"Before 1790, Congress was very much a grassroots institution, with a nomadic existence that was, nonetheless, consistent with rule of the people. But after trying to conduct the solemn and dignified affairs of state on the road for years - convening in New York, Philadelphia, Princeton, Baltimore, Annapolis, Trenton and York - it was agreed that a permanent home for Congress was needed." Source: http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/washington-dc/history.php

I would assume Philadelphia was in the runing, along with New York or Boston. Philly was the largest city for awhile in the US.

1) "After the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War in 1783, the new federal government of the United States met in New York City and Philadelphia. Rivalry among the states to be home to the new capital led the 1787 Constitutional Convention to empower Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the new United States Constitution To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States. A new federal district was to be established, governed by Congress which was not part of any state." So there was a rivalry between New York City and Philadelphia, and it was at first decided to take none of both, but to create a fully new federal district elsewhere. 2) "A Southern site for the new country's capital was agreed upon at a dinner between James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, hosted by Thomas Jefferson. The site was part of the deal that led to the new national government's assumption of debts from the Revolutionary War. (The southern states had largely paid off their war debts; collectivizing debt was to northern advantage, so a southern capital was a compromise)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%2C_D.C.#History "On December 23, 1788, the Maryland General Assembly passed an act, allowing it to cede land for the federal district. The Virginia General Assembly followed suit on December 3, 1789. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790 mandated that a site, not exceeding "ten miles square" (100 square miles), be located on the "River Potomac, at some place between the mouths of the Eastern Branch and Connogocheque" for the permanent seat of government. The Residence Act authorized the President of the United States to select the actual location of the site." "Land for the district was given to the federal government by the states of Virginia and Maryland. The pre-existing towns of Georgetown and Alexandria were included in the new district, with the remainder of the territory subdivided into Washington City and the County of Washington on the Maryland side of the Potomac (named after George Washington) and Alexandria County on the Virginia side." [...] "However, some members of Congress had recognized that Washington and his family owned property in and near Alexandria, which was just seven miles upstream from Mount Vernon, Washington's home and plantation. The amendment therefore contained a provision that prohibited the construction of federal office buildings on the Virginia side of the Potomac River." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Washington%2C_D.C. 3) So the choice developed as follows: - it should not be one of the competing locations (New York City and Philadelphia) - it should be in the South - it should be in Virginia and / or Maryland because these two states accepted to give some of their land away - the "Residence Act" gave further restrictions (Potomac river) (I don't know which other locations they considered before they choosed this) - the president took the final decision He had good reasons to make his choice and maybe did not even consider another possibility... 4) George Washington did not choose this place because it was called Washington...it's the other way round: " The city was officially named "Washington" on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, George Washington never referred to it as such, preferring to call it "the Federal City."" Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%2C_D.C.#History "The site sits on what was originally the main trading town of the Conoy Indians, and served as the home and headquarters of Chief Patawomeke. The section of Washington, D.C. called Anacostia is a Latinized version of the town's name: Naconchtanke" Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Washington%2C_D.C.