Iintroduction washington, d.c., city and district, capital of the united states of america. the city of washington has the same boundaries as the district of columbia d.c., a federal territory established in 1790 as the site of the new nations permanent capital. named after the first u.s. president, george washington, the city has served since 1800 as the seat of federal government. it is also the heart of a dynamic metropolitan region. during the 20th century, the washington, d.c., metropolitan area grew rapidly as the responsibilities of national government increased, both at home and throughout the world.
the city is located at the confluence of the potomac and anacostia rivers and is flanked on the north, east, and southeast by maryland and on the southwest by virginia. although the city has retained some aspects of its southern origin, it has assumed a much more cosmopolitan character. at the same time, the city struggles with social and economic disparity, and a number of i...