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About Washington DC Metropolitan Area
The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area is a consolidated metropolitan area consisting of the overlapping labor market region of the cities of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. The region includes Northern Virginia, Central Maryland, and two counties in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Officially, the area is designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The CSA is composed primarily of two major metropolitan areas, the Baltimore-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA. In addition, three other smaller urban areas not contiguous to the main urban area but having strong commuting ties with the main area are also included in the metropolitan area. These are the Winchester, VA-WV MSA, the Lexington Park, MD Micropolitan area and the Culpeper, VA Micropolitan area. Some counties and cities are not officially designated by the OMB as members of this metropolitan area, but still consider themselves members anyway. This is mostly due to their proximity to the area, the size of their commuter population, and by the influence of local broadcasting stations. The population of the entire Baltimore-Washington Metroplex as of 2006 is 8,207,040. The most populated city is Baltimore, with a population of a little more than 630,000. The most populated county is Fairfax County, at slightly more than 1 million. This is the only metropolitan area in the country in which the largest central city, Baltimore, comes second in the name.
Not limited to its proximity to the National Institutes of Health, Maryland's Washington suburbs are a major center for biotechnology. Prominent local biotech companies include MedImmune, Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, Human Genome Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Many defense contractors are located in Northern Virginia to be close to the Pentagon in Arlington. Local defense contractors include Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and Orbital Sciences Corporation. In 1993, Fortune magazine named Northern Virginia the "Netplex" referring to the area's concentration of network technology companies and infrastructure. The region is home to the Internet Society and formerly the mainframe that contained the master list of all Internet domains.
From its celebrated symbols of patriotism to its undiscovered neighborhoods, the sights and sounds of the nation's capital inspire millions of visitors every year. Packed with famous sights, free attractions, and an endless calendar of special events, Washington, DC offers year-round inspiring experiences.
Beyond Washington DC's most familiar vistas, the capital city unwinds into a lively urban center. Casual cafes and upscale bistros line the trendy streets of Georgetown, while the downtown district sizzles with a host of new restaurants. Spontaneous Jazz notes tumble out the windows of U Street's nightclubs, while world-class performers take the stage at the highly acclaimed Kennedy Center. Kayakers tackle the Potomac River as it winds past the elegant marble tributes to America's great leaders.
Pulsing with life and constantly in flux, America's capital city is an eclectic entity, fueled by politics and tourism. The District, as it's fondly called, centers on the Capitol and then spreads out into a variety of distinctive neighborhoods. They include funky Adams-Morgan and its diverse ethnic groups, Downtown with its art galleries and nightlife, Dupont Circle with its hip clubs and Connecticut Avenue shopping, and upscale Georgetown, whose rows of brick town homes shelter first-class restaurants and boutiques. Capitol Hill and the National Mall feature many of the city's most prominent buildings and museums, including stately presidential monuments and most branches of the world-famous Smithsonian Institution.
For history-lovers and culture fans, DC is replete with world-class museums and arts venues. The Smithsonian alone includes 15 distinct museums with vast collections of art and artifacts, including the Air and Space Museum and the Museum of American History. At the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, visitors can catch live theater and music performances, and the Folger and Shakespeare Theatres stage classics that resonate with modern audiences. Even annual events take on a cultural approach, as proven by celebrations like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Well-planned from its inception, the city was provided early on with beautiful parks, gardens and public spaces. The National Mall, in particular, grants lovely views of the Capitol on one end and the Lincoln Memorial on the other. Walking the length of the Mall, visitors can take in these green spaces and even relax on a park bench as the hustle and bustle of the big city continues beyond. Also showcasing DC's natural beauty are Rock Creek Park and the US Botanic Garden.
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