What is the capital of the United States?

The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. The initials stand for District of Columbia, the federal district created to serve as the seat of the national government.

Washington, D.C., is located along the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. It was selected as the permanent capital through a political compromise associated with President George Washington and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. The city was named for Washington, while the district was named for Christopher Columbus.

The capital is home to the White House, the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court, and many federal agencies. It is not part of any U.S. state, which makes it different from most American cities. Residents elect a mayor and local council, but the district has a distinctive relationship with Congress.

New York City, Philadelphia, and other cities served as temporary national capitals during the Revolutionary era and the early years of the United States. That history sometimes causes confusion, but Washington, D.C., has been the permanent federal capital since 1800.