomac as the site of the new federal capital, Georgetown was incorporated into the District of Columbia — but it kept its own government and identity.
While Washington City was being built from scratch, Georgetown remained the more established town — wealthier, livelier, and frankly, more respectable.

19th Century Shifts

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (1828–1850s) connected Georgetown to western markets and brought in coal, flour, and lumber.
But soon, railroads outpaced canals, and Georgetown’s port economy declined.
By the late 1800s, Georgetown was fading — some even described it as a slum.

20th Century Revival

Then came the Georgetown Renaissance.
Starting in the 1920s–30s, preservationists began restoring old homes rather than demolishing them.
In 1950, Georgetown became D.C.’s first historic district, protecting its architecture.
The Kennedys moved to Georgetown in the 1950s and 1960s, launching it into national glamour. Suddenly, everyone wanted a Georgetown address.

Georgetown Today

What began as a gritty river port and labor town is now one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Washington — yet traces of every era are still visible.
The cobblestones, canal, African American churches, Federal mansions, and colonial cottages all tell the layered story of how Georgetown evolved from commerce to culture to cachet.