East of the River: Continuity and Change

Change is the overwhelming theme in the history of communities in Far Southeast Washington, DC, beginning with the change in the lives of Native American residents resulting from contact with the first European residents in the early 1600s. It continued with the development of communities such as Good Hope, Uniontown, and Barry Farm. The growth of modern infrastructure transformed land use. Multi-family apartment buildings converted the earlier, almost rural, village-like atmosphere into a contemporary urban landscape. Throughout its dynamic history, southeast Washington, DC has maintained an abiding sense of community that connects individuals, families, religious institutions, and other local organizations.