Columbia

Columbia, a name of widespread use in the United States of America. 1. The chief is the District of Columbia, the seat of the Federal Government. This was made the seat of government under a law of Congress in July, 1790, and consists of a district of 64 square miles at the junction of the Potomac and Rock Creek, one of its affluents. It is well wooded and has some delightful scenery, and is very productive of grain and vegetables. The capital is Washington, which contains the Capitol, and has been the seat of the central government since 1800. The United States navy yard here is one of the best appointed dockyards of the country. The territory is under the control of Congress, and municipal affairs are administered by commissioners appointed by the President and Senate. The district has no elective franchise, and consequently no representative in Congress. Another important town is Georgetown, which is connected with Cumberland in Maryland by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. There are two universities and many schools and churches in the district. 2. The capital of South Carolina, of which it is the chief seaport, on the E. bank of the Congaree, 124 miles N.W. of Charleston, to which, in other respects than political, it ranks as second. It was almost destroyed during the Civil war.