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The District of Columbia-identical with the city of Washington-is the capital of the United States. It is located between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River. The district is named after Columbus.
DC history began in 1790 when Congress directed selection of a new capital site, 100 sq mi, along the Potomac. When the site was determined, it included 30.75 sq mi on the Virginia side of the river. In 1846, however, Congress returned that area to Virginia, leaving the 68.25 sq mi ceded by Maryland in 1788. The seat of government was transferred from Philadelphia to Washington on Dec. 1, 1800, and President John Adams became the first resident in the White House. The District of Columbia is home to the White House in Washington DC and is not a State but an administrative district created specifically to avoid having the capital city in any one State. Washington, DC is a city of green parks, wide tree-lined streets, white marble buildings and, surprising for a US city, no skyscrapers, which gives it a more European air. It is the centre for visiting diplomats and has one of the largest concentrations of hotel and motel rooms in the country. Tourism is the leading private industry and business interests are increasingly attracted by the many light-industrial, high-tech and research companies now moving into the region. The 'Metro area' refers to the District of Columbia and surrounding counties and cities in Maryland and Virginia . |
