as part of the formation of most of the naval districts in 1903, naval district washington was stood up under the command of the commandant, washington navy yard. originally named the potomac river naval command, it was formed from the areas of the potomac river up to the great falls, the district of columbia, and the counties of prince georges, montgomery, st. mary's, calvert, and charles in maryland; arlington, fairfax, stafford, king george, prince william, and westmoreland counties in virginia, less the marine barracks, quantico, virginia and the marine barracks, washington, d.c.