'DC' stands for 'District of Columbia', not a state but an administrative district created specifically to avoid having the capital city in any one state. Washington, DC is a city of green parks, wide tree-lined streets, white marble buildings and, surprising for a US city, no skyscrapers, which gives it a more European air.

It is the centre for visiting diplomats and has one of the largest concentrations of hotel and motel rooms in the country. Tourism is the leading private industry and business interests are increasingly attracted by the many light-industrial, high-tech and research companies now moving into the region.

The ‘Metro area’ refers to the District of Columbia and surrounding counties and cities in Maryland and Virginia.