thumb|An 1835 map of the District of Columbia, prior to the retrocession of Alexandria County Present-day Arlington County and most of present-day Alexandria were ceded to the new federal government by Virginia. On July 16, 1790, the Congress passed the Residence Act, which authorized the relocation of the capital from Philadelphia to a location to be selected on the Potomac River by U.S. President George Washington. The Residence Act originally only allowed the President to select a location in Maryland as far east as the Anacostia River. President Washington, however, shifted the federal territory's borders to the southeast in order to include the existing town of Alexandria.
thumb|an 1835 map of the district of columbia prior to the retrocession of alexandria county present-day arlington county and most of present-day alexandria were ceded to the new federal government by virginia on july 16 1790 the congress passed the residence act which authorized the relocation of the capital from philadelphia to a location to be selected on the potomac river by us president george washington the residence act originally only allowed the president to select a location in maryland as far east as the anacostia river president washington however shifted the federal territory's borders to the southeast in order to include the existing town of alexandria