Stafford County, Virginia

For thousands of years, various cultures of indigenous peoples succeeded each other in their territories along the Potomac River and its tributaries. By the time of English colonization, there were 32 Algonquian-speaking American Indian tribes in the present-day coastal Tidewater Virginia area, including those of the Patawomeck and numerous tribes that were part of the Powhatan Confederacy. The former small tribe, still centered in Stafford County, was recognized by the state of Virginia in 2010.

The Native Americans' first recorded encounter with Europeans in this area was in 1608, with John Smith of the Jamestown Settlement. During a time of recurring tension between the early English colonists and local Native Americans, the colonists led by Samuel Argall captured Chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, while she was living with her husband, Kocoum. The colonists took her from the eastern part of this county, to a secondary English settlement, known as Henricus (or Henrico Town). Alexander Whitaker converted Pocahontas to Christianity during her captivity. He renamed her as "Rebecca" at her baptism. Rebecca/Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe on April 5, 1614 in Jamestown.[4][5] Their mixed-race descendants were among the First Families of Virginia.

The English colonial government of Virginia imposed its own order on the land and peoples. In 1664 it established Stafford County from territory previously part of Westmoreland County[6] (which had been created from Northumberland County in 1653). It was named after Staffordshire, England. As originally delineated, Stafford County included a much larger area than its current borders. As population grew, the following counties and jurisdictions were created: Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties, and the City of Alexandria.[6] It is part of the area now considered Northern Virginia.

George Washington spent much of his childhood in the lower part of the county at his family's home Ferry Farm (which at the time was part of King George County), along the Rappahannock River across from Fredericksburg. Colonial Forge High School was built on a tract of land owned in colonial times by his father Augustine Washington.[7] George Mason, another Founding Father, also lived in Stafford during his formative years.[8]

Aquia Church, built in 1757, is unusual among local structures for having been designed on the plan of a Greek cross rather than the more standard Roman Cross design. In addition, Aquia Church has a rare three-tiered pulpit; it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Episcopal church continues to be active today.[9]

Stafford County industry and resources were important to the colony and early nation. During the Revolutionary War, the Stafford ironworks furnished arms for the colonial rebel soldiers.[10] Aquia Creek sandstone, quarried from Government Island, was used to build the White House and the U.S. Capitol.[11]

During the American Civil War, the county was part of the battlegrounds, occupied repeatedly by more than 100,000 troops for several years. In 1862, before and after the Battle of Fredericksburg, some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus and Trail of Freedom is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river, in Fredericksburg and in Stafford County.[12] The Battle of Aquia Creek took place in the Aquia Harbour area.[13] Both the Union Army and Confederate Army struggled to control the strategic Potomac Creek Bridge at various times during the war.

Falmouth, a town bordering Fredericksburg, was the home of late-19th century American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers. His house, Belmont, still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

20th century to present

Stafford County Courthouse in 1929

Stafford County has developed to be one of the core counties of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and Northern Virginia, the seat of government and numerous major defense installations. Marine Corps Base Quantico, occupies northern areas of this county. The FBI Academy, FBI National Laboratory and NCIS HQ are located on the Stafford side of MCBQ. Many residents commute north to work there and in other defense and federal facilities, as well as private companies, in Washington, DC and its environs on Interstate Highway 95, U.S. Route 1, and by Virginia Railway Express. Stafford County is a suburban county and home to many Washington D.C commuters and workers which work for the Federal Government. It is also home to many military families due to its proximity to MCBQ. These facts contribute to the high-income of families in Stafford County, and the high amount of home-ownership, and college graduates. Stafford County is also one of the few counties in America where black households make more than white households. In recent years Stafford County has experienced major suburbanization, and growth as more and more workers move to the suburbs for their families. Thus, many developers are currently active in Stafford County in housing and retail projects.

In the early morning hours of May 9, 2008, a tornado touched down in the southern part of the county, severely damaging about 140 suburban homes.[14][15]

The county was severely affected by "Snowmageddon," the massive blizzards of December 2009 and February 2010. Stafford received some of the heaviest snow in the D.C. metropolitan area, with about 25 inches of snow in December, and 19 inches in February.[16][17]

Charles

Alexandria

Fauquier

Manassas

Manassas Park

Prince William

Spotsylvania

Stafford

Fredericksburg

Culpeper

Louisa

Orange

Caroline

Hanover

King George

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 280 square miles (730 km²), of which 269 square miles (700 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (3.9%) is water.[18] The Potomac River flows along part of the eastern border of the county, while the Rappahannock River runs along the extent of the county's southern border. The independent city of Fredericksburg developed at the fall line of the river, supporting mills run by water power. To the northwest of there is the Piedmont area. Aquia Creek empties into the tidal segment of the Potomac River at Brent Point in Stafford County. It is surrounded by Prince William County to the north, Fauquier County to the West, the City of Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County to the south. Due to its location and proximity to Washington D.C many Federal Government workers and commuters live in Stafford County. Stafford County’s location close to D.C, is one of the major reasons of the suburbanization and growth of the county

The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: George Washington, Hartwood, Falmouth, Griffis-Widewater, Aquia, Garrisonville, and Rockhill. The magisterial districts, roughly equal in population, each elect one supervisor to the Board of Supervisors which governs Stafford County. The County operates under the county form of the County Executive system of government, with an elected Board of Supervisors. The Board hires a professional, nonpartisan County Administrator to manage government agencies. The current County Administrator is Thomas C. Foley. While Stafford County is currently Republican. Due to its rapid suburbanization and growth of families, and Federal Government employees from D.C and being a part of Northern Virginia, it is turning increasingly Democratic. While the Board of Supervisors is dominated by Republicans which the Democrats have made strong gains to turn in the 2021 election. The School Board(officially nonpartisan) is a 3-3-1 split. Another sign of Stafford County turning increasingly Democratic is the Democrats pick ups in the Virginia House if Delegates. In 2017 the Democrats flipped the 2nd District using Democrat Jennifer Carroll Foy a fierce advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment. In 2019 the 28th was eyed nationally as a key district for Virginia Democrats to flip both chambers of the State Legislature(which they did). Joshua Cole the 2017 candidate which lost by 73 votes in 2017 due to ballot and voter district problems won in 2019 helping the Democrats flip Virginia. The race received lots of media attention and mega donors from across the country.

Stafford County is represented by Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Montross) in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the state level, it is represented by Democrat Joshua G. Cole and Democrat Jennifer Carroll Foy in the Virginia House of Delegates.

As of the census[25] of 2010, there were 128,961 people, 38,237 households, and 24,481 families residing in the county. The population density was 342 people per square mile (132/km²). There were 31,405 housing units at an average density of 116 per square mile (45/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.5% White, 15.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. 9.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Due to the rapid suburbanization of the county the demographics have increasingly changed in the past 20 years and will continue to change in the near future as Stafford County continues to grow.

By 2005, Stafford County's population was 72.8% non-Hispanic whites. African-Americans were 17.0% of the total population. Native Americans were 0.4% of the county total, Asians 2.3%, and Native Hawai'ians and other Pacific islanders 0.2%. Latinos were 6.4% of the population. This was higher than the total for all of Virginia.

As of 2000 there were 38,187 households out of which 46.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.00% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.90% were non-families. 13.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 31.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 33.70% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $75,546, and the median income for a family was $78,575 (these figures had risen to $85,793 and $95,433 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[26]). Males had a median income of $47,080 versus $31,469 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,762. About 2.40% of families and 3.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over. Stafford County is also one of the seven counties in America where black households make more than white households. Between 2010 and 2014 the typical black household made $105,628 in the county. The highest out of all the seven counties, while white households made an average $99,533.

Stafford County being a part of the D.C area and Northern Virginia is covered by D.C cable news stations. These include FOX 5(WTTG), NBC 4(WRC-TV), ABC 7(WJLA-TV), CBS 9(WUSA), and PBS 26(WETA-TV). Stafford County is covered by Northern Virginia newspapers and Fredericksburg newspapers.

I-95 northbound in Stafford County

Stafford Regional Airport

Stafford County is approximately 40 miles south of Washington D.C making it an ideal home for D.C workers. Stafford County is the start of the I-95 Express lanes which start in the center part of the county and go to Washington D.C, the I-95 Express Lanes are currently being extended to the Southern tip of the county. A study done by INRIX Roadway Analytics awarded Southbound I-95 from D.C to the southern tip of Stafford County the worst single traffic hotspot in the nation. A stretch of Northbound I-95 from Northern Spotsylvania County to the Northern tip of Stafford County was ranked the seventh worst traffic hotspot in the nation. Due to booming growth in the county, and Northern Virginia, Stafford County is in a gridlock and has one of the worst traffic situations in Northern Virginia, Virginia, and the nation. Thus, the Commonwealth of Virginia has poured big amounts of money in road infrastructure in Stafford County. Major U.S Routes also pass through such as U.S 1, and U.S 17.

Chatham Manor

• Ferry Farm
• Belmont
• Aquia Church
• Chatham Manor
• White Oak Church
• Central Rappahannock Regional Library
• Aquia Park, Government Island

• Erin Cahill, actress
• Peter Vivian Daniel, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States 1842–1860
• James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky 1796–1804
• Mark Lenzi, Olympic medalist in diving, 25th (Barcelona, 1992) and 26th (Atlanta, 1996) Olympic Games
• Arlene Limas, Olympic medalist in taekwondo, 24th Olympic Games (Seoul, 1988)
• John Maine, former pitcher for the New York Mets, born in Fredericksburg, graduated from North Stafford High School
• Jessica Player, child actress, graduated from Stafford High School
• Pocahontas, Pamunkey princess who resided here with her Patawomeck husband, Kocoum at the time of her abduction
• Gregg Ritchie, former Major League Baseball player and coach, and head coach of the George Washington University baseball team
• Jeff Rouse, Olympic medalist in swimming, 25th (Barcelona, 1992) and 26th (Atlanta, 1996) Olympic games
• Torrey Smith, National Football League wide receiver
• George Washington, boyhood home Ferry Farm is located in Stafford County

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Stafford County, Virginia
• Stafford County Sheriff's Office

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stafford County, Virginia.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Stafford County.

• Stafford County, Virginia – Official Site
• GoStaffordVA.com – Stafford County Economic Development and Tourism
• Rappahannock United Way
• South Stafford Community Website
• Stafford County Public Schools