Washington DC’s Dupont Circle Neighborhood

Dupont Circle is one of DC’s most famous and popular neighborhoods. Its location, architecture, accessibility to stores, restaurants, downtown and transit make it a highly desirable area for all.  There is a variety of residential housing options, commercial stores, and open public spaces that give the neighborhood a great vibe.  The neighborhood also has a long and charming history, which can still be seen in many of the buildings to this day.  For all these reasons and more Dupont Circle is a very popular neighborhood although it can get pricey.

History of Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle began being developed in the 1870s and became a thriving new district as large mansions and row houses were built along Massachusetts Avenue.  Several years later in 1882 Congress changed what was known as Pacific Circle to Dupont Circle in tribute to Civil War hero Samuel Francis Du Pont and his statue was built there shortly after.  In the early 1920s the statue was replaced by the ever-popular fountain that remains in Dupont Circle to this day.  While the riots of 1968 took its toll on Dupont Circle, it did not suffer like other DC neighborhoods, and in the early 1970s a metro stop was built at Dupont which brought the developers back and the neighborhood took off.  Dupont Circle, especially the park around the fountain has long been the spot for various protests and also a meetup place for a diverse group of people including hippies, gays, and the artistic community. 

Dupont Circle’s Vibe

Dupont Circle has long attracted a wide range of people to the neighborhood and continues to do so to this day.  Some of the homeowners have been there for a while and seen their initial property investment skyrocket while the neighborhood went through different periods of transition and development to where it is today.  The neighborhood has drawn many younger professionals who work in nearby areas for the government or other various aspects of politics.  They are the majority of the residents who live here, and also the reason the commercial sector is so strong in Dupont.  With restaurants, stores, art galleries, and bars all within walking distance it is easy for these residents to spend their time and money exploring the neighborhood. 

Parks and Recreation in and around Dupont Cirlce

Although Dupont is located downtown there is a small selection of parks and recreation that are available.  The actual circle and fountain at Dupont is the most popular public space and during a nice day you can expect it will be packed with people enjoying the weather or taking their dog for a walk.  There is also a nearly 6,000 sq foot dog park on 17th and S Street, which includes special “K9Grass” as well as a seating area and water fountain for the dogs.  Other outdoor activities include biking and the farmers market.  Since driving can be tough in the city many people prefer to bike and there are countless number of streets that have bike lanes and areas with bike racks.  The farmers market in Dupont Circle attracts people from far and wide and is the largest farmers’ market in the city.  The market features food sampling, cooking demonstrations, and only allows local farmers from the Chesapeake Bay watershed region.  For the fitness enthusiasts there are a wide variety of gyms to choose from, all within working distance.  Vida Fitness on 15^th street offers a wide selection of yoga, pilates and numerous group fitness classes.  Also nearby is a YMCA, Washington Sports Club, The Studio DC, Fuse Pilates and FIT Personal Training Gym.

Where do people live in Dupont Circle?

Since Dupont has already developed into one of DC’s most sought after neighborhoods prices tend to be more expensive than elsewhere in the city.  Most of the housing in the neighborhood are row houses, apartment buildings, and condos.  Some of the condo options include converted row houses that have been subdivided into three or four units.  It is hard if not impossible to find detached single family houses, as the few that were built in Dupont have been converted into embassies or offices.  New construction is also hard to find here, but because of all the renovations done to the historic rowhouses and buildings it gives Dupont a certain historic charm which is hard to find elsewhere in the city.  Most rental units are available in the mid sized apartment buildings and prices are among the highest in the city.  The same goes for condos and if you are looking to buy a row house expect to pay a premium. 

Transportation options in Dupont Circle

Dupont is a convenient area for nearly everything you would want in a neighborhood as long as you are not driving.  Walking, biking, metro subway, metro buses and zip cars make up the majority of the transportation that residents use in this area.  According to Walk Score, Dupont Circle achieved the highest possible rating: 100 out of 100.  Parking in any city can be difficult and Dupont Circle is no exception.  If you are driving it can take a while to find parking and the narrow streets can quickly become jam-packed with cars.  Since having a parking spot is so valuable it is not uncommon to pay as much as $50,000 to own a space.  Luckily for residents and visitors the Dupont Circle Metro station is centered in the heart of the neighborhood on the Red Line.  Also available are metro buses like the N2-N6, D1, D3, D6, L2, and 42 lines.  Biking is another popular form of transportation and Dupont Circle has bike racks all over the place in addition to bike lanes throughout the traffic pattern.  For the bike enthusiasts the DC area hosts hundreds of bike events each year including some in Dupont.  

Location of Dupont Circle

According to the Dupont Circle Citizen’s Association the boundaries of Dupont are “15th Street on the east (except between U and S, where we extend to 14th St.), K Street on the south, Rock Creek Park on the west, and Florida Avenue/S Street on the north.”  However, as Logan Circle has evolved into its own neighborhood to the east, 16th street is a better dividing line between the two.”  Some realtors have been known to extend the boundaries of their listings to include Dupont Circle as their neighborhood as the area is so popular.

Shop, Restaurants & Activities in Dupont Circle

Since Dupont is in such a central location, you do not have to walk far to find what you are looking for.  Not only is everything is close by but there is also a myriad of stores, museums, embassies, clubs, and restaurants throughout the neighborhood. Century 21 Redwood agent Rob Carter describes Dupont Circle as “abounding with energy and electricity.  From fine dining to intimate gathering spots from nightclubs to quiet bookstores, this is the heart and soul of the DC.”  Some of the nearby museums include the Woodrow Wilson House and the Mansion at O Street which has a great brunch.  For the wine lover you can check out Circa and The Tabard Inn.  Art galleries are also prevalent throughout the neighborhood including the Alex Galleries, Gallery 10 and many more.  The nightlife in Dupont gives you many options but the most popular bar and nightclub is the Eighteenth Street Lounge which has been thriving for almost 20 years.  If you are a booklover there are several stores including Kramerbooks, Books For America, and Second Story.  Some of the notable dining options are Zorba’s Café if you like Greek food, Sakana Japanese for delicious sushi, Hank’s Oyster Bar for seafood, or head down to Mr. Yogato for dessert. 

Conclusion for Washington DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood

Dupont has a little bit of everything no matter what your interest or hobbies are.  The historically renovated row houses, pedestrian friendly layout, wide selection of places to eat and drink, and great vibe of the neighborhood gives residents and visitors little reason to leave.  Although it can be expensive to live in Dupont the accessibility and convenience of all it has to offer make the neighborhood an attractive option when looking for places to move to or just hang out for a night or weekend.  It is a vibrant community with a diversity of people, real estate, shops and the best part of it all is if you live there you do not need to walk far to explore this unique neighborhood.