Before Washington, D.C., became the established capital of the United States in 1800, the nascent nation’s Congress convened in various cities, including Baltimore, Trenton, and New York City. The selection of a permanent capital was a subject of considerable debate among America’s leaders. This deliberation culminated in the passage of the Residence Act in July 1790. This pivotal legislation dictated that the new capital would be strategically located along the Potomac River. It also granted President George Washington significant authority, empowering him to designate the precise location. Furthermore, Washington was authorized to appoint three commissioners tasked with overseeing the development of this federal city. A deadline was set for December 1800, mandating the completion of a legislative hall for Congress and an official residence for the chief executive.
In January 1791, President Washington officially announced his selection for the federal district. This area comprised 100 square miles of land strategically ceded by both Maryland and Virginia. It’s worth noting that in 1846, the portion of land contributed by Virginia was returned to the state, thereby reducing the district’s size by approximately one-third. By September of the same year, the commissioners formally named the federal city in honor of Washington, recognizing his pivotal role in the nation’s founding. Simultaneously, they designated the encompassing district as the Territory of Columbia. The name Columbia itself holds historical significance, derived from the explorer Christopher Columbus, and was frequently employed during the American Revolution as a patriotic and symbolic reference to the burgeoning United States. Interestingly, in 1871, the Territory of Columbia underwent an official renaming and became formally known as the District of Columbia.
In the spring of 1791, President Washington engaged Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French-born architect and engineer, to meticulously plan the capital city. L’Enfant, who had previously served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, conceived a city design characterized by expansive avenues and generous open spaces. However, his ambitious vision and methods led to clashes with George Washington’s appointed commissioners and local landowners. Consequently, L’Enfant was compelled to resign from the project in less than a year. Despite his departure, L’Enfant’s foundational design principles were subsequently adapted and revised by later city planners, shaping the Washington D.C. we know today.
Congress officially convened in Washington for the first time in November 1800, marking a significant milestone, albeit occurring after the death of George Washington in December of the preceding year. In February 1801, the District of Columbia, which at that time included the cities of Alexandria and Georgetown, was formally placed under the direct jurisdiction of Congress. Presently, America’s capital city is a vibrant urban center with a population exceeding 650,000 residents. These residents are represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate, highlighting the district’s unique political status. The 23rd Amendment to the Constitution granted citizens of D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections, beginning in 1964, a landmark achievement in their pursuit of political representation. Furthermore, since 1974, Washington D.C. residents have exercised their democratic rights by electing their own mayor and city council, further solidifying a degree of local governance within the federal district.
