Which two U.S. states donated land for the creation of Washington, D.C.?

The correct answer is Maryland and Virginia.The creation of a federal district was a compromise to ensure that the national capital was not located within any single state, which would have given that state undue influence over the federal government.
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1 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MCQS

Which two U.S. states donated land for the creation of Washington, D.C.?

  • Columbia and Maryland
  • Maryland and Virginia
  • Virginia and Columbia
  • Virginia and Queensland
Correct Answer: B. Maryland and Virginia

Detailed Explanation

The correct answer is Maryland and Virginia.The creation of a federal district was a compromise to ensure that the national capital was not located within any single state, which would have given that state undue influence over the federal government.


The Residence Act of 1790:


Under the Residence Act, President George Washington was given the authority to select a site for the capital along the Potomac River.



  • The "Ten-Mile Square": To form this district, land was carved out from the surrounding states. Maryland provided the majority of the land on the eastern side of the river, while Virginia provided land on the western side.

  • The Diamond Shape: The original District of Columbia was a perfect diamond shape, measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side.


The Retrocession of 1846:


While both states donated land, the district we see today is smaller than the original "ten-mile square."


In 1846, the land south of the Potomac River (including Alexandria) was returned to Virginia. This process is known as retrocession.


Today, all of the land that makes up Washington, D.C., is territory that was originally part of Maryland.


Comparison of the Options:



  • Columbia and Maryland: "Columbia" is the name of the district itself, not a state that donated land.

  • Maryland and Virginia: The correct answer; both states bordered the selected site on the Potomac.

  • Virginia and Columbia: Again, Columbia is the name of the district, not a donor state.

  • Virginia and Queensland: Queensland is a state in Australia, not the United States.

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