Fairfax, Virginia
Encyclopedia : F : FA : FAI : Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the U.S. state of Virginia. Although politically independent of the sophisticated and thriving County of a million people, the City of Fairfax is nevertheless its county seat[Geographic references#6GR6].
Situated in the Northern Virginia region, Fairfax forms part of the Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines Fairfax (and the city of Falls Church) with Fairfax County for statistical purposes.
The population was 21,498 at the 2000 census. The Fairfax postal mailing address, however, includes numerous surrounding developments outside the city. Inova Fairfax Hospital, outside the city, ranks #2 in the entire nation in number of babies delivered annually.
While the City itself is an enclave within the County of Fairfax, a small portion of the County (comprising the courthouse complex and a small area nearby) is itself an enclave within the city.
History
The area the City of Fairfax now encompasses was settled in the early 1700s by farmers from Virginia's Tidewater region. The Fairfax County courthouse was established at the corner of Old Little River Turnpike (now Main Street) and Ox Road. The small town in the vicinity of the courthouse was then known as Earp's Corner, and in 1805 was designated the Town of Providence by an act of the Virginia General Assembly (although people continued to informally refer to it as Fairfax Court House). In a celebrated incident in the town in March 1863, Mosby's Confederate Rangers, disguised and with stealth and cunning, awakened in bed and captured an embarrassed Union General Edwin H. Stoughton along with 2 Union Captains, 30 prisoners, and 58 horses without firing a shot. The town was officially renamed the Town of Fairfax in 1874, and became an independent city in 1961 (upon which it acquired its current name, the City of Fairfax).In 1904, a trolley line was built connecting Fairfax with Washington, D.C.
Sites on the
Site
Year Built
Address
Listed
29 Diner (Tastee 29 Diner)
1947
10536 Fairfax Boulevard
1992
Blenheim
circa 1855
3610 Old Lee Highway
2001
City of Fairfax Historic District
Junction of VA 236 and VA 123
1987
Old Fairfax County Courthouse (now the Juvenile Court)
1800
4000 Chain Bridge Road
1974
Old Fairfax County Jail
1891
10475 Main Street
1981
Fairfax Public School (Old Fairfax Elementary School Annex)
1873
10209 Main Street
1992
Ratcliffe-Logan-Allison House (Earp's Ordinary)
1812
200 East Main Street
1973
Education
Fairfax Court House, Virginia, with Union soldiers in front and on the roof, June 1863.
The public schools in the City of Fairfax are owned by the city, but administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools system under contractual agreement with Fairfax County.
The schools include Fairfax High School, Lanier Middle School, Daniels Run Elementary School, Providence Elementary School, Woodson High School, and Frost Middle School.
George Mason University is located here. As of 2006 it has the largest enrollment of any college in Virginia. The Center for Global Education at George Mason University houses their Study Abroad Office, which is the central clearing house for international exchange at GMU. [link]
Geography
Fairfax is located at (38.852612, -77.304377)[Geographic references#1GR1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.3 km² (6.3 mi²), all land.
Demographics
| Site | Year Built | Address | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Diner (Tastee 29 Diner) | 1947 | 10536 Fairfax Boulevard | 1992 |
| Blenheim | circa 1855 | 3610 Old Lee Highway | 2001 |
| City of Fairfax Historic District | Junction of VA 236 and VA 123 | 1987 | |
| Old Fairfax County Courthouse (now the Juvenile Court) | 1800 | 4000 Chain Bridge Road | 1974 |
| Old Fairfax County Jail | 1891 | 10475 Main Street | 1981 |
| Fairfax Public School (Old Fairfax Elementary School Annex) | 1873 | 10209 Main Street | 1992 |
| Ratcliffe-Logan-Allison House (Earp's Ordinary) | 1812 | 200 East Main Street | 1973 |
| Historical populations | |
|---|---|
| Census year | Population |
| 1970 | 21,970 |
| 1980 | 20,537 |
| 1990 | 19,622 |
| 2000 | 21,498 |
| 2004 | 22,062 |
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 21,498 people, 8,035 households, and 5,407 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,315.4/km² (3,406.9/mi²). There were 8,204 housing units at an average density of 502.0/km² (1,300.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.91% White, 5.07% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 12.17% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 6.17% from other races, and 3.26% from two or more races. 13.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,035 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,642, and the median income for a family was $78,921. Males had a median income of $50,348 versus $38,351 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,247. About 2.4% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- [Fairfax Crime] - a crime map of most of Northern Virginia and sex offender locations
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