Washington County

E24499

Washington County was a former administrative subdivision of the District of Columbia that encompassed the area outside the cities of Washington and Georgetown on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.


Statements (43)
Predicate Object
instanceOf county-level subdivision
former administrative subdivision
abolishedBy District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871
administrativeCenter City of Washington (for county-level functions)
borders City of Georgetown (pre-1871 municipal corporation)
City of Washington (pre-1871 municipal corporation)
Potomac River
capital Washington, D.C. (federal district as a whole, not a separate city after 1871)
contains Civil War-era fortifications around Washington (on Maryland side)
areas that later became neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.
rural areas of the District of Columbia (19th century)
small settlements and farms outside Washington City and Georgetown
country United States of America
createdBy Organic Act of 1801
demographics predominantly rural population during most of its existence
distinctFrom Washington County in other U.S. states
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County, Virginia
existedFrom 1801
existedUntil 1871
formedFrom land ceded by Maryland
governmentType county government
hasJurisdictionOver areas outside the corporate limits of Washington and Georgetown (1801–1871)
historicalEra 19th century United States
historicalRegion Chesapeake Bay watershed
judicialDistrict Circuit Court of the District of Columbia (historical)
landUse agricultural land and scattered villages
lawGoverning acts of the U.S. Congress specific to the District of Columbia
legalNature subdivision of the District of Columbia rather than of a state
legalStatusChange municipal corporations of Washington, Georgetown, and Washington County consolidated in 1871
legislativeBody Levy court of Washington County
locatedIn Maryland side of the Potomac River
locatedInTimeZone Eastern Time Zone
locatedOn North American continent
militarySignificance location of defensive works protecting the national capital during the American Civil War
namedAfter George Washington
notFormedFrom land ceded by Virginia
partOf District of Columbia
Washington metropolitan area (historical core)
federal district under direct authority of the U.S. Congress
sharesNameWith multiple Washington County counties in various U.S. states
status defunct administrative division
successor unified District of Columbia government (post-1871)

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
dividedDistrictInto

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