The nation's capital sits on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia, with distinct quadrants radiating from the Capitol building that organize neighborhoods from Georgetown and Dupont Circle to Capitol Hill and Anacostia. The federal government anchors the economy alongside major universities like Georgetown and Howard, international organizations, think tanks, and a substantial healthcare sector centered around institutions like MedStar and Children's National. The metro area extends well beyond the District's 68 square miles into Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland and Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia, creating an interconnected region of over six million residents who rely on services spanning the entire metropolitan footprint.