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Fort Lincoln Community Guide A convenient and planned community in Washington DC

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History and Flavor

Fort Lincoln is a residential neighborhood in northeastern Washington, D.C. The area is named for the Civil War fort, which sits just across the Maryland state line.  

The 360-acre residential community sits along the eastern border of the DC and is known for mainly being built up with townhouses and condominiums.

In the mid-60s, while in office, President Lyndon Johnson had a vision for the Fort Lincoln area, a planned community. His vision for the site dissolved when he left office in 1969, but a dozen clusters of townhomes, condos, and senior living apartments were built just a couple of years later. Those apartments served as a springboard for Fort Lincoln, becoming home to the largest senior community in Washington.

The condos and townhouses in the neighborhood, commonly brick or sided, are laid out with up to four bedrooms and 2+ bathrooms. For those who like a place for their 4-wheeled baby, some of these joined homes have two-car garages to maximize utility and security. 

There is plenty of public transportation in the neighborhood as you won’t have to go far to find the nearest bus stop.

The Shops at Dakota Crossing, the residential-retail development built less than ten years ago, has brought LBJ’s vision to life. Plenty of shopping for residents who won’t need to leave town for much of anything.

Entertainment

Music & Parks

  • Karma DC Live Music Venue– A truly unique venue. An old warehouse feel with a vast stage and hookah lounge. The ambiance is casual, and the music is always great.This is a cool spot for a night out!
  • DC9 Nightclub– Tri-level hipster hangout with snug basement bar, music stage with dance parties & rooftop deck.
  • Echostage– A premier hybrid nightclub and concert venue, and drawing inspiration from electronic music’s warehouse roots, Echostage is a seminal venue in the dance music scene.
  • The Howard Theatre– The Howard Theatre is a historic theater located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
  • 9:30 Club– The 9:30 Club is a nightclub and concert venue in Washington, D.C. In 2018 the 9:30 Club was named one of the ten best live music venues in America by Rolling Stone, and in 2019 the club was named “Venue of the Decade” by VenuesNow.
  • Fort Lincoln Park– Fort Lincoln was one of seven temporary earthwork forts part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington, DC during the Civil War built in the Northeast quadrant of the city at the beginning of the Civil War by the Union Army to protect the city from the Confederate Army.
  • Dakota Playground– Here, you’ll find two full single-rim basketball courts. There are also tennis courts and two playground areas for the kids.

Shopping/Restaurants 

Popular Shopping and Eats

  • Shops at Dakota Crossing – 430,000 square feet of retail services including —Costco, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Marshalls. 
  • Marshalls – Many reasonably priced name brands all under one roof.
  • Hechinger Mall – The dominant grocery-anchored shopping center in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, is strategically located at the intersections of five heavily traveled traffic corridors.
  • Port Towns Shopping Center– A little bit of everything here at the Port Towns Shopping Center. You’ll find a CVS, I-HOP, Shoppers, along with some smaller retail and service stores.
  • Dicks Sporting Goods– Sporting goods chain with equipment, apparel & footwear for athletics, outdoor recreation & fitness.
  • PetSmart– Chain featuring a range of pets, supplies & food (most offer grooming, boarding & other services).
  • Lowe’s Home Improvement– Home-improvement chain for appliances, gardening supplies, tools & more (some offer truck rentals).
  • Mechos Dominican Kitchen – Spanish, African, and indigenous Taino foods merge into a cuisine that satisfies all appetites. See our delicious menu for yourself.
  • Panda Express– Fast-food chain for Chinese standards, including some health-conscious options.
  • Tropical Smoothie Cafe– Casual, health-conscious chain cafe featuring custom smoothies, sandwiches & wraps.
  • Eden’s Kitchen– Eden catering and decor provides traditional Eritrean food and decoration. For weddings, engagements, baptism, graduation, birthdays, and any other special events.
  • Quickway Japanese Hibachi– Here, you’ll find fresh, quality food served fast and in style. This is the reason they’ve grown into 25 cities in 10 counties since 2012 in the DC metro area.

Schools

Best Public High Schools

Best Public Elementary Schools

Public Transportation

Buses/Trains

Ft Lincoln Dr & Thurgood Marshall Elem– Bus stop

Fort Lincoln Dr & 33rd Pl, NE– Bus stop

Fort Lincoln Dr NE & Commodore Joshua Barney Dr N– Bus stop

31st Pl NE & Fort Lincoln Dr NE– Bus stop

Bladensburg Rd NE & #3005– Bus stop

Median Home Value

$495,312 as of 2021

Renters: 44%

Owners: 56%

Demographics

Population 5,759

Median household income –  $61,619

Median age: 41

Families with children – 22%

High school diploma or equivalent – 18%

College Degree: 68%

72% African American

12% Hispanic

11% White

5% Other

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