Washington, D.C., (/ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən ˌdiːˈsiː/) formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as D.C., Washington, or The District, is the capital of the United States.[6] Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country, Washington was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States and a Founding Father.[7] As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations, Washington is an important world political capital.[8] The city, located on the Potomac River bordering Maryland and Virginia, is one of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 20 million tourists annually.