It the District of Columbia a state?

The District of Columbia is a federal district as opposed to a state, and it is the capital of the United States. The land that D.C. consists of was originally part of Maryland and was acquired by the federal government in 1791.

As of 2014, D.C. has a total area of close to 70 square miles. Most of D.C.'s area borders Maryland, while a smaller portion is adjacent to Virginia. D.C. does have a mayor and a city council, but its operation can be largely influenced by Congress, such as by making changes to local laws. As of 2014, D.C. has an estimated population of more than 600,000 people.