Skip to content
Overview of Washington, D.C.
- Washington, D.C. serves as the capital of the United States federal government.
- The city is named for George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States.
- The Constitution dictates that the federal district be under the jurisdiction of the US Congress.
- Washington, DC operates as a state while also performing functions of a city and a county.
- The District of Columbia is a federal district that is not a part of any state.
Geographic Context
- The state of Maryland borders the District of Columbia to the north, east, and west.
- The state of Virginia borders the District on the southern shore of the Potomac River.
Naming Origins
- The new federal territory was named District of Columbia to honor explorer Christopher Columbus.
- The new federal city was named for George Washington.