Washington DC serves as the capital of the United States of America and is easily one of the most important cities in this country. It was named after George Washington, the first President and one of the founding fathers of the US. It is also one of the most visited cities in the country.
Even though the name and the city are popular, there is one aspect of it that is still relatively lesser known. That is the word “DC” in the city’s name. So let’s try and find out the full meaning and story behind it along with the history of DC. Keep reading to know more.
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History Of Washington DC
In 1790, Congress established Washington DC as the federal district and made it the capital of the United States. The area was carved from the lands of states like Maryland and Virginia.
Despite being a district, it operates as a state along with performing several functions of a city and or a county. The word DC stands for District Columbia, a name derived from lady Columbia who is the female personification of the country.
The district is named after George Washington, the first President as well as one of the founding fathers of America. One of the most politically, culturally, and economically important cities, DC is also one of the most visited cities in the country.
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The Residence Act Gave Birth To This City
On July 16, 1790, the Residence Act was approved during the first US Congress. It gave approval to the creation of a capital district. The next year in 1791, the city was founded. Subsequently, Congress’s first session took place in 1800.
A sizable portion of people has been trying to get DC statehood status since the 1800s. In 2021, a statehood bill was passed by the House of Representatives to achieving this.
DC is divided into several quadrants which are spread around the Capitol Building. A total of 131 neighborhoods reside in the city. It serves as the home to the President of the United States as well as Congress and the Supreme Court.
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