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Fairfax County, Virginia

Coordinates: 38°50′N 77°17′W / 38.83°N 77.28°W / 38.83; -77.28
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Fairfax County
County
Tysons
Mount Vernon mansion
Fairfax County Government Center
CIA headquarters in Langley
Dulles International Airport
Flag of Fairfax County
Flag
Official seal of Fairfax County
Seal
Official logo of Fairfax County
Logo
Map of Virginia highlighting Fairfax County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°50′N 77°17′W / 38.83°N 77.28°W / 38.83; -77.28
Country United States
State Virginia
FoundedJune 19, 1742
Named forThomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
SeatFairfax (independent city)1
Largest townHerndon
Area
 • Total406 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Land391.02 sq mi (1,012.7 km2)
 • Water15.47 sq mi (40.1 km2)  3.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,150,309
 • Density2,941.82/sq mi (1,135.84/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
20120, 20121, 20122, 20124, 20151, 20152, 20153, 20164, 20166, 20170, 20171, 20172, 20190, 20191, 20192, 20194, 20195, 20196, 22003, 22009, 22015, 22018, 22019, 22027, 22030, 22031, 22032, 22033, 22035, 22037, 22038, 22039, 22041, 22042, 22043, 22044, 22046, 22060, 22066, 22067, 22079, 22081, 22082, 22101, 22102, 22106, 22116, 22121, 22124, 22150, 22151, 22152, 22153, 22158, 22159, 22160, 22161, 22180, 22181, 22182, 22183, 22185, 22199, 22203, 22204, 22205, 22206, 22207, 22213, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22311, 22312, 22315
Area code703, 571
Congressional districts8th, 10th, 11th
Websitewww.fairfaxcounty.gov
1 Administrative and court offices are located in unincorporated areas in Fairfax County

Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With a population of 1,150,309 as of the 2020 census,[1] it is the most populous county in Virginia, the most populous jurisdiction in the Washington metropolitan area, and the most populous location in the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. The county seat is Fairfax; however, because it is an independent city under Virginia law, the city of Fairfax is not part of the county.[2]

The county is part of the Northern Virginia region and forms part of the suburban ring of Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. The county is predominantly suburban with some urban and rural pockets. It borders Montgomery County, Maryland to its north, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington County, and Prince George's County, Maryland to its east, Charles County, Maryland to its southeast, Prince William County to its southwest, and Loudoun County to its northwest.

The county is home to the offices of the director of national intelligence in McLean and the headquarters of four U.S. intelligence agencies: the Central Intelligence Agency at the George Bush Center for Intelligence in Langley, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in Springfield, the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, and the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean.

In academia, the county is home to the flagship campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, CIA University in Chantilly, Sherman Kent School for Intelligence Analysis in Reston, and several Northern Virginia Community College campuses. In the private sector, ten of the Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the county as of 2023.[3]

As of 2020, Fairfax County's median household income of $127,866 is the fifth-highest in the nation.

History

[edit]
Piney Branch Mill in the county
An 1858 photo of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington
Map of the First Battle of Bull Run, an American Civil War battle fought near Manassas on July 21, 1861, between the Confederate and Union armies[4]

Prior to European settlement, present-day Fairfax County was initially inhabited by the Algonquian-speaking Doeg tribe.

17th century

[edit]

In 1608, Caption John Smith documented the Doeg tribe's villages, which included Namassingakent and Nemaroughquand on the south bank of the Potomac River in present-day Fairfax County.[5] By 1670, Virginian colonists from the Northern Neck region drove the Doeg Tribe out of present-day Fairfax County and into Maryland.

18th century

[edit]

Fairfax County was formed in 1742 from the northern part of Prince William County, and was named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, proprietor of the Northern Neck.[6][7] The Fairfax family name is derived from the Old English phrase for "blond hair", Fæger-feax.

The county's initial settlements were along the Potomac River. George Washington settled in Fairfax County and built his home, Mount Vernon, facing the Potomac. Gunston Hall, the home of George Mason, is nearby. Fort Belvoir is partly on the estate of Belvoir Manor, built along the Potomac by William Fairfax in 1741.

Thomas Fairfax, the only member of the British nobility ever to reside in the colonies, lived at Belvoir before moving to the Shenandoah Valley. The Belvoir mansion and several of its outbuildings were destroyed by fire immediately after the Revolutionary War in 1783, and George Washington noted the plantation complex deteriorated into ruins.

In 1757, the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax County became Loudoun County. In 1789, part of Fairfax County was ceded to the federal government to form Alexandria County, then part of the District of Columbia.

19th century

[edit]

Alexandria County was returned to Virginia in 1846, reduced in size by the secession of the independent city of Alexandria in 1870, and renamed Arlington County in 1920.

During the American Civil War the Battle of Chantilly, also known as Ox Hill, part of the Second Battle of Bull Run, was fought within Fairfax County. Other areas of Civil War conflict in the county included Minor's Hill, Munson's Hill, and Upton's Hill.

20th century

[edit]

The Fairfax County town of Falls Church became an independent city in 1948.[8] The Fairfax County town of Fairfax was named an independent city in 1961.[9]

The federal government's growth during and after World War II spurred rapid growth in the county and transformed it from a rural to suburban region. Large businesses began settling in the county, and the opening of Tysons Corner Center spurred the rise of Tysons, Virginia. The technology boom and a steady government-driven economy created rapid growth and an increasingly large and diverse population. The economy has also made Fairfax County one of the nation's wealthiest counties.[10]

A general aviation airport along U.S. Route 50 west of Seven Corners, Falls Church Airpark, operated in the county from 1948 to 1960. The facility's 2,650-foot unpaved runway was used extensively by private pilots and civil defense officials. Residential development, multiple accidents, and the demand for retail space led to its closure in 1960.[11][12][13]

Geography and Climate

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 406 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 391 square miles (1,010 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (3.8%) is water.[14] There are about 44,400,000 trees that create a canopy covering 55.4% of the total land area.[15]

Fairfax County is bounded on the north and southeast by the Potomac River. Across the river to the northeast is Washington, D.C., across the river to the north is Montgomery County, Maryland, and across the river to the southeast are Prince George's County, Maryland and Charles County, Maryland. The county is partially bounded on the north and east by Arlington County and the independent cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. It is bounded on the west by Loudoun County, and on the south by Prince William County.

Most of the county lies in the Piedmont region, with rolling hills and deep stream valleys, such as Difficult Run and its tributaries. West of Route 28, the hills give way to a flat, gentle valley that stretches west to the Bull Run Mountains in Loudoun County. Elevations in the county range from near sea level along the tidal sections of the Potomac River in the southeast portion of the county to more than 500 feet (150 m) in the Tysons area.

In 2023, the plant hardiness zone shifted from 7a to 7b. The Fairfax County News Letter predicts that Fairfax will shift to zone 8 in the next few decades as temperatures rise.[16]

Adjacent jurisdictions

[edit]

Geology

[edit]

The Piedmont hills in the central county are made up of ancient metamorphic rocks such as schist, the roots of several ancestral ranges of the Appalachian Mountains. The western valley is floored with more recent shale and sandstone. This geology is similar to adjacent bands of rocks in Maryland and further south in Virginia along the eastern front of the Appalachian.

An area of 11 square miles (30 km2) of the county is known to be underlain with natural asbestos.[17] Much of the asbestos is known to emanate from fibrous tremolite or actinolite. The threat was discovered in 1987, prompting the county to establish laws to monitor air quality at construction sites, control soil taken from affected areas, and require freshly developed sites to lay 6 inches (150 mm) of clean, stable material over the ground.[18][19]

During the construction of Centreville High School, for instance, a large amount of asbestos-laden soil was removed and then trucked to Vienna for the construction of the I-66/Nutley Street interchange. Fill dirt then had to be trucked in to make the site level.[citation needed] Marine clays can be found in widespread areas of the county east of Interstate 95, mostly in the Lee and Mount Vernon districts. These clays contribute to soil instability, leading to significant construction challenges for builders.[20]

Government and politics

[edit]
Further information: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, Virginia's 8th congressional district, Virginia's 10th congressional district, and Virginia's 11th congressional district

Fairfax County uses the urban county executive form of government, which county voters approved in a 1966 referendum.[21][22] Under the urban county executive plan, the county is governed by the 10-member Fairfax County Board of Supervisors with the day-to-day running of the county tasked to the appointed Fairfax County executive. Nine of the board members are elected from the single-member districts of Braddock, Dranesville, Franconia, Hunter Mill, Mason, Mount Vernon, Providence, Springfield, and Sully, while the chairman is elected at-large.[citation needed]

In addition to the Board of Supervisors, three constitutional officers, the Commonwealth's Attorney, clerk of the Circuit Court, and sheriff. The Fairfax County School Board has 12 members that are directly elected by the voters of Fairfax County. Fairfax County also has a Consumer Protection Commission. The Commission advises the Board of Supervisors and the Department of Cable and Consumer Services on consumer affairs, investigates illegal, fraudulent, deceptive, or dangerous consumer practices, and refers apparent violations of Virginia law to the Commonwealth Attorney or County Attorney for investigation.[23]

The Fairfax County Government Center is west of the City of Fairfax in an unincorporated area.[24] Fairfax County contains an exclave unincorporated area in the City of Fairfax's central business district, where many county facilities (including the courthouses and jail) are.[25][26]

Fairfax County was once considered a Republican bastion but Democrats now control of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board (officially nonpartisan) as well as the offices of sheriff and Commonwealth's Attorney. Democrats also hold all the Fairfax seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and every seat in the Senate.[citation needed]

Fairfax County encompasses parts of three congressional districts, the 8th District, the 10th District, and the 11th District. Democrats represent all three districts, with Jennifer Wexton representing the 10th, Don Beyer representing the 8th, and Gerry Connolly representing the 11th.

In the 2012 general election, Fairfax County solidly backed Obama for reelection as president, who came just short of matching his 2008 performance, winning the county 59.6% to 39.1%. Former Governor Tim Kaine, running for the U.S. Senate in 2012, carried Fairfax County with 61% of the vote as part of his statewide victory. Representatives Connolly, Moran, and Wolf were also reelected.

Although Republican governor Bob McDonnell won Fairfax County with 51% of the vote in 2009, the Republican resurgence in Fairfax was short-lived. In the 2013 election, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe won Fairfax County with 58% of the vote, defeating incumbent state attorney general and former Republican state senator from Fairfax Ken Cuccinelli. McAuliffe's running mates, Ralph Northam and Mark Herring, also carried Fairfax County in their respective bids for lieutenant governor and attorney general. These Democratic victories mirrored the Democratic ticket's sweep of the state's three executive offices for the first time since 1989.

In the 2016 general election, Fairfax continued its trend towards Democratic candidates. Representatives Beyer and Connolly were reelected, the latter unopposed. Fairfax County supported Hillary Clinton for president with 64.4% of the vote to Donald Trump's 28.6%, exemplifying a heavy swing toward Democrats across Northern Virginia.

In the 2020 general election, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the county with 69.89% of the vote, the best percentage for a Democrat in the county since 1916.

United States presidential election results for Fairfax County, Virginia[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 168,401 28.03% 419,943 69.89% 12,479 2.08%
2016 157,710 28.61% 355,133 64.43% 38,340 6.96%
2012 206,773 39.07% 315,273 59.57% 7,241 1.37%
2008 200,994 38.93% 310,359 60.12% 4,901 0.95%
2004 211,980 45.94% 245,671 53.25% 3,728 0.81%
2000 202,181 48.86% 196,501 47.49% 15,093 3.65%
1996 176,033 48.19% 170,150 46.58% 19,080 5.22%
1992 170,488 44.26% 160,186 41.58% 54,544 14.16%
1988 200,641 61.10% 125,711 38.28% 2,013 0.61%
1984 183,181 62.88% 107,295 36.83% 822 0.28%
1980 137,620 57.41% 73,734 30.76% 28,351 11.83%
1976 110,424 53.62% 92,037 44.69% 3,496 1.70%
1972 112,135 66.26% 54,844 32.40% 2,267 1.34%
1968 57,462 48.98% 44,796 38.18% 15,061 12.84%
1964 30,755 38.68% 48,680 61.22% 82 0.10%
1960 28,006 51.65% 26,064 48.07% 149 0.27%
1956 20,761 55.71% 15,633 41.95% 873 2.34%
1952 13,020 60.90% 8,329 38.96% 30 0.14%
1948 4,930 51.95% 3,719 39.19% 840 8.85%
1944 4,046 52.81% 3,582 46.75% 34 0.44%
1940 2,371 41.89% 3,263 57.65% 26 0.46%
1936 1,584 34.99% 2,913 64.35% 30 0.66%
1932 1,368 32.93% 2,714 65.33% 72 1.73%
1928 2,507 67.10% 1,229 32.90% 0 0.00%
1924 765 30.00% 1,586 62.20% 199 7.80%
1920 987 37.71% 1,598 61.06% 32 1.22%
1916 472 28.33% 1,179 70.77% 15 0.90%
1912 187 13.98% 992 74.14% 159 11.88%
1908 404 25.90% 1,143 73.27% 13 0.83%
1904 422 34.93% 774 64.07% 12 0.99%
1900 1,507 41.22% 2,135 58.40% 14 0.38%
1896 1,877 46.74% 2,109 52.51% 30 0.75%
1892 1,537 41.21% 2,168 58.12% 25 0.67%
1888 1,824 47.38% 2,010 52.21% 16 0.42%
1884 1,681 47.17% 1,883 52.83% 0 0.00%
1880 1,399 44.77% 1,726 55.23% 0 0.00%
County Board of Supervisors
Position Name Party First Election District
  Chairman Jeff McKay Democratic 2019 At-large
  Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw Democratic 2019 Braddock
  Supervisor James N. Bierman Jr. Democratic 2023 Dranesville
  Supervisor Walter L. Alcorn Democratic 2019 Hunter Mill
  Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk Democratic 2019 Lee (now Franconia)
  Supervisor Andres Jimenez Democratic 2023 Mason
  Supervisor Daniel "Dan" Storck Democratic 2015 Mount Vernon
  Supervisor Dalia A. Palchik Democratic 2019 Providence
  Supervisor Patrick "Pat" Herrity Republican 2007 Springfield
  Supervisor Kathy Smith Democratic 2015 Sully
Constitutional Officers
Position Name Party First Election District
  Sheriff Stacey Kincaid Democratic 2013 At-large
  Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano Democratic 2019 At-large
  Clerk of Circuit Court Christopher Falcon Democratic 2023 At-large
Delegates
Position Name Party First Election District
Delegate Charniele Herring Democratic 2009 4
  Delegate Rip Sullivan Democratic 2014 6
  Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra Democratic 2023 7
  Delegate Irene Shin Democratic 2021 8
  Delegate Karrie Delaney Democratic 2017 9
  Delegate Dan Helmer Democratic 2019 10
  Delegate David Bulova Democratic 2005 11
  Delegate Holly Seibold Democratic 2023 12
  Delegate Marcus Simon Democratic 2013 13
  Delegate Vivian Watts Democratic 1995 14
  Delegate Laura Jane Cohen Democratic 2023 15
  Delegate Paul Krizek Democratic 2015 16
  Delegate Mark Sickles Democratic 2003 17
  Delegate Kathy Tran Democratic 2017 18
  Delegate Rozia Henson Democratic 2023 19
Senators
Position Name Party First Election District
Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy Democratic 2023 33
Senator Scott Surovell Democratic 2015 34
Senator Dave Marsden Democratic 2010 35
Senator Stella Pekarsky Democratic 2023 36
Senator Saddam Azlan Salim Democratic 2023 37
Senator Jennifer Boysko Democratic 2019 38
Senator Adam Ebbin Democratic 2011 39
Consumer Protection Commission[23]
Position Name
Commissioner Harold G. Belkowitz, Esq.
Commissioner Chester J. Freedenthal
Vice Chairperson Denis Gulakowski
Commissioner Dirck A. Hargraves
Commissioner Pratik J. Kharat
Commissioner Dennis Dean Kirk, Esq.
Chairperson Jason J. Kratovil
Commissioner Triston "Chase" O'Savio
Commissioner Michael J. Roark
Secretary Jacqueline G. Rosier
Commissioner Dr. Maurice B. Springer
Commissioner Paul Svab

2020 census

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Of the households, 55.5% were married couple families, 15.9% were a male family householder with no spouse, and 23.0% were a female family householder with no spouse. The average family household had 3.25 people.[28]

The median age was 39.4, 22.6% of people were under the age of 18, and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. The largest ancestry is the 10.1% who had English ancestry, 37.8% spoke a language other than English at home, and 30.7% were born outside the United States, 63.4% of whom were naturalized citizens.[28]

The median income for a household in the county was $145,164, and the median income for a family was $174,085. 7.5% of the population were military veterans, and 65.5% had a bachelors degree or higher. In the county 5.6% of the population was below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over, with 7.2% of the population without health insurance.[28]

Fairfax County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[29] Pop 2000[30] Pop 2010[31] Pop 2020[32] % 1980 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 514,330 624,296 590,622 542,001 86.17% 64.38% 54.60% 47.12%
Black or African American alone (NH) 34,618 81,287 96,078 108,339 5.8% 8.38% 8.88% 9.42%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,235[a] 1,834 1,843 1,437 0.21% 0.19% 0.17% 0.12%
Asian alone (NH) 22,463[b] 125,585 188,737 233,858 3.76% 12.95% 17.45% 20.33%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 262[c] 616 779 772 0.04% 0.06% 0.07% 0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 2,473 3,359 7,046 0.26% 0.31% 0.61%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) N/A 26,700 31,826 57,622 N/A 2.75% 2.94% 5.01%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19,535 106,958 168,482 199,234 3.27% 11.03% 15.58% 17.32%
Total 596,901 969,749 1,081,726 1,150,309 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Education

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K-12 education

[edit]
Further information: Fairfax County Public Schools
George Mason University's performing arts center in Fairfax

The county is served by the Fairfax County Public Schools system, to which the county government allocates 52.2% of its budget.[33] Including state and federal government contributions, along with citizen and corporate contributions, this brings the 2023 budget for the school system to $3.5 billion. The school system has estimated that, based on the 2023 fiscal year budget, the county will be spending $18,772 on each student.[34]

The Fairfax County Public School system contains the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a Virginia Governor's School. TJHSST consistently ranks at or near the top of all U.S. high schools due to the extraordinary number of National Merit semifinalists and finalists, its students' high average SAT scores, and the number of students who annually perform nationally recognized research in the sciences and engineering. A Governor's School, TJHSST draws students from five counties Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia counties, cities, and towns.

Catholic elementary and middle schools in the county fall under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington and include Paul VI Catholic High School, Fairfax County's diocese-run Catholic high school, and Oakcrest School, an all-girls Catholic school in Fairfax County, which is not run by the diocese.

Colleges and universities

[edit]
Further information: George Mason University, University of Fairfax, and VCU School of Medicine

George Mason University is just outside the city of Fairfax, near the geographic center of Fairfax County. Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) serves Fairfax County with campuses in Annandale and Springfield and a center in Reston that is a satellite branch of the Loudoun campus. The NVCC Alexandria campus borders Fairfax County. The Central Intelligence Agency University and its Sherman Kent School for Intelligence Analysis are both located in Fairfax County, specifically in Chantilly and Reston respectively. George Mason University faculty have twice won the Nobel Prize in Economics. George Mason University economics professors James M. Buchanan and Vernon L. Smith won it in 1986 and 2002, respectively.[35]

The University of Fairfax, a for-profit proprietary college and alleged diploma mill was once headquartered in Vienna, Virginia.[36][37] Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine recently constructed a medical campus wing at Inova Fairfax Hospital in order to allow third- and fourth-year medical students to study at other state-of-the-art facilities in Northern Virginia.[38]

Economy

[edit]
In 2007, a U.S. Department of Labor study described Fairfax County as the second economic pillar of the Washington metropolitan area economy after Washington, D.C.; in November 2007, Time magazine described it as "one of the great economic success stories of our time."[39]

Fairfax County's economy revolves around professional services and technology. Many residents work for the government or contractors of the federal government. The government is the largest employer, with Fort Belvoir in southern Fairfax the county's single largest source of federal employment. Fairfax County has a gross county product of approximately $95 billion.[citation needed]

Major employers in the county include Volkswagen Group of America, Hilton Worldwide,[40] DXC Technology (formerly Computer Sciences Corporation), Northrop Grumman, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, Gannett, Capital One, General Dynamics, ICF International, Freddie Mac, Sallie Mae, ManTech International, Mars, NII, and NVR. The county is home to seven Fortune 500 company headquarters,[41] 11 Hispanic 500 companies,[42] and five companies on the Black Enterprise 500 list.

The county's economy is supported by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, which provides services and information to promote Fairfax County as a leading business and technology center. The FCEDA is the nation's largest non-state economic development authority. Fairfax County is also home to the Northern Virginia Technology Council, a trade association for local technology companies.[43][44] Fairfax County has a higher concentration of high-tech workers than Silicon Valley.[45]

Tysons

[edit]
Main article: Tysons, Virginia
Tysons, a leading business center and one of the nation's largest business districts

Tysons, located in the county, is Virginia's largest office market and the nation's largest suburban business district, with 26,600,000 square feet (2,470,000 m2) of office space.[46][47] It is the country's 12th-largest business district and is expected to grow substantially in the coming decades. It contains a quarter of the county's total office space inventory, which was 105,200,000 square feet (9,770,000 m2) as of 2006, representing roughly the same size as the Lower Manhattan region of New York City.[48] In October 2011, Forbes described the area as "the place where the Internet was invented, but today it looks increasingly like the center of the global military-industrial complex",[49] because it is home to the nation's first ISPs, many of which are now defunct, and attracts numerous defense contractors that have relocated from other states to or near Tysons Corner.

Tysons draws over 100,000 workers from around the Washington metropolitan area, and draws 55,000 shoppers daily to its two super-regional malls, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria compared to 62,500 shoppers daily in Washington, D.C..

After years of delays attributed to stalling and controversy, the $5.2 billion expansion of the Washington Metro Silver Line in Virginia from Washington, D.C., to Dulles International Airport was funded by the Federal Transit Administration in December 2008.[50] The Silver Line added four stations in Tysons, including a station between Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria.

Along with the expansion of Washington Metro, Fairfax County government has a plan to "urbanize" the Tysons area. The plan calls for a private-public partnership and a grid-like street system to make Tysons a more urban environment, tripling available housing to allow more workers to live near their workplaces. The goal is to have 95% of Tysons Corner within 1⁄2-mile (800 m) of a metro station.[51]

Top employers

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According to the county's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[52] the county's largest employers are:

# Employer # of Employees % of Total County Employment
1 Federal government of the United States 27,821 4.48
2 Fairfax County Public Schools 25,526 4.11
3 Inova Health System 20,000 3.22
4 Fairfax County Government 12,426 2.00
5 George Mason University 5,000-9,999 1.21
6 Booz Allen Hamilton 5,000-9,999 1.21
7 Amazon 5,000-9,999 1.21
8 Capital One 5,000-9,999 1.21
9 SAIC 5,000-9,999 1.21
10 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 5,000-9,999 1.21

Arts and culture

[edit]
Further information: Capital One Hall, EagleBank Arena, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and Workhouse Arts Center
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Wolf Trap

Annual festivals include the "Celebrate Fairfax!" festival held in June at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, the Tephra Fine Arts Festival[53] held in May at Reston Town Center in Reston, and the International Children's Festival held in September at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, a performing arts center in Wolf Trap.

Fairfax County supports a summer concert series held in multiple venues throughout the county on various nights. The concert series are called Arts in the Parks, Braddock Nights, Lee District Nights, Mt. Vernon Nights, Nottoway Nights, Spotlight by Starlight, Sounds of Summer and Starlight Cinema.[54]

Capital One Hall, part of the Capital One Headquarters Complex in Tysons, is a major performing arts center that opened in 2021 and seats 1,600 in its main theater.

EagleBank Arena, originally known as the Patriot Center, is located on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University just outside Fairfax, hosts concerts and shows. The nearby Center for the Arts at George Mason is a major year-round arts venue, and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia includes studios for artists, event facilities for performing groups, and gallery exhibitions in addition to hosting the annual Clifton Film Celebration.[55] Smaller local art venues include: the Alden Theater at the McLean Community Center, ArtSpace Herndon, Center Stage at the Reston Community Center, Greater Reston Arts Center, James Lee Community Center Theater, and Vienna Arts Society.

Transportation

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Roads

[edit]

Several major highways run through Fairfax County, including the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495), Interstate 66, Interstate 95, and Interstate 395. The American Legion Bridge connects Fairfax to Montgomery County, Maryland. The George Washington Memorial Parkway, Dulles Toll Road, and Fairfax County Parkway are also major arteries. Other notable roads include Braddock Road, Old Keene Mill Road, Little River Turnpike, State Routes 7, 28, and 123, and U.S. Routes 1, 29, and 50.

The county is part of the Washington metropolitan area, the nation's third-most congested area as of 2008.[56][57][58]

Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, is the third-worst congested traffic area in the nation, in terms of percentage of congested roadways and time spent in traffic. Of the lane miles in the region, 44 percent are rated "F" or worst for congestion. Northern Virginia residents spend an average of 46 hours a year stuck in traffic.

Major highways

[edit]
I-95 in Fairfax County

Air

[edit]
Further information: Dulles International Airport
Dulles International Airport, partially located in Fairfax County

Dulles International Airport lies partly within Fairfax County and provides most air service to the county. Fairfax is also served by two other airports in the Washington area, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Manassas Regional Airport, in neighboring Prince William County, is also used for regional cargo and private jet service.

From 1945 to 1961, the eastern part of Fairfax County hosted Falls Church Airpark, an airfield primarily used for general aviation and civil defense purposes until encroaching residential development forced its closure.[59] The area the airport occupied is now mainly used as a shopping center, with the western end of the complex occupied by the Thomas Jefferson branch of the Fairfax County Public Library system. Parts of several apartment complexes are also on some of the airport's former grounds.[11][12]

Public transportation

[edit]
Vienna station, the western terminus of the Orange Line of the Washington Metro rapid rail system

Fairfax County has multiple public transportation services, including the Washington Metro's Blue, Orange, Silver and Yellow lines. The Silver line, which runs through the Tysons, Reston, and Herndon areas of the county, opened in 2014, later extended in 2022, as the first new Washington Metro line since the Green Line opened in 1991.[60]

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provides commuter rail service to Union Station in Washington, D.C., with stations in Fairfax County. The VRE's Fairfax County stations are Lorton and Franconia-Springfield on the Fredericksburg line, and Burke Centre, Rolling Road, and Backlick Road on the Manassas line.[61]

Fairfax County contracts its bus service, the Fairfax Connector, to Transdev. The county is also served by WMATA's Metrobus service.

Parks and recreation

[edit]
Further information: Fairfax County Park Authority

The county has many protected areas, a total of over 390 county parks on more than 23,000 acres (93 km2).[62] The Fairfax County Park Authority maintains parks and recreation centers through the county. There are also two national protected areas that are inside the county at least in part, including Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Mason Neck State Park is also in Lorton.

Fairfax County is a member of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Reston Zoo is in Reston.[63] The National Zoo is nearby in Washington, D.C.

Trails

[edit]
Further information: Mount Vernon Trail, Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, and Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail

The county maintains many miles of bike trails running through parks, adjacent to roads and through towns such as Vienna and Herndon. The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail runs through Fairfax County, offering one of the region's best, and safest, routes for recreational walking and biking. In addition, nine miles (14 km) of the Mount Vernon Trail runs through Fairfax County along the Potomac River.

Compared to other regions of the Washington area, Fairfax County has a dearth of designated bike lanes for cyclists wishing to commute in the region. On May 16, 2008, Bike-to-Work Day, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation released the first countywide bicycle route map.[64]

The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail runs from Great Falls National Park in the county's northern end to Occoquan Regional Park in the southern end. Consisting of mostly dirt paths and short asphalt sections, the trail is used mostly by recreational mountain bikers, hikers, and horse riders.

Communities

[edit]
Map of Fairfax County's towns and CDPs
Herndon
McLean
Reston

Three incorporated towns, Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna, are in Fairfax County.[65]

The independent cities of Falls Church and Fairfax were formed out of areas formerly under Fairfax County's jurisdiction but are politically separate. Nevertheless, the Postal Service has long considered several portions of Fairfax County to be unincorporated Falls Church and Fairfax City. Several portions of the county also have Alexandria mailing addresses; many locals refer to these neighborhoods collectively as "South Alexandria", "Lower Alexandria", or "Alexandria, Fairfax County".[66] "South Alexandria" communities include Hollin Hills, Franconia, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Huntington, Belle Haven, Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Engleside, Burgundy Village, Waynewood, Wilton Woods, Rose Hill, Virginia Hills, Hayfield, and Kingstowne.

It has been proposed[67] to convert the entire county into a single independent city, primarily to gain more control over taxes and roads. The most recent such proposal was made on June 30, 2009.

Other communities in Fairfax County are unincorporated areas. Virginia law dictates that no unincorporated area of a county may be incorporated as a separate town or city following the adoption of the urban county executive form of government.[68] Fairfax County adopted the urban county executive form of government in 1966.[21][22]

As of the 2000 census, Fairfax County's 13 largest communities are all unincorporated CDPs, the largest of which are Centreville, Reston, and McLean, each with a population over 45,000.

Census-designated places

[edit]

The following localities in Fairfax County are identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as unincorporated Census-designated places:[69]

Other unincorporated communities

[edit]
  • Schneider Crossroads
  • Shady Oak
  • Strathmeade Springs
  • Sunset Hills
  • Uniontown
  • Virginia Hills
  • Westhampton

Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on 2020 U.S. census data.[70]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020)
1 Centreville CDP 73,518
2 Reston CDP 63,226
3 McLean CDP 50,773
4 Annandale CDP 43,363
5 Burke CDP 42,312
6 Oakton CDP 36,732
7 Fair Oaks CDP 34,052
8 Springfield CDP 31,339
9 West Falls Church CDP 30,243
10 Bailey's Crossroads CDP 24,749
11 Herndon Town 24,655
12 West Springfield CDP 24,369
13 Chantilly CDP 24,301
14 Tysons CDP 24,261
15 † Fairfax City 24,146
16 Lincolnia CDP 22,922
17 McNair CDP 21,598
18 Rose Hill CDP 21,045
19 Merrifield CDP 20,488
20 Lorton CDP 20,072
21 Woodlawn CDP 20,859
22 Franklin Farm CDP 19,189
23 Franconia CDP 18,943
24 Idylwood CDP 17,954
25 Fort Hunt CDP 17,231
26 Kingstowne CDP 16,825
27 Wolf Trap CDP 16,496
28 Vienna Town 16,473
29 Hybla Valley CDP 16,319
30 Great Falls CDP 15,953
31 Groveton CDP 15,725
32 Huntington CDP 13,749
33 Kings Park West CDP 13,465
34 Newington CDP 13,223
35 Newington Forest CDP 12,957
36 Mount Vernon CDP 12,914
37 Fairfax Station CDP 12,420
38 Wakefield CDP 11,805
39 Dranesville CDP 11,785
40 George Mason CDP 11,162
41 Difficult Run CDP 10,600
42 Lake Barcroft CDP 9,770
43 Dunn Loring CDP 9,464
44 Seven Corners CDP 9,131
45 Woodburn CDP 8,797
46 Greenbriar CDP 8,421
47 Fair Lakes CDP 8,404
48 Floris CDP 8,341
49 Laurel Hill CDP 8,307
50 Long Branch CDP 7,890
51 Fort Belvoir CDP 7,637
52 Mantua CDP 7,503
53 North Springfield CDP 7,430
54 Bull Run CDP 6,972
55 Belle Haven CDP 6,851
56 Pimmit Hills CDP 6,569
57 Braddock CDP 6,549
58 South Run CDP 6,462
59 Hutchison CDP 6,231
60 Crosspointe CDP 5,722
61 Union Mill CDP 4,997
62 Kings Park CDP 4,537
63 Navy CDP 4,327
64 Hayfield CDP 4,154
65 Ravensworth CDP 2,680
66 Sully Square CDP 2,300
67 Mason Neck CDP 2,025
68 Great Falls Crossing CDP 1,392
69 Clifton Town 243

Notable people

[edit]

Historic figures

[edit]
George Washington, the victorious commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and nation's first president, whose residence, Mount Vernon, is in Fairfax County
George Mason, whose residence, Gunston Hall, is in Fairfax County

Films and television

[edit]

Government and politics

[edit]

Media

[edit]

Musicians

[edit]

Sportspeople

[edit]

Other

[edit]

Sister cities

[edit]

Fairfax County's sister cities are:[79]

See also

[edit]

Explanatory notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Includes all people who gave "American Indian", "Eskimo", or "Aleut" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.
  2. ^ Includes all people who gave "Japanese", "Chinese", "Filipino", "Korean", "Asian Indian", or "Vietnamese" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.
  3. ^ Includes all people who gave "Hawaiian", "Guamanian", or "Samoan" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Fairfax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Reed, Sharon (June 8, 2023). "June 8, 2023: 10 Fairfax County-based firms rank on 2023 Fortune 500 List + Weekly Business News Digest". Fairfax County EDA. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Bamberger, Shelomoh, ha-Le?vi, Waters-Son, and West & Johnston. "Map of battles on Bull Run, near Manassas, on the line of Fairfax & Prince William Counties, in Virginia, fought between the forces of the Confederate States and of the United States of America." Map. 1861. Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:xg94j217q (accessed June 26, 2017).
  5. ^ Swanton, John R. (1952), The Indian Tribes of North America, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 67–69, ISBN 978-0-8063-1730-4, OCLC 52230544
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 123.
  7. ^ "The Historical Society of Fairfax County Virginia". Fairfax County Historical Society. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  8. ^ About Falls Church Archived July 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 10, 2009
  9. ^ "City History". City of Fairfax. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  10. ^ Matt Woolsey (January 22, 2008). "America's Richest Counties". Forbes. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Freeman, Paul "Falls Church Airpark, Falls Church, VA" Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. Retrieved March 19, 2014 [1]
  12. ^ a b Rollo, Vera (2003) Virginia Airports: A Historical Survey of Airports and Aviation From the Earliest Days. Richmond, VA: Virginia Aviation Historical Society [2] Archived July 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Day, Kathleen (September 21, 1987) "Small Airports Nosediving in Number" The Washington Post, page B1
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  15. ^ "Natural Resources Metrics". County of Fairfax Virginia. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tree Planting Season Shifts Due to Changing Climate". County of Fairfax Virginia. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  17. ^ "Naturally Occurring Asbestos in Fairfax County, Virginia". Fairfax County. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  18. ^ Janet Raloff (July 8, 2006). "Dirty Little Secret". Science News Online. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  19. ^ C. James Dusek and John M. Yetman. "Control and Prevention of Asbestos Exposure from Construction in Naturally Occurring Asbestos" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2006. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  20. ^ "Overcoming Problems with Marine Clays". Fairfax County. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  21. ^ a b "Voters in Fairfax Will Get 5 Ballots". The Washington Post. October 13, 1966. ProQuest 142900460.
  22. ^ a b Burchard, Hank (February 8, 1967). "Redistricting of Fairfax Offers Something to Please Everyone". The Washington Post. ProQuest 143222311.
  23. ^ a b "Consumer Protection Commission | Cable and Consumer Services". fairfaxcounty.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Facilities & Locations". Fairfax County. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  25. ^ "Fairfax city, Virginia". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 18, 2005. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  26. ^ "Fairfax County General District Court". Fairfax County. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  28. ^ a b c "Fairfax County, Virginia". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  29. ^ "1980 census of population" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  30. ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – Fairfax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  31. ^ "P2 HHispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fairfax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  32. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fairfax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  33. ^ "Fairfax County Budget – FY 2007" (PDF). Fairfax County. February 27, 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  34. ^ "Fairfax County Public Schools - Budget" (PDF). July 1, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  35. ^ Another Nobel Laureate Walter E. Williams, GMU, Department of Economics, October 14, 2002
  36. ^ "List of Black Listed Universities in USA". MS in US. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  37. ^ du Plessis, Carien (March 1, 2015). "SA's US ambassador in new 'dodgy degree' drama". News24. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  38. ^ "VCU School of Medicine – Inova Campus". Virginia Commonwealth University. Archived from the original on May 13, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
  39. ^ "Fairfax County high school ranked the best in the nation; two other county schools..." Editorial. Reuters. November 30, 2007. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  40. ^ Frederick, Missy (February 4, 2009). "Hilton Hotels picks Fairfax County for new HQ Read more: Hilton Hotels picks Fairfax County for new HQ – Los Angeles Business from bizjournals". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  41. ^ "Fortune 500: Our Annual Ranking of America's Largest Corporations". CNN Money. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  42. ^ Echols, Tucker (July 21, 2009). "Hispanic businesses boosting Fairfax County". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  43. ^ "Microsoft's Bill Gates Selects March 13 NVTC Titans Breakfast as Forum for Providing His Perspective on the Future of Technology Innovation". Reuters (via PR Newswire). March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  44. ^ "Meg Whitman, Former CEO and President of eBay Addresses Crowd of Approximately 800 at NVTC's TechCelebration Annual Banquet". Northern Virginia Technology Council. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  45. ^ Tidwell, Mike (November 2, 2008). "High-Tech, High-Income, High-Polluting Virginia". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  46. ^ "Tysons Corner, Virginia". BeyondDC. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
  47. ^ "Tysons Corner Business Area". Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  48. ^ "The CoStar Office Market Watch". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  49. ^ "Why Virginia's Become Mecca For Military Contractors". Forbes. October 10, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  50. ^ "Silver Line To Dulles Wins Crucial Federal Okay". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  51. ^ Lisa Selin Davis (June 11, 2009). "A (Radical) Way to Fix Suburban Sprawl". Time. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009.
  52. ^ "County of Fairfax, Virginia Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023" (PDF). Fairfax County, Virginia Government Website. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  53. ^ GRACE, Festival Archived December 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Restonarts.org (July 31, 2008). Retrieved on August 16, 2013.
  54. ^ "2009 Summer Entertainment Series". Fairfax County. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  55. ^ "Clifton Film Celebration". FilmFreeway. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  56. ^ "Transportation". Virginia Performs. Council on Virginia's Future. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  57. ^ Schrank, David; Lomax, Tim (June 2002). The 2002 Urban Mobility Report. Texas Transportation Institute.
  58. ^ "Chapter 2: Projections and Waste Quantities" (PDF). Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Plan. Fairfax County, Virginia. June 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  59. ^ Bredemeler, Brandon (November 9, 1970) "At 95 Former Va. Realtor Still Donates to Build Park" The Washington Post, page C1
  60. ^ "Silver Line opening will be a boon for Northern Virginia". The Washington Times.
  61. ^ "Station Map". Virginia Railway Express. Archived from the original on August 10, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  62. ^ "Fairfax County Park Authority". Fairfax County. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  63. ^ "About the Zoo". Reston Zoo. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  64. ^ "Fairfax County Bicycle Route Map". Fairfax County. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  65. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Montana through Wyoming 2000–2007". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original (CSV) on May 8, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  66. ^ "About homes and condos of Alexandria VA in Fairfax County". Nesbitt Realty.
  67. ^ "Fairfax Executive Suggests Dropping 'County'". The Washington Post. July 1, 2009.
  68. ^ "§ 15.2-817. No unincorporated area to be incorporated after adoption of urban county form of government". Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  69. ^ "Census-Designated Places in Fairfax County, Virginia". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  70. ^ "Fairfax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  71. ^ "Birthplace of Fitzhugh Lee". Marker History. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  72. ^ "George Mason". Gunston Hall. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  73. ^ "A Brief Biography of George Washington". Mount Vernon Plantation. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  74. ^ "Biography Jun-Jae-Young". KBS World. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  75. ^ "Lauren Graham Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  76. ^ "Ed Moses". USA Swimming. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
  77. ^ "Astronaut Bio: Catherine Coleman". NASA. November 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  78. ^ NASA HQ (June 29, 2009). "NASA Selects New Astronauts for Future Space Exploration". NASA. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  79. ^ "Sisterhood Partnerships". Fairfax County. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairfax County, Virginia.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Fairfax County.
Official Fairfax County sites
Other websites
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