Definition: The District of Columbia (DC) is a federal district located in Washington, D.C., one block north of the National Mall, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, just west of the U.S. Capitol Building. It has been considered as an "industrial city," and was originally known as the New York City Settlement District. The District of Columbia is not a state but it serves as a local government and administrative center for its citizens and residents. The District of Columbia has jurisdiction over about 87% of Washington, D.C., including the federal district itself, along with all of the surrounding metropolitan area, including Maryland, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina.