# Why they called the city "Washington" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 12, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902 "2003-11-12T21:02:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kansas\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/1 "2003-11-12T21:02:40Z")
I just read a good summary of the history of Washington, DC here: [http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/short2.html](http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/short2.html) > [@](#): > > In late August L’Enfant took his completed plan to Philadelphia. The president approved it and asked L’Enfant to have in engraved. In September Washington sent Jefferson and Madison to meet with the commissioners in Georgetown. \*\*The name of the city, Washington, was made official, \*\*the system of naming the streets agreed upon, and the date and lots for the auction determined. The article doesn’t mention why it was named Washington. Wouldn’t President Washington have felt a bit awkward having the city named after him? What’s the straight dope on this? ---
**Author:** ![Wheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@Wheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/2 "2003-11-12T21:34:38Z")
I believe that when Washington was president the capitol was Philly or NYC or something. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/3 "2003-11-12T21:41:50Z")
That is a surprise, I’d always assumed it was changed to Washingon after he died. Evidently, he didn’t feel too awkward about having the place built up the river from his property, artificially enhancing its value. My wild-assed guess is that, while Washington was still alive, Jefferson and Madison told him the half-hearted fiction that it was named for his father, and Washington half-heartedly pretended to believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kansas\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/4 "2003-11-12T21:42:08Z")
Yes, but it was George who picked the land and, according to the story linked above, agreed to having it called “Washington.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/5 "2003-11-12T21:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krokodil \* > \*\*That is a surprise, I’d always assumed it was changed to Washingon after he died. \*\* “It” being the name of the city, of course; the plans to move the capital to the South were in motion all during Washington’s presidency, part of a deal between Jefferson and Hamilton. Hamilton would okay the new location if Jefferson wouldn’t block the formation of a central bank. It was so heartwarming to see these two finally agree on something… ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/6 "2003-11-12T22:01:46Z")
The US Federal government has never had a rule against naming buildings after the living; e.g. Reagan National Airport, the Zbigniew Brzezinski office building, etc. I guess the same applies to cities as well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/7 "2003-11-12T23:20:58Z")
Officially, there is no “City of Washington” - it’s just the “District of Columbia,” although Washington is the postal designation for addresses in the district. The District of Columbia used to contain several cities and villages. After Washington annexed all other cities and unincorporated areas in the Sistrict, and became coterminous with it, it was essentially dissoleved, with the District serving municipal functions. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/8 "2003-11-13T00:20:13Z")
Actually, Jefferson agreed to Hamilton’s plan to have the Federal government assume the debts from the Revolutionary War of the 13 states. The national bank came after the debt assumption and Jefferson opposed that. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/9 "2003-11-13T00:35:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > Officially, there is no “City of Washington” - it’s just the “District of Columbia,” although Washington is the postal designation for addresses in the district. This is 100% wrong. Oficially there IS the city of Washington as anyone who has been there should know. Marion Barry was Mayor of Washington, the city located in the District of Columbia. Washington collects taxes and repairs potholes just like any other city. Well, they collect taxes and say they’ll fix the potholes. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/10 "2003-11-13T00:42:42Z")
Yeah, and for many many many years it went by ‘Washington City’ with little mention of the District of Columbia. It’s ‘Washington’ which it contained inside the Federal District of Columbia. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/11 "2003-11-13T02:53:50Z")
[Washington, DC History](http://dcpages.ari.net/History/DC_Name_History.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/12 "2003-11-13T03:38:24Z")
Sorry, no cite (I looked but couldn’t find one), but I seem to recall that ol’ George was in fact embarrassed by the city’s name, and never referred to it as “Washington.” ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/13 "2003-11-13T18:49:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > **This is 100% wrong. Oficially there IS the city of Washington as anyone who has been there should know.** Let’s see a cite, **sailor**. The local government is called the Government of the District of Columbia. The local legislature is the Council of the District of Columbia. Anthony Williams is Mayor of the District of Columbia, etc. Washington once existed as a separate entity from the District, but no longer – there is now only a single district-wide government and no separate municipalities therein. [http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/](http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/) [http://www.grc.dc.gov/elected1/site/default.asp](http://www.grc.dc.gov/elected1/site/default.asp) –Cliffy ---
**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:** [November 13, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/14 "2003-11-13T18:55:24Z")
> [@](#): > > This is 100% wrong. Oficially there IS the city of Washington as anyone who has been there should know. Marion Barry was Mayor of Washington, the city located in the District of Columbia. Washington collects taxes and repairs potholes just like any other city. Well, they collect taxes and say they’ll fix the potholes. **Sailor** , as you probably well know, all these functions are carried out by agencies of the District of Columbia. Have you ever seen a municipal truck that says “Washington” rather than “District of Columbia”? The mayor is always referred to as the mayor of the District of Columbia, not as the mayor of the City of Washington. So far as I know, there is not one single municipal agency that has in its name “Washington” or “City of Washington.” The only ones I can think of are multi-jurisdictional agencies such as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. There was once a City of Washington, but no more. The political entity is the District of Columbia. “Washington” is merely a postal address. From the page cited by **Duckster** : > [@](#): > > So, today, a resident of the District of Columbia may be living either in the old County of Washington or in the merged section made up of L’Enfant’s City of Washington and of Georgetown. Washington, D.C., however, is a city in name only - a mapmaker’s designation and the established pseudonym for the District of Columbia. So, so far as I’m concerned, **Elmwood** is more right than you are. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/15 "2003-11-13T20:02:55Z")
I have lived in DC for quite some years. I have owned a house and paid taxes and dealt with multiple agencies of the local government. I have seen plenty of their bills and other documents. I do not know what the hell I was thinking when I posted my earlier post. I was 100% wrong and I have no explanation. I really do not know what the hell I was thinking. My apologies to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![1000monkeys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/7cd45c/32.png) [@1000monkeys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1000monkeys)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/16 "2003-11-13T20:04:09Z")
I was aware that Georgetown, and IIRC, some other municipalites together with the city of Washington made up the District of Columbia, btu I allways assumed Georgetown was found coincidentally, or shortly after Washington, and named after George Washington. How far does Georgetown pre-date Washington? And is it one of the English King George’s for whom its named? and weren’t Alexandria and/or Arlington briefly included in the DIstrict as well? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/17 "2003-11-13T20:13:34Z")
Georgetown predated Washington, DC, founded in 1751. The similarity is just a coincidence; it was probably named after George II, who was king at the time. Arlington was once part of the district; if you look at its borders, you’ll see it completes the square that made up the original district. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/18 "2003-11-13T20:17:16Z")
Most of this info is at **Duckster** ’s link. Georgetown (then in Maryland) was founded quite a bit before Washington, in 1751. Alexandria was founded in 1749 and was part of the land annexed to form the District of Columbia in 1790, which for a time encompassed three incorporated cities–Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria. In 1846, the Virginia portion–comprising Alexandria City and Alexandria County (now Arlington County)–was returned to Virginia. In 1871, Washington City, Georgetown City, and Washington County were abolished, leaving only one jurisdiction, the District of Columbia. Apparently it’s not clear exactly whom Georgetown was named after. Two possibilities are potential settlement investors George Gordon and George Beall or King George II. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/19 "2003-11-13T21:02:07Z")
I’ve never given it much thought until reading this thread but where did the name for the District of Columbia come from? Columbus? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902/20 "2003-11-13T21:15:32Z")
Yep. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-they-called-the-city-washington/212902.md?page=2)