There's a story that D.C. residents like to tell young interns whenever the summer weather gets particularly hot or sticky or unbearable. The city, they say, was built atop a swamp, its location selected by George Washington. read more
No, D.C. isn't really built on a swamp. by Don Hawkins August 29, 2014. Don Hawkins is a Washingtonian, architect, and historian of the early city. read more
So in conclusion, DC was not built on a swamp. While there were some marshy areas near the rivers, the land that is now Washington DC was a mix of thickly wooded slopes, bluffs and hills, crop land, and several major waterways. read more