Washington, D.C. Today

Outwardly serene and classically beautiful, the Capitol, the White House, and the Supreme Court stand at the heart of Washington, D.C. They are powerful, steadfast symbols of the stability and strength of the nation. But the city that revolves around this axis is in a constant state of change, lived on a more human scale.

Today's D.C. . . .

... is obsessed with politics. The historic arrival of President Barack Obama in the White House has captivated the overwhelmingly Democratic D.C. in ways not seen in years—a dynamic only heightened by the army of new officials and other influence peddlers that accompanied the transition. Still, many local residents take a different view of national elections than the rest of the country. Given the city's measly three electoral votes and general lack of representation at the Capitol, Washingtonians may be more interested in what the outcome means for their employment than in the actual candidate-to-candidate battles.

The quest to secure the vote for D.C. continues. A bill that would pair one vote in the House for the liberal-leaning District (whose license plates read "Taxation Without Representation") with an extra House seat for conservative Utah passed the Senate in February 2009, but not before Republicans successfully attached an amendment repealing most of the District's gun control laws, which are among the strictest in the nation. As of this writing, the bill is stalled indefinitely in the House over the gun control controversy.

... is certifiably sports crazy. And first and foremost, it is a football town. Loyal Redskins fans are extremely passionate, selling out every home game since 1968. The 2008 season got off to a promising start, but injuries combined with a relatively inexperienced quarterback left rookie coach Jim Zorn struggling for offensive answers—and kept the team out of the play-offs. Meanwhile, the team's defense still hasn't found a replacement for sensational safety Sean Taylor, who was murdered in a botched robbery attempt in 2007. Billionaire owner Danny Snyder, a 43-year-old wunderkind in the world of business, has shelled out big bucks to attract top players and coaches, but that formula has yet to return the burgundy and gold to the Super Bowl under his watch.

The nation's pastime has a new home in the nation's capital; the Nationals have a new sports complex on the Anacostia waterfront. The $611 million project was opposed by many residents and City Council members, who thought taxpayers contributed too much money. Salting the wounds, the new owners refused to pay the city millions in rent during the first season—a situation finally resolved at the end of 2008. Those who have wanted a baseball team in D.C. since the dawn of time have turned a blind eye to the hard numbers. They'd certainly be happier, though, if the Nationals could improve on their first-year record of 59-102.

Even soccer draws a fiercely loyal following in the District. Local team D.C. United isn't immune to stadium controversy either. At this writing, the team, which has long played at RFK Stadium, is looking for a new home, possibly in the suburbs. D.C. Council members looking to keep the team in the District are hoping to have the city subsidize a new stadium at Poplar Point, a 110-acre park along the Anacostia River, to the tune of $150 million.

D.C. is not known for being a hockey town, but locals have recently been mesmerized by their newest sports superstar, Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin. The explosive 23-year-old Moscow native was the league's MVP in 2008, drawing sellout crowds to the Verizon Center that the Caps haven't seen in years.

... is stuck in traffic. Spend an hour in gridlock on the Beltway—or wait 20 minutes for a Metro train to come—and you'll know why residents gripe so much about transportation. Metro initiated the largest fare increases in its history in early 2008; almost simultaneously, performance data revealed that on-time service had declined over the preceding 17-month period. The most major Metro extension is, of course, the most hotly contested. A project has been approved to build a new rail line linking the Orange Line to Tysons Corner, Dulles Airport, and other northern Virginia destinations. The 23-mi, $5.2 billion project was scheduled for completion by 2015, but arguments over whether the Tysons Corner section should be elevated or underground have held up the entire process. Given the poor public transit options from D.C. to Dulles, locals hope that someday the Metro will reach two airports—not just one.

D.C.: Just the Facts

The People

Population, city: 588,292

Population, metro area: 5,306,565

Median age: 34.9

Ethnic makeup: African-American 55.2%; white 39.4%; Hispanic 8.3%; Asian 3.4%; multiracial 1.6%

Infant mortality rate: 13.6 per 1,000 births

Literacy: 63%

Crime rate: 77.1 offenses per 1,000 residents

Type of government: Limited representational democracy with no voting members of Congress; elected mayor and nine-member council

Workforce: 321,698 (66.5%)

Per capita income: $38,009

Unemployment: 11.7% (Sept. 2009)

Major industries: Government, law, tourism, high-tech, higher education

Official motto: Justitia omnibus (justice for all)

Official food: The half-smoke, a large, smoked link sausage most famously found at Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street

The Land

Land area: 61 square mi

Nicknames: The District, D.C., Inside the Beltway

Latitude: 38 N

Longitude: 77 W

Elevation: From sea level to 420 feet

Environmental issues: High levels of lead in the water supplies of some households; elevated arsenic levels near American University

Natural hazards: Lobbyists, motorcades, lack of congressional representation