"About Washington D.C." a Washington D.C. Travel Page by leafmcgowan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C

2005 Population estimate: 582,049. Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area: over 8 million.
The capital city of the United State of America, aka "The Federal City" or "Washington City" - named after America's first president and former military leader of the American Revolution : George Washington blended with the Acronym "D.C." for "District of Columbia" - the federal district coextensive within the city of Washington. It was founded on July 16, 1790 as a federal district as specified by the United States Constitution. In order to be representative of the "Union" of all 50 states, the capital could not be located in one of the 50 states, and had to exist outside of State boundaries in order to be representative of the 50 states that act somewhat like 50 separate governments - seperate but united. The District of Columbia and the city of Washington are coextensive and are governed by a single municipal government, so for most practical purposes they are considered to be the same entity, though this was not always the case. As late as 1871, when Georgetown ceased to be a separate city, there were multiple jurisdictions within the District. Although there is a municipal government and a mayor, Congress has the supreme authority over the city and district, which results in citizens having a different status and less representation in government than residents of the states. Located within D.C. are the centers of all three branches of the U.S. Federal government - also the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States, and other national and international institutions. Washington is the frequent location of large political demonstrations and protests, particularly on the National Mall. Washington is the site of numerous national landmarks, monuments, and museums, and is a popular destination for tourists. Many people often confuse Washington D.C. with the State of Washington, which is located in the Pacific Northwest - and it is because of this, that some people refer to it simply as "D.C." and the other as "Washington State". As host to over 180 embassies and hundreds of international organizations, Washington, D.C. has a substantial population of foreign residents. There are also many students from abroad studying at the local universities and colleges. This adds a cosmopolitan flavor to the city.