DC is a city sandwiched between two states, Maryland and Virginia, and situated on the Potomac River. When it was determined that a permanent nation's capitol was needed, both Virginia and Maryland offered part of their state territories for the creation of a perfectly square city, with the Potomac cutting through. On the east side of the Potomac, Maryland offered the small city of Georgetown, and on the west side were the Virginia towns of Arlington and Alexandria. When the Civil War happened, and Maryland joined the north and Virginia joined the south, Virginia took back it's state territory. Even after the war was over, Alexandria and Arlington never "officially" became part of the city of DC again, giving DC an appearance of a Square that was missing the lower left side. To this day, Alexandria and Arlington are considered in "Virginia", but are viewed by many as part of the "metropolis" of DC.
Interstate Highway 495, called "the beltway", encircles the city of Washington DC and the towns of Arlington and Alexandria, and it is that highway that marks the boundaries of the "Domain" of DC, as held by Prince Elizabeth Covington.
Washington, DC's closest metropolitan neighbor is Baltimore, Maryland, which lies roughly 38 miles to the northeast (about an hours drive by car). More to the east is the college town of Annapolis, Maryland, which is home to the US Naval Academy. Annapolis lies roughly 32 miles away (about 45 minutes drive by car). But most of the Kindred of DC worry about the neighbor to the south...Richmond, Virginia, the closest large Sabbat city. Richmond lies roughly 105 miles to the south (almost two hours by car). To the north is the Sabbat city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia lies roughly 140 miles to the north (almost two and a half hours drive).
The "star" on the close-up map to the right is the White House. Popular locations on the Arlington side of the river are Arlington Cemetery (shown above), the Pentagon (directly south of the cemetery) and Crystal City, which lies south of the Pentagon.
