Washington, D.C., functions as the capital of the United States and the permanent seat of the federal government. Its establishment was a deliberate act by the founders to create a centralized location for the national government, separate from any single state’s influence. This unique status allows the District to serve as the exclusive political and administrative center for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The Bordering States
The District of Columbia shares a physical boundary with two adjacent states: Maryland and Virginia. The geography places the District centrally within a larger metropolitan area that is functionally shared by these two neighboring jurisdictions. This regional reality is often informally referenced by the acronym “DMV,” signifying the close proximity and interconnectedness of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
The majority of the District’s land border is shared with Maryland, encompassing its northern, eastern, and southeastern sides. This border is a fixed, surveyed line on land. The remaining boundary to the southwest is formed by the Potomac River, which separates the District from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Potomac River serves as a natural boundary, but the precise legal demarcation is unique. Washington, D.C.’s boundary extends to the south bank of the river, meaning the entire width of the Potomac along the border is technically within the District of Columbia. This means the border with Virginia is defined entirely by the river’s shoreline.
Understanding the District’s Unique Status
The reason Washington, D.C., is not situated within a state is rooted in the United States Constitution, which established it as a federal district. This concept is authorized by Article I, Section 8, Clause 17, which permits Congress to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over a district. This constitutional provision ensures the federal government would not be dependent on any state for its security or administration.
The original territory for the District of Columbia was formed from land ceded by both Maryland and Virginia in 1790. This initial parcel of land was approximately 100 square miles and straddled the Potomac River. However, in 1847, Congress agreed to retrocede, or return, the land originally contributed by Virginia back to the Commonwealth.
This retrocession officially reduced the District to its modern size of approximately 68 square miles, with its current territory consisting entirely of the land that was ceded by Maryland. The status as a federal district places the District of Columbia under the ultimate legislative authority of the U.S. Congress, separating it politically from its neighboring states.