The demographics of Washington, D.C., also known as the District of Columbia, reflect an ethnically diverse, cosmopolitan, mid-size capital city. In 2014 the District had a population of 658,893 people an increase of more than 36,000 people over the previous year. Washington, D.C., is unique among major U.S. cities in that its founding was not organic, but rather established as a result of a political compromise.