Washington, D.C. is the capital city and administrative district of the United States of America, named after the first president, George Washington. Typically, it is simply called Washington (although that can be confused with the state of Washington). The land for Washington, D.C. was given to the federal government by the states of Virginia and Maryland. In the mid-19th century, the area south of the Potomac was returned to Virginia and now is incorporated in Arlington County and a part of the City of Alexandria.
The population of Washington, and of all of the District of Columbia, as of the 2000 census, is 572,059.
D.C. stands for District of Columbia.
Washington is the home of numerous national landmarks and is a popular tourist destination. Landmarks include:
- White House (President's Park)
- United States Capitol
- Washington Monument
- Jefferson Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- National Mall
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Institution
Washington is the home of the Washington Redskins National Football League team, the Washington Capitols National Hockey League team, the Washington Wizards National Basketball Association team, the D. C. United Major League Soccer team , the Washington Freedom Women's United Soccer Association and the Washington Mystics WNBA team.
Washington is also known for an excellent public transportation system known as the Washington Metro.
Washington serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States.
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