I became randomly interested in this question and have been unsatisfied with the answers basic Internet research has produced. I guess I'm looking for evidence more than anything. I have heard some interesting arguments about why the capital was moved, for example, Washington, who played arguably the biggest role in relocation was adamant about the shift. But I want to know why the capital was moved from an iconic, economically stable, powerhouse of a city to a swampy marsh area that was yet undeveloped. It seems unintuitive to me and I want to know what some of the reasoning must have been.