District of Columbia

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington or D.C., is the capital of the United States. Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country, Washington was named after George Washington, first President of the United States and Founding Father. As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations, Washington is an important world political capital. The city is also one of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 20 million tourists annually. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790, approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country's East Coast. The U.S. Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress, and the District is therefore not a part of any state. The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district, which included the pre-existing settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria. The City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia; in 1871, it created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District. Washington had an estimated population of 702,455 as of July 2018, making it the 20th most populous city in the United States. Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city's daytime population to more than one million during the workweek.

District of Columbia (Washington DC) is known under different nicknames; aka Nation's Capital, or DMV (nickname for the broader metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia), or Inside the Beltway, or Chocolate City and detailed official information about District of Columbia (Washington DC) can be found on the homepage at www. dc.gov.

Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. It is not located in any state and is instead a territory of its own. Washington D.C. is not a state but a federal district which was hived from the states of Virginia and Maryland in 1790. As such, it has no voting representation in Senate. While it is not a state, it still has state organs such as the State Board of Education and the State Board of Elections. The District of Columbia occupies an area of 68 square miles and is home to over half a million people.

The high population translates to an equally-high population density of over 11,300 persons per square mile. However, the population balloons in the daytime as people residing in the neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland commute to Washington to work. As the nation’s capital, D.C. is home to a large number of government offices which include the White House and the US Capitol. Unlike other cities in the United States, Washington has no true skyscrapers.

As it is not a state, the District of Columbia has no representation in the US Senate. The District has one representative at the House of Representatives, but the delegate has no authority to vote on the floor of the House. The delegate is, however, allowed to introduce bills and participate during debates. Many residents see the lack of representation of Washington D.C. as unjust since the residents are still subjected to federal taxation. Nonetheless, Washington D.C. residents can vote during Presidential elections, with the District having a long history of supporting Democratic presidential candidates.

The National Mall is one of the most picturesque areas of the city, highlighted by the towering Washington Monument in the center, and lined with several commemorative monuments. Even if you are in town only for a short trip, this is a must-visit stop for any first-time visitor. Take a guided tour of the legendary building that houses the American legislature. The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center has a ton of information about the history and the operations of this house of government. The largest library in the world and one of the most prestigious, the stunning Library of Congress sits in three buildings and houses over 160 million items. It is also the oldest federal cultural institution in the U.S. Take a look at historic aircraft and space vehicles including the Apollo Space Module, see how an actual space toilet looks, and peer through a giant telescope at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. With lots of interactive exhibits and fascinating pieces to learn about, this stop will leave you in awe. The foundation of Washington (the town) is unique among American cities because the new Constitution of the fledgling United States gave the recently organized Congress of the United States authority to establish a federal territory. The states of Maryland and Virginia donated land to form the federal district. The capital city was named in honor of George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the 1st President of the nation. Washington D.C.'s economy is based to 25% on lucrative federal jobs. One-quarter of the city's workforce is employed at a federal governmental agency. The second largest source of municipal revenue is tourism. 22.8 million visitors flooded the city in 2017 and spent $7.53 billion. You can tour the White House, the iconic home of America’s president, by scheduling a visit in advance. Even if you are unable to schedule a visit, walk around to the back to get a closer view of the building. Tour the Supreme Court of the United States and attend a free lecture about the building’s history and the proceedings of the court. If the court is in session (Monday–Wednesday during the months of October–April), arrive early to get a free spot to watch a case being argued. The neoclassical Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to America’s 16th president and is best seen at night. Located at the western end of the National Mall, the views from the memorial are nothing short of spectacular. Browse through the National Gallery of Art’s exhibits, featuring works of art from numerous countries, artists, and historical eras. Go up to the rooftop to get a fabulous view of the Capitol, and also make sure to take the groovy tunnel between the East and West Building.

The US State Washington D.C. occupies 158 m², about 0,01 % of the total territory of the USA of 9,148,020 m². The total population of the US State Washington D.C. with 693,972 inhabitants (in 2017) has already increased by 21,31 % in this millennium. Almost 40 years ago there were 55,639 fewer people. The capital Washington alone has 702,455 inhabitants.

District of Columbia, federal district (2010 pop. 601,723, a 5.2% increase in population since the 2000 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). The District was established by congressional acts of 1790 and 1791 and selected by George Washington. It was originally a 10-mi (16.1-km) square (100 sq mi/259 sq km), with Maryland and Virginia granting land on each side of the river, including Georgetown, Md., and Alexandria , Va. The " Federal City " was laid out at its center. Alexandria was returned to Virginia in 1847. The city continued to grow on the east bank of the river and in 1878, when Georgetown became a part of Washington (although it continued to operate as a separate city until 1895), the city of Washington and the District of Columbia became one and the same. Although " Washington " is the name known throughout the world, the city is more commonly called " the District " by its own residents.

Washington's metropolitan area, the country's sixth largest, had a 2017 estimated population of 6.2 million residents. All three branches of the U.S. federal government are centered in the District: Congress (legislative), president (executive), and the U.S. Supreme Court (judicial). Washington is home to many national monuments, and museums, primarily situated on or around the National Mall. The city hosts 177 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of many international organizations, trade unions, non-profit, lobbying groups, and professional associations, including the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization of American States, AARP, the National Geographic Society, the Human Rights Campaign, the International Finance Corporation, and the American Red Cross. A locally elected mayor and a 13 member council have governed the District since 1973. However, Congress maintains supreme authority over the city and may overturn local laws. D.C. residents elect a non-voting, at-large congressional delegate to the House of Representatives, but the District has no representation in the Senate. The District receives three electoral votes in presidential elections as permitted by the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1961. Washington, D.C. is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Due to the District of Columbia retrocession, the city has a total area of 68.34 square miles (177.0 km²), of which 61.05 square miles (158.1 km²) is land and 7.29 square miles (18.9 km²) (10.67%) is water. The District is bordered by Montgomery County, Maryland to the northwest; Prince George's County, Maryland to the east; Arlington County, Virginia to the south; and Alexandria, Virginia to the west.