Why is it Called the District of Columbia?

Why is the United States capital in the District of Columbia, and how did the district get its name?

Why is the United States capital in the District of Columbia, and how did the district get its name?

On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress passed the Residence Act, which granted the President, George Washington, the authority to select a site for the new nation’s permanent capital. Prior to this time, the capital had been located in various other…