 Regarding a city , it stated that "the District of Columbia be, and is hereby, declared to be the successor of said corporations (Washington and Georgetown)".In the present day, the name "Washington" is commonly used to refer to the entire District, but there is no longer an official entity in the District by that name.In 1873, President Grant appointed an influential member of the board of public works, Alexander Robey Shepherd, to the post of governor.