Washington DC: Information Resource Portal

Washington DC is the capital of the United States of America. Today, the District of Columbia ("DC") is a city under the control of the Federal government and run by an elected mayor. It is not a state, nor does it have the privileges of a state, though its residents can vote for the President in national elections.

In the early years of the union, the dispute over the location for the US capital was so heated that it nearly tore the young nation apart. The Congress suggested several sites, as three times in a year, until finally the northern and southern states compromised on an area directly between them, on a site that George Washington chose in 1791 initially comprising land from the states of Maryland and Virginia. He hired Pierre L'Enfant, a Frenchman who had volunteered during the Revolutionary War, to design the site. Eventually, however, land south of the Potomac River (now part of Arlington County) was returned to Virginia.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms Washington DC is the site of the White House, the official home and office of the President of the United States of America. The property and grounds are owned by the National Park Service.

As befits the nation's capital, Washington DC is teeming with historical buildings and structures. Notable among them are the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress, and various monuments.

Washington DC has a humid subtropical climate typical of the mid-Atlantic states. Summers are hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms; winters are cold with occasional snowfall. During the June through October hurricane season, Atlantic storms may pass through the region though rarely at hurricane strength.

Major sports teams of Washington DC include the Washington Redskins (football), the Washington Nationals (national league baseball), the Washington Capitals (hockey), and the Washington Wizards (basketball).






	Washington DC Fast Facts History Government Geography Attractions Hotels	Washington DC is the capital of the United States of America. Today, the District of Columbia ("DC") is a city under the control of the Federal government and run by an elected mayor. It is not a state, nor does it have the privileges of a state, though its residents can vote for the President in national elections. In the early years of the union, the dispute over the location for the US capital was so heated that it nearly tore the young nation apart. The Congress suggested several sites, as three times in a year, until finally the northern and southern states compromised on an area directly between them, on a site that George Washington chose in 1791 initially comprising land from the states of Maryland and Virginia. He hired Pierre L'Enfant, a Frenchman who had volunteered during the Revolutionary War, to design the site. Eventually, however, land south of the Potomac River (now part of Arlington County) was returned to Virginia. Washington DC is the site of the White House, the official home and office of the President of the United States of America. The property and grounds are owned by the National Park Service. As befits the nation's capital, Washington DC is teeming with historical buildings and structures. Notable among them are the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress, and various monuments. Washington DC has a humid subtropical climate typical of the mid-Atlantic states. Summers are hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms; winters are cold with occasional snowfall. During the June through October hurricane season, Atlantic storms may pass through the region though rarely at hurricane strength. Major sports teams of Washington DC include the Washington Redskins (football), the Washington Nationals (national league baseball), the Washington Capitals (hockey), and the Washington Wizards (basketball).

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