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雖然紐約市及費城都曾任短暫的美國首府，但於1790年，國會選定哥倫比亞特區為永遠的美國首府。喬治華盛頓也有幫忙挑選城市的位置。位於波多馬克河 (Potomac
River) 的華盛頓特區，開拓之初的建地是取自馬里蘭州及維吉尼亞州的部分土地(位在河流南部的土地，也在1846年時，歸還給維吉尼亞州了)。
在法國出生的美國工程師、建築師及郊區設計師：朗方 (Pierre-Charles
L'Enfant) 規劃了該市的基本藍圖，寬敞的大道以國會大廈所在的建築物為中心，呈星狀向外射出，而周圍的街道則呈棋盤狀，其間有著一些圓環及公園。哥倫比亞特區這個名字是為了表彰哥倫布 (Christopher
Columbus) ，而著名的華盛頓特區，則是為了彰顯美國的第一任總統。雖然國會大廈的第一期建設工程直到1826年才完工，國會的首次會議已於1800年在華盛頓召開。今日，華盛頓每年都湧入數以百萬計的人來一睹國會大廈、白宮、國會圖書館及市內的許多博物館及紀念
堂的風采。代表它的花朵是素有美國美人之稱的玫瑰。
Although New York City and Philadelphia each served briefly as the capital of the United States, in 1790, Congress chose the District of Columbia as the permanent seat of government. George Washington helped select the site for the city. Situated on the Potomac River, Washington, D.C., was originally carved out of land transferred from Maryland and Virginia (Virginia's portion south of the river was returned to that state in 1846).
French-born American engineer, architect, and urban designer Pierre-Charles L'Enfant designed the city's basic plan, which features wide avenues radiating from the Capitol building through a grid of streets with numerous circles and parks. The name District of Columbia honors Christopher Columbus, and the city's better-known name of Washington, honors the first president. Congress first met in Washington in 1800, although construction of the first phase of the Capitol was not completed until 1826. Today, millions come to Washington, D.C. each year to see the Capitol, the White House, the Library of Congress, and the city's many museums and monuments. The flower is the American beauty rose.
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華盛頓特區
