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Is Washington, D.C. a state? |
Government
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. It is bordered by the states of Maryland and Virginia. But in which state is Washington, D.C. located? Or is it a state of its own?!
Washington, D.C., often called “D.C.” for short, is a city, not a state. It is also referred to as both a federal district and a territory. In fact, D.C. is short for the “District of Columbia.” Washington used to be a city within the larger District of Columbia territory. This territory was created with land granted by the states of Maryland and Virginia. However, some of the territory’s land was returned to Virginia in the mid-1800s. Therefore, the territory became smaller, and because the city of Washington grew over time, the territory and the city now share the same space!
Because Washington, D.C. is the home of the United States government, it contains many government buildings. In fact, several hundred thousand people who live in the city work for the federal government. However, it is also the site of many monuments that honor important people and happenings from America’s history! Around 15 million tourists visit Washington, D.C. each year, enjoying its many landmarks, federal buildings and museums.
