what state is dc
For the state on the U.S. West Coast, see Washington (state). For other uses, see United States capital (disambiguation) and Washington (disambiguation). Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790, approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country's East Coast.