"Governor's Mansion" is a frequent word for a governor's official mansion, as it is for state governors' official houses in the United States. The word comes from the British office of governor, which originally meant "chief magistrate". In the 13 English colonies that later became the United States, the office of governor was usually granted to men who had been members of the House of Burgesses/House of Delegates or the Assembly, although some early governors were appointed by the king. In most states, the governor's mansion is a house built for the governor when he or she moves into office. It may be a historic building that served as home to previous governors, or it may be a new construction. The governor's mansion can be any size from just under 1,000 square feet (92 m2) to more than 10,000 square feet (914 m2). It must be large enough to accommodate the needs of the resident and his or her family while still giving a feeling of spaciousness. Some important factors to consider when selecting a site for your governor's mansion are climate, transportation access, security, and public opinion. All types of housing can be used for the governor's mansion, but they are usually not single family homes. Instead, they are often larger apartment buildings or condos.