Frequently Asked Questions What is the current population of the District of Columbia? What does the Office of Planning do? Where can I get demographic data for the city and for my ward? What is the Comprehensive Plan for the District of Columbia and where can I get a copy? Where can I get a copy of the city's plans for my ward? Does the Office of Planning have maps of the city? Where can I find out what types of development projects are planned for my ward? What is an enterprise zone and where are they located? What is a census tract? What is the current population of the District of Columbia? The Bureau of the Census population estimate for the District of Columbia as of July 1, 2006 was 581,530. What does the Office of Planning do? The Home Rule Act (PL 93-198) designates the Mayor as the chief planner for the District of Columbia. The Mayor has delegated this authority to the District's Office of Planning. The Office of Planning is responsible for the preparation of three types of plans. The Comprehensive Plan is a broad public document that provides general guidance for future planning and development across the entire District for a large time frame (20 years). Ward Plans are designed to interpret and apply those objectives of the Comprehensive Plan as appropriate for each of the eight legally defined geographic areas of the city. Small Area Plans are designed to focus on a few blocks, a neighborhood or a cluster of neighborhoods and prepare planning, development initiatives, and implementation strategies appropriate and beneficial to these neighborhoods. The Office of Planning is responsible for developing initiatives to revitalize neglected neighborhoods across the city. Additionally, Planning is responsible for working with developers and community groups to ensure that projects proposed are beneficial to both the immediate neighborhood and the District. The State Data Center within the Office of Planning serves as the repository for all census data on the District of Columbia. Where can I get demographic data for the city and for my ward? The Office of Planning's State Data Center has a variety of demographic data available for the city, wards, and census tracts here. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Office of Planning at (202) 442-7600. What is the Comprehensive Plan for the District of Columbia and where can I get a copy? The Comprehensive Plan is a District-wide plan specifically mandated in the Home Rule Act (PL93-198). It is a long-range (20 years) general policy document that provides overall guidance for future planning and development of the city. There are 10 major themes of the Comprehensive Plan presented in the plan's first section. There are 12 District elements of the Comprehensive plan as follows: 1) General Provisions, 2) Economic Development, 3) Housing, 4) Environmental Protection, 5) Transportation, 6) Public Facilities, 7) Urban Design, 8) Preservation and Historic Features, 9) Downtown, 10) Human Services, 11) Land Use, 12) Ward Plans. Ten of these elements are city-wide in nature and provide general goals, objectives, and policies. The Downtown and Ward Plan Elements focus on specific areas of the city. The Ward Plans Element includes more detailed goals, policies and objectives for each of the District's wards. To review the 1984 Comprehensive Plan click here. The plan is available for sale only at the Office of Documents, 441 4th Street NW, room 520. Call (202) 727-5090 to determine cost.  The Comprehensive Plan is in the process of being revised.  Please select here for additional information. Where can I get a copy of the city's plans for my ward? Plans for each ward are contained in the Comprehensive Plan and can be reviewed at the Martin Luther King branch of the public library or the Office of Planning. Individual ward plans can be purchased at the Office of Planning by check or money order for $5 per ward plan. Does the Office of Planning have maps of the city? Complete the Map Request Form to obtain information on maps currently available at the Office of Planning. If you want a customized map, arrange a consultation with one of our GIS Specialists. Where can I find out what types of development projects are planned for my ward? For selected new initiatives, go to the listing for Neighborhood and Revitalization Plans at this site. For additional information, review the following list and select the Office of Planning, Ward Planning Coordinator for your ward: Ward-1 Vacant Ward-2 Zach Dobelbower Ward-3 Melissa Bird Ward-4 Vacant Ward-5 Deborah Crain Ward-6 Jeff Davis Ward-7 Evelyn Kasongo Ward-8 Aubrey Thagard What is an enterprise zone and where are they located? Contact the District of Columbia Revenue Bond Program, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, at (202) 727-6365 or Enterprise Zone & Revenue Bond Programs for details of the program. What is a census tract? Census tracts are relatively small geographic areas whose boundaries are defined by the Bureau of the Census. Census tracts are one of the primary areas that the Bureau uses to collect and report data. Census tracts are not uniform in size. Census tracts are not defined by, or related to wards, neighborhoods, or districts within any city. Census tracts do not cross county or state lines. When the Bureau of the Census originally developed the idea of areas called census tracts, they were designed to group people who were similar in population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. Census tracts generally contain between 1,500 persons and 8,000 persons. The spatial area covered by a census tract varies widely depending on the density of the population in its boundaries. Census tract boundaries are defined with the intention of being maintained for a long time so that statistical comparisons can be made from census to census. Physical changes in street patterns caused by highway construction, new development, or other major changes may lead to the alteration of tract boundaries. Census tracts occasionally are split due to large population growth, or combined as a result of substantial population decline.