Geography and Industry

This federal region on the Potomac River between the states of Maryland and Virginia is not a state. It is a district controlled directly by the U.S. Congress, and its sole purpose is to serve as the seat of the U.S. government in the form of the nation's capital: the city of Washington. It was once a tenmile perfect square, and contained the village of Georgetown and the county of Alexandria, all situated on land donated by both Maryland and Virginia. The land on the Virginia side of the Potomac River was later given back to the state of Virginia.

The District of Columbia only has one industry: the U.S. government, which employs most of the people who live in the district. Others work for the city of Washington, which is another large employer within the district.

History

President George Washington chose the site of the United States' new capital city in 1790. French architect Pierre L'Enfant won a contest with his plans for laying out the new city. It was designed on his proposed model.

At first the district was officially a territory, just like many of the states were before they became states. Unlike with other territories, though, the district was never intended to become a state, and has never had a governor. Until 1961 Americans who lived in the District of Columbia weren't even allowed to vote in presidential elections!

Slavery was abolished in the district in 1850 as a result of the political compromise of the same year (the Compromise of 1850, of course!). The territorial type of government was discontinued in 1874, and the president appointed a council to run the district's government. This lasted until 1967, when a mayor-council system was put in place. From 1967 until 1973, the president appointed the mayor and council members. In 1973, they became elected officials.