# Any confusion between Washington state and Washington DC then? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053 "2015-05-14T17:46:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/21 "2015-05-15T16:58:09Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And those two names aren’t the only potentially ambiguous ones in this country either. We’re surrounded by repeating place names. Yep. Especially in New England. It seems that every New England state has about 50 towns with the exact same name. Bit of an exaggeration, but multiple names proliferate. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/22 "2015-05-15T17:36:45Z")
Yeah, I always say I’m from DC, not Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/23 "2015-05-15T18:16:19Z")
Most people from D.C., don’t really say Washington. I’d usually tell someone from the area that I live in the District. Someone from out of the area, I would tell that I live in D.C. or Washington, D.C. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/24 "2015-05-15T22:26:49Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Generally, if a professional level sports franchise calls itself the “Washington {somethings}”, they are out of DC - the Redskins, Capitals and Wizards. The ones in the state of Washington are identified with cities. I suspect a professional team in Washington State would avoid using the state name precisely to avoid confusion. Only Seattle has major league franchises at this point. Spokane has some minor league and lesser followed sports franchises. Although I have been occasionally confused by some media outlets who have made the editorial decision to call the NFL franchise “the Washington football team” which without any other context I would assume to be the UW Huskies. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/25 "2015-05-15T23:57:40Z")
Here in DC, it’s almost always DC or the District. I can’t recall ever just saying “Washington,” and I’d only say “Washington, DC” if I were talking to out-of-towners or writing my address. “Washington” just isn’t considered the relevant part. Anyone in DC referring to Washington State would say “Washington State.” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/26 "2015-05-16T00:01:37Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Anyone in DC referring to Washington State would say “Washington State.” Here in Washington State, we refer to the city as “D.C.” or “the other Washington.” ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/27 "2015-05-16T00:16:14Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yeah, but California is full of idiots. It’s the sunshine - it bakes peoples’ brains. Hay! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/28 "2015-05-16T00:29:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yep. Especially in New England. It seems that every New England state has about 50 towns with the exact same name. Bit of an exaggeration, but multiple names proliferate. Well, every town, city and county south of the Potomac is named “Jackson.” (slight exaggeration) > [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > And if you are close to someplace like Washington PA, we tended to call that “little Washington” to avoid any ambiguity. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/29 "2015-05-16T00:38:09Z")
Lost the edit window– My wife is from just east of there and they all called it “Washington P-A.” (They said the letters) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/30 "2015-05-16T00:52:25Z")
> [@](#): > > And if you are close to someplace like Washington PA, we tended to call that “little Washington” to avoid any ambiguity. I beg to differ. Here in the DC area “little Washington” refers to Washington, VA! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/31 "2015-05-16T01:06:17Z")
That screaming sound you all just heard was me strangling my wife, who just told me they all called it “little Washington” growing up. Marriage.Can.Be.Like.That.Sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Steverd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Steverd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steverd)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/32 "2015-05-16T01:18:52Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Here in Washington State, we refer to the city as “D.C.” or “the other Washington.” I’ve never heard ANY say that they are from Washington State, here in Washington! The other is DC. ---
**Author:** ![mattm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@mattm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/33 "2015-05-16T03:59:44Z")
# How about Vancouver, Washington? Vancouver? Oh, Canadian, Eh? No, Vancouver, Washington. What, Washington DC? No, Washington State. So you’re not Canadian? No, Washington State, USA. Rinse. Repeat. Americans think I’m Canadian and from the Capitol. Most Canadians know the difference, even the Easterners I’ve met. Too many geographically challenged Muricans out there. Vancouver WA has a few nick-names; The Other Vancouver, Fort Vancouver, North Portland, The Couve (particularly detestable for me), Vantucky, and now New Vansterdam (There’s a pot shop here by that name.) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/34 "2015-05-16T04:12:48Z")
For years I kept hearing intermittently about some football team called the “Washington Redskins” and I just assumed it was a team based in the Pacific NW coastal state. Apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/35 "2015-05-16T14:10:05Z")
Americans in general are profoundly ignorant about their own geography. I recall hearing several years ago a radio interview with a Postal Service official about the difficulty in delivering mis-addressed mail. People routinely confused states like “Ohio,” “Iowa,” and “Idaho,” for example. One letter was addressed to a place in “Ohidowa.” And these are people who know somebody living at the intended destination. There are routinely stories by people from New Mexico who when traveling to other states are treated as foreigners. One story I heard was from the time of the Atlanta Olympic Games. A resident of New Mexico called to find out where to get tickets and was told that he would have to contact the Olympic authorities “in your country.” Another more recent one was from someone who had moved to New York or New Jersey and wanted to exchange his New Mexico driver’s license for a local one. He was told that that office did not handle international matters. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/36 "2015-05-16T14:23:49Z")
> [@mattm](#): > > Americans think I’m Canadian and from the Capitol. The Capitol is a building\*. You mean _the capital_. A common error. \*_Admittedly it’s the seat of Government, but nonetheless, only a building._ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/37 "2015-05-16T14:46:53Z")
Speaking of Canada and capitals, I’m pretty certain that the majority of Americans have no idea what Canada’s capital city is. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/38 "2015-05-16T14:52:42Z")
Is it still Ottawa? ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/39 "2015-05-16T15:21:26Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Speaking of Canada and capitals, I’m pretty certain that the majority of Americans have no idea what Canada’s capital city is. I think it would be fair to say that if there were a test that asked only the most basic questions about Canada, the vast majority of Americans would score a zero. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053/40 "2015-05-16T15:47:19Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The Capitol is a building\*. You mean _the capital_. A common error. > > \*_Admittedly it’s the seat of Government, but nonetheless, only a building._ But Vancouver, BC isn’t the capital of anything. Neither is Vancouver, WA. Victoria is the capital of BC; Olympia is the capital of WA. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-confusion-between-washington-state-and-washington-dc-then/720053.md?page=3)