<P> A new federal city was then constructed on the north bank of the Potomac , to the east of Georgetown . On September 9 , 1791 , the three commissioners overseeing the capital 's construction named the city in honor of President Washington . The federal district was named Columbia , which was a poetic name for the United States commonly in use at that time . Congress held its first session in Washington on November 17 , 1800 . </P>
<P> A new federal city was then constructed on the north bank of the Potomac , to the east of Georgetown . On September 9 , 1791 , the three commissioners overseeing the capital 's construction named the city in honor of President Washington . The federal district was named Columbia , which was a poetic name for the United States commonly in use at that time . Congress held its first session in Washington on November 17 , 1800 . </P>
where does the term district of columbia come from
where does the term district of columbia come from
a poetic name for the United States
a poetic name for the United States