District of Columbia

This federal district (not a state) is conextensive with the capital, Washington, DC, named after the first president. The flag is derived from the Washington family arms.

Federal district and seat of the federal government of the USA, coextensive with the capital city, Washington, DC, situated on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers; area 158 sq km/61 sq mi; population (2006 est) 581,500. The area was selected by President George Washington and approved by Congress in 1790, and the government moved from the previous capital, Philadelphia, in 1800. The area was chosen as a politically neutral area midway between the North and South of the country, and was formed from parts of Maryland and Virginia, although the Virginia part was returned to that state in 1846.

In its early years District of Columbia was ruled directly by Congress, then had various forms of self-government. After the Civil War, Congress, alarmed over political developments in the district, revoked its charter and from 1874 appointed commissioners to oversee it. It was not until 1967 that a form of ‘home rule’ was restored. A new charter, approved in 1973, gave the district an elective mayor and council; ultimate control, however, remained in the hand of Congressional committees that have veto power over budget and other legislation. In addition, citizens of the district vote in presidential elections but have only a nonvoting delegate to Congress. Discontent with this status has led to movements pressing for statehood.