Hells Bottom
A historical populated place in District of Columbia County, District of Columbia, recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System.
Location Record
Names and historical notes
Recorded by GNIS. Source wording is retained; these notes have not been independently verified by Forgotten America.
GNIS description
Formerly located along the Potomac River and Rock Creek Park.
GNIS historical note
This area was known as Hells Bottom in the 1860s as an area of high crime. (DC-T155/p77)
Source editions and recorded citations
Feature ID 531619. Description/History extract: August 28, 2026. All Names extract: September 30, 2026. Retrieved October 22, 2026. Only populated fields are displayed.
GNIS citation text may identify a source series rather than a specific page. It is reproduced below without implying that its underlying documents were inspected.
- Text Kenny, Hamil. West Virginia Place Names. Piedmont, W.Va.: The Place Name Press, 1945.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Historical Features.