Which national capital lies on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia?

Which national capital lies on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia? Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and sits along the Potomac River, across from Virginia and beside Maryland.

Washington, D.C. is a federal district rather than a U.S. state. The Residence Act of July 16, 1790, selected land along the Potomac for the national capital, and the federal government moved there from Philadelphia in 1800. The district originally included land ceded by both Maryland and Virginia; Virginia’s portion was returned in 1846.

The name can cause confusion because “Washington” is also the name of a U.S. state on the Pacific coast. “D.C.” means District of Columbia, distinguishing the capital from both Washington state and other places named Washington. The city is also associated with the Potomac’s historical role during the American Civil War.