Alexandria is an autonomous city within the United States Commonwealth of Virginia. The population is over 159,000. Alexandria is located along the west side of the Potomac River, roughly 7 miles south of downtown Washington, D.C. The Alexandria commercial core is known as the Old City. This is a big attraction for those who live in Alexandria as well as for tourists, with its concentration of boutiques, restaurants, antique shops, and theatres. As with Old City, several neighbourhoods in Alexandria are compact and walkable. It is Virginia's 7th largest and highest revenue independent city.