Downtown is the central business district of Washington, D.C., situated in Northwest D.C. It holds the distinction of being the third largest central business district in the United States.
The "Traditional Downtown" area is defined as the region roughly between Union Station to the east and 16th Street NW to the west, and between the National Mall to the south and Massachusetts Avenue to the north, including Penn Quarter. However, contemporary usage often defines Downtown in a broader sense that encompasses areas extending as far north as Dupont Circle, as far west as Foggy Bottom, and as far east as Capitol Hill.
While the traditional boundaries are historically significant, only about half of the central city workforce is currently located within those specific limits. The modern perception of Downtown reflects a much larger geographic area than its original core definition.