What city served as the first U.S. national capital under the Constitution?

New York City served as the first U.S. national capital under the Constitution. The federal government began operating there in 1789, and Congress met at Federal Hall.

George Washington was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789. The city hosted the first Congress, the new executive branch, and the early Supreme Court under the constitutional government.

The capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790 under the Residence Act. Philadelphia remained the national capital for a decade, while a permanent federal district was developed along the Potomac River. The government moved to Washington, D.C., in 1800.

A frequent confusion comes from mixing the constitutional capital with earlier wartime capitals. The Continental Congress met in several cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and York, before the Constitution created the later federal system. New York City was the first capital of that constitutional government.