History of Washington, D.C.
Georgetown was established in 1751 when the Maryland legislature purchased sixty acres of land for the town from George Gordon and George Beall at the price of £280, while Alexandria, Virginia was founded in 1749. Situated on the fall line, Georgetown was the farthest point upstream to which oceangoing boats could navigate the Potomac River. The strong flow of the Potomac kept a navigable channel clear year-round; and, the daily tidal lift of the Chesapeake Bay, raised the Potomac's elevation in its lower reach; such that fully laden ocean-going ships could navigate easily, all the way to the Bay. Gordon had constructed a tobacco inspection house along the Potomac in approximately 1745. Warehouses, wharves, and other buildings were added, and the settlement rapidly grew. The Old Stone House, located in Georgetown, was built in 1765 and is the oldest standing building in the District. It did not take long before Georgetown grew into a thriving port, facilitating trade and shipments of tobacco and other goods from colonial Maryland. With the economic and population growth of Georgetown came also the founding of Georgetown University in 1789, at its founding drawing students from as far away as the West Indies.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University has several student-run newspapers and academic journals. "The Hoya" is the university's oldest newspaper. It has been in print since 1920, and since 1987, has been published twice weekly. "The Georgetown Voice", known for its weekly cover stories, is a newsmagazine that was founded in March 1969 to focus more attention on citywide and national issues. "The Georgetown Independent" is a monthly journal of news, commentary and the arts. Founded in 1966, the "Georgetown Law Weekly" is the student-run paper on the Law Center campus, and is a three-time winner of the American Bar Association's Best Newspaper award. Established in 1995, the "Georgetown Public Policy Review" is a student-run journal based out of the McCourt School of Public Policy that publishes online articles and a peer-reviewed spring edition. The "Georgetown Journal of International Affairs", established in 2000, is a student-managed, peer-reviewed Journal that publishes perspectives on current affairs and international relations from experts such as heads of states and renowned professors. "The Hoya," "The Georgetown Voice," and "The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs" all run online blogs, and there are other popular blogs written about the school and its sports teams.
"The Georgetown Academy", restarted in 2008 after a hiatus, targets traditionalist Catholic readers, and the "Georgetown Review", founded in 2016, aims to bring a conservative and libertarian viewpoint to campus. Other political publications include the "Georgetown Progressive", an online publication run by the Georgetown University College Democrats, and "Counterpoint Magazine", a liberal monthly founded in the spring of 2011. "The Fire This Time" is Georgetown's minority newssource. "The Georgetown Heckler" is a humor magazine founded on the Internet in 2003 by Georgetown students, releasing its first print issue in 2007. "The Gonzo" was a former student humor magazine, published from 1993 to 1998.