In a simple answer, Washington: a state in far north west of USA, largest city there is Seatle, named after George Washington. Washington DC : is the abbreviation of Washington District of Colombia, this is an area that contains the Federal capital of USA, it lies in the eastern part of USA, this area was combined from 3 states.
Washington is a state in what we call the Pacific Northwest; it’s in the northwest corner of the contiguous 48 states, north of Oregon and South of Canada. Washington, DC (District of Columbia) is nestled in between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River, virtually with “spittin’ distance” of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Washington is a state, on the west coast of the United States north of Oregon. Washington DC is the District of Columbia, where the seat of government and the white house is located.
Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The state is named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. As of the 2000 census, the state population was approximately 5.9 million and the state work force numbered about 3.1 million. Residents are called “Washingtonians” (emphasis on the third syllable, pronounced as tone). It should not be confused with Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital city. To avoid confusion, the city is often called simply D.C. and the state is often called Washington state.
Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America. “D.C.” stands for the District of Columbia, the federal district containing the city of Washington. The city is named after George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States.
It is commonly known as D.C., The District, or simply Washington. Historically, it was called the Federal City or Washington City. It is easily confused with the state of Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest — to avoid this, the capital city is often called simply D.C., and the state referred to as Washington State. The population of the District of Columbia, as of 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is 582,049 persons. The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area surpasses 8 million persons. If Washington, D.C. were a state, it would rank last in area behind Rhode Island, 50th in population ahead of Wyoming, first in population density ahead of New Jersey, and 35th in Gross State Product.
Washington DC, History
Washington DC is not one of the 50 states. But it’s an important part of the U.S. The
District of Columbia is our nation’s capital. Congress established the federal district from land belonging to the states of Maryland and Virginia in 1790. The Virginia portion was returned in 1846, leaving a 177-square-kilometer district. That’s a densely populated area, when you consider Washington DC is currently home to about 618,000 people.
President George Washington commissioned French-born architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant
to design the new capital. L’Enfant had served alongside Washington in the Revolutionary
War. But L’Enfant got into a squabble over the plans with city commissioners, who had
Thomas Jefferson’s backing. Washington fired L’Enfant and brought in another architect,
Andrew Ellicott to finish the design. The district’s population is among the most educated in the entire United States. Nearly half of all adults have at least a bachelor’s degree. That’s because Washington draws to it many of the nation’s most ambitious young people, who come seeking opportunity in public service and politics.
Washington also has a diverse population. More than half of the district’s inhabitants are
ethnic and racial minorities, including many first generation immigrants. There is also a
large international community. Washington is home to 176 foreign embassies and the
headquarters of many international organizations including the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund.
The federal government is the top employer in the district. But Washington isn’t only about
politics. Every year, more than 16 Some of the most architecturally interesting buildings in the U.S. are located in DC: The White House, the Washington National Cathedral, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Many of these historic attractions are located along the National Mall, a large open park. On the eve of my swearing in ceremony as the US Ambassador to Austria, I took my oldest daughter, Keep, to the Lincoln Memorial, also located along the National Mall. This was the place where Martin Luther King, Jr. riveted the nation with his “I have a Dream” speech 50 years ago now. I took my daughter there to introduce her to this legacy. As we walked up the steps to the monument, I found myself also moved to embark on the diplomatic work of this mission firmly rooted in the American ideals that great leaders like Dr. King and President Abraham Lincoln have come to represent.
From anywhere on the National Mall, you can see the Washington Monument, the
District’s tallest structure. Unlike most American cities, Washington has no skyscrapers.
But you can ride the glass elevator to the top of the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument
and see the entire city.
Row houses are prominent in the areas developed after the Civil War. You’ll see many of
those in Georgetown. Many people also know this neighborhood for its great restaurants
and shopping on M Street.
Speaking of restaurants, Washington DC has many of best in the U.S. The international
community adds to the flavor of the district’s cuisine – everything from Caribbean to
Salvadoran to Turkish food, in addition to traditional American fare, which more and more
often now features local and organically grown cuisine. Being so close to the Chesapeake
Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, we also get our share of seafood. Most popular are the crabs. Personally, I like to go to Adams Morgan for some of the best Ethiopian food around. Washington is a national center for the arts, including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera and the Washington Ballet, all housed in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
There are also several prominent theaters, including the historic Ford’s Theater, where President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. For a change from the official, classical and monumental DC, the Eastern Market, a public farmers’ market on Capitol Hill, is big attraction. The market was damaged by a fire in 2007 and rebuilt. It was also threatened by big chain supermarkets, but residents fought to keep their market open. Besides produce, vendors sell baked goods, meats, cheeses as well as art and antiques.
Washington has some good sports teams. Washington’s football team has won five
professional league championships. Our soccer team has won four, the most in U.S. Major
League Soccer history.
Many famous people were born in the District of Colombia, but most actually lived in the
suburbs in Virginia and Maryland. Like actress Goldie Hawn and political satirist Steve
Colbert. Actress Helen Hayes got her start in DC theaters. Actor William Hurt spent many years in
Washington DC, while his father worked for the State Department. Actor/Singer Al Jolson was a Russian born immigrant whose family settled in the district in 1894. Jazz composer and big band leader Duke Ellington was born in the West End section of the district. And “What’s Goin On” singer Marvin Gaye also came from DC.
Washington DC can’t help but foster patriotism. John Philip Sousa, “the March King,”
comes from DC. And so does Francis Scott Key, a Georgetown lawyer who wrote our
national anthem during the War of 1812.
As a child, my favorite thing about DC was climbing on the enormous dinosaur statue
outside of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Now, as an adult, less of
my time in DC is spent at the park. Now, when I go back, I am struck by the feeling of awe
I encounter when moving between the Capitol and the White House. Along this corridor, you pass by building after building, filled with the people who have dedicated their lives in public service to the federal agencies that make our democracy hum, that make our children healthy and our communities just. And surrounding them, spreading out through the District’s many neighborhoods, are the legion more who labor in the non-governmental sector to help ensure that the work is getting done right. It is this image of the District of Columbia that moves me now, and inspires me to continue in that tradition through the work I am privileged to do with you here.
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Research to Action © 2018 Time Network (Canada)
