Petworth is a quiet, friendly neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of DC between Rock Creek Park and Fort Totten. Petworth has maintained the essence of the residential neighborhood even with the arrival of Metro in 1999. The Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro station offers both Green and Yellow line service. Metrobus service to Silver Spring, Mount Pleasant, and Rhode Island Avenue is also available. Petworth is home to many independent businesses and shops, like the cozy Loyalty Books.

Petworth History

Petworth was originally the site of two country estates: Petworth, the 204-acre estate of Colonel John Taylor, and the Marshall Brown Estate, an 183-acre estate that was later acquired by the Taylor family. The estates were purchased in the 1880s by real-estate investment partnerships and were then adjusted to the area development. The development continued when the Georgia Avenue streetcar line to Silver Spring was established, which caused the neighborhood to expand quickly. Located off of Rock Creek Church Road, is Lincoln’s Cottage, where the 16th president vacationed when he wanted to escape from the city.

Petworth Real Estate

Petworth is primarily a residential area with a mix of townhouses and single-family homes. Several brick row houses were built during the 1920s and 1930s.

Petworth Community

The Petworth Community Market is open every Saturday morning from May through November. There are several community events in Petworth, including Celebrate Petworth every summer, Petworth Jazz Project music series, and the Upshur Street Handmade Art & Craft Fair, held each December. Petworth has a strong community vibe – residents come together to plant gardens and work on green spaces.

Petworth Favorites

Hitching Post has been serving home-style Southern food for almost 50 years. Head to Pantry for Thai eats and cocktails in stylish digs. San Matteo offers classic Italian dishes, Italian wine, and spritz cocktails. San Matteo is also home to Soleluna, a daytime cafe with French pastries and Ecuadorian coffee.

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Want to know what it’s like to live in Petworth? Let’s go on a neighborhood orientation tour!