I know that D.C. stands for District of Columbia, but what does that mean and why does it proceed Washington? What is Washington a district of? I just keep thinking of Columbia South America and that can't be right.

Columbia is a somewhat poetic name for the United States of America, represented as a Greek goddess (more: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/LIBERTY/origins.html).

Washington, D.C. is a special federal district, not a state. Residents couldn't vote in presidential elections until the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1961 (more about DC's voting status).

The country in South America is Colombia, but Americans usually pronounce it the same as Columbia. Both names come from Christopher Columbus.

[This message was edited by referenth on 08-12-02 at 09:17 PM.]