what state is washington dc in

Washington, D.C. is not in any state; it is a federal district known as the District of Columbia. It was established as a unique federal area under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress to serve as the nation's capital, separate from any state. Washington, D.C. is bordered by Maryland on its north, east, and west sides, and by Virginia across the Potomac River to the south, but it is not part of either state. It functions similarly to a city but has a special legal status distinct from the 50 U.S. states.