On May 3, 1802, the U.S. Congress passed an act that formally incorporated Washington, D.C., as a city. Before that, the federal district existed, but its local governance was less clearly defined. The new charter created a city government, including a council and a mayor, to handle local matters. This step helped organize basic services such as streets, sanitation, and policing. The city’s development was tied closely to the growth of the federal government. Over time, debates over representation, voting rights, and local control in Washington, D.C., have continued, but this act marked an early milestone in the capital’s civic life.
