Why is the capital of the U.S. where it is?

Question

What are the benefits of the location? Who wanted it there in the first place and why?

Answer 1

Charlotte A·ma·lie (ə-mäl'yə) pronunciation

The capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, on St. Thomas Island in the West Indies east of Puerto Rico. It was called St. Thomas from 1921 to 1937 and is a commercial center and popular tourist resort. Population: 10,500.

Answer 2

I got this from Wikipedia, but from my memory it is at least close if not spot on accurate.

"The land forming the original District came from the states of Virginia and Maryland. However, the area south of the Potomac River (39 square miles or about 100 km²) was returned, or "retroceded", to Virginia in 1847 and now is incorporated into Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. After 1847, the remaining land that formed the area now known as the District of Columbia was formed exclusively from land that once belonged to Maryland.

"A Southern site for the new country's capital was agreed upon at a dinner between James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, hosted by Thomas Jefferson.[2] The city was designed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a Major in the United States Army. The initial plan for the "Federal District" was a diamond, measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side, totaling 100 square miles (256 km²). The actual site on the Potomac River was chosen by President Washington. Washington may have chosen the site for its natural scenery, believing the Potomac would become a great navigable waterway. The city was officially named "Washington" on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, George Washington never referred to it as such, preferring to call it "the Federal City". Despite choosing the site and living nearby at Mount Vernon, he rarely visited the city. The federal district was named the District of Columbia because Columbia was a poetic name for the United States used at the time."

Answer 3

According to the book "The Secret Architecture of Our Nation's Capitol" it is because of the Masons and the Constellations that were apparent in the sky above the mud plain where Washington is located. The benefits were navigation (The Potomac was much larger then than now) and because it was half-way between the farthest reaches of the North and the South.

Answer 4

The Capital is in the wrong spot definately. But 200 years ago no one thought that we could eventually move all the indians to isolated reservations.
Land west of the 13 coilonies was considered the Indian Nation, and not to be disturbed.
But overcrowding and gold eventually took the settlers west.
The Capital stayed East.
I think the Capital should be in Kansas today.

Answer 5

It was moved there from Philadelphia because it was more central at the time. It was placed on filled-in swamp land. The site was agreed upon at a dinner between James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, hosted by Thomas Jefferson, and it was incorporated on July 16, 1790.

John Adams (2nd President) was the first President to live in the White House.

Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, DC.

Answer 6

It is officially called Washington, DC. The D.C. stands for the founder of the city - Davey Crockett. He decided to put the capitol in this location so he could hunt bears and raccoons while he was the first president of the United States. The Washington part of Washington, D.C. comes from Davey Crocket's wife's maiden name (Johnson).

Now, aren't you glad you got the right answer?

Answer 7

The capital of the U.S. is located where it is because no one has yet blown Washington, DC to bits and done away with all the corrupt, evil, incompetent, useless politicians, lobbyists, wealthy elitists, and lawyers that live there sucking off the taxpayers' teat. -RKO-

Answer 8

The masons

Answer 9

It Is in the very middle of what was the US, when it was built.

KEEP THE CAPTIAL OUT OF KANSAS