Fairfax, Virginia

Early history

Once inhabited by the Manahoac and Piscataway peoples, the area that the city now encompasses was settled in the early 18th century by farmers from Virginia's Tidewater Region.^{[9][10][11][12]} The town of "Providence" was established on the site by an act of the state legislature in 1805.^[13]

19th century

On June 1, 1861, the first land battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Fairfax Court House, was fought in Fairfax after a Union army scouting party clashed with the local militia; the outcome was indecisive with neither side gaining advantage. A second battle took place in Fairfax two years later, on June 27, 1863, in which Union troops were defeated, which delayed the movements of Confederate cavalry chief Jeb Stuart with disastrous consequences for Robert E. Lee at the subsequent Battle of Gettysburg, the Civil War's bloodiest battle, which began several days later.^[14]

In 1859, Fairfax was renamed the "Town of Fairfax".^[13] It was incorporated as a town in 1874.^[13] It was incorporated as a city in 1961 by court order.^[13] Under Virginia law the city was separated from Fairfax County yet remains the county seat.^[15]

20th century

In 1904, a trolley line connected Fairfax with Washington, D.C.^[16]

Water Courses

The City is home to the start of the Accotink Creek and the source of Daniels Run, which flows into Accontink Creek.^[22]

Climate

The City is in the humid subtropical climate under the Köppen climate classification characterized by long and hot summers and cool to mild winters.^[23][24]

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Fairfax had a population of 24,146. The median age was 39.0 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over.^[39][40]

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.^[41]

There were 8,800 households in Fairfax, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.5% were married-couple households, 17.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[39]

There were 9,330 housing units, of which 5.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%.^[39]

Top employers

According to the city's 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,^[45] the top employers in the city are:

Architecture

The former Fairfax County Courthouse is the oldest historic building in Fairfax. The first Fairfax courthouse was established in 1742 near present-day Tysons, and is the namesake for Old Courthouse Road.^[47] It intersects with Gallows Road, which today is a major commuter route, but at the time was the road where condemned prisoners were led to the gallows at the old courthouse.^[48]

In 1752, the courthouse was moved to Alexandria, which offered to build the new courthouse at their own expense. The reason the courthouse was moved from the Tysons Corner location was because of "Indian hostilities", which is noted on the stone marker at the northwest corner of Gallows Road and Route 123. The courthouse operated there until 1790, when Virginia ceded the land where the courthouse was located in preparation for the relocation of the national capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. in 1800.

The General Assembly specified that the new courthouse should be located in the center of the county, and it was established at the corner of what was Old Little River Turnpike at present-day Main Street and Ox Road on Chain Bridge Road on land donated by town founder Richard Ratcliffe.^[49]

The courthouse changed hands repeatedly during the American Civil War. The first Confederate officer battle casualty, John Quincy Marr, occurred on the grounds of the courthouse.^[50] The first meeting of the Fairfax Court was held April 21, 1800.^[51]: 45 The oldest two-story building in Fairfax, the Fairfax Public School^[c] was built in 1873 for $2,750.^[52] In addition to elementary school use, the building has also housed special education, adult education, and police academy training.^{[53][54]: 144}

On July 4, 1992, the building became the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center.^{[54]: 156–157} Joseph Edward Willard built the town hall building in 1900, and then gifted it to the town in 1902.^[55]

The Old Town Hall now houses the Huddleston Library and the Fairfax Art League.^[56]

Sites on the National Register of Historic Places

Annual events

• Chocolate Lovers Festival

The annual Chocolate Lover's Festival is held in the heart of Old Town Fairfax during the first full weekend in February. Events have included craft shows, historic building open houses, children's activities, collections of vendors selling various edible chocolate products, and even chocolate sculpture contests.^[57]

• Fairfax Civil War Day

Every year, during the Spring, a Civil War re-enactment camp is held at the Blenheim estate, a city-owned historical property. The encampment features cultural information about Civil War-era people and practices, military muster, drill, and a firing demonstration.^[58]

• Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts

Each April, Fairfax, in cooperation with George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, and Fairfax schools, sponsors the Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Festival. The festival runs for three weeks and features music, dance, theater, art and choral concerts. Events take place at venues throughout the city and the colleges.^[59]

• National Trails Day

In June, a National Trails Day is held to celebrate the trails, open spaces and parks in the Fairfax.^[60]

• Independence Day Celebration Parade and Evening Show

The largest hometown parade and fireworks celebration in the Washington metropolitan region is held in the Fairfax. The day's events include a parade through Old Town Fairfax, tours of historic buildings and local museums, an Old-Fashioned Fireman's Day at the Fire Station No. 3, and a live concert and fireworks display at Fairfax High School.^[61]

• Irish Festival

In September, a festival of Irish and Celtic song, dance and music is held in and around Old Town Fairfax.^[62]

• Fall for the Book Festival

Each fall, the Fall for the Book Festival features readings, discussions, lectures and exhibits from nationally recognized writers and professionals. Festival events are held in the Fairfax at George Mason University and throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Two community reading programs coordinate with Fall for the Book: "All Fairfax Reads," coordinated by the Fairfax County Public Library, and "Mason Reads" at George Mason University.^[63]

• Fall Festival

A Fall Festival is held in historic Old Town Fairfax on the second Saturday in October. This event includes more than 500 arts, crafts, and food vendors, and is usually held outdoors on the streets of the city. Attendance is about 35,000 to 45,000.^[64]

• The Holiday Craft Show

An annual Holiday Craft Show is held at Fairfax High School on the third Saturday and Sunday of November. The event features hundreds of craft vendors. Attendance is about 8,000 to 10,000.^[65]

• Festival of Lights & Carols

On the first Saturday in December, the city holds a Festival of Lights and Carols. Activities include photos with Santa, caroling, a yule log, hot mulled cider, illumination of Old Town Fairfax, and the lighting of the city Christmas tree.^[66]

Public libraries

Fairfax County Public Library operates the Fairfax Regional Library in Fairfax. The library includes the Virginia Room, a collection of books, photographs, and manuscripts related to Fairfax County history, government, and genealogy.^[67]

Elected officials

In November on even-numbered years, city voters elect a Mayor, six at-large Councilmembers, and five at-large School Board members to serve two-year terms. These offices are non-partisan and at-large, and there are no term limits.^[13] City voters also elect the two city constitutional officers: Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue for four-year terms. Other elected officials who serve the city elected by city and Fairfax County voters include the Sheriff (four-year term), Commonwealth's Attorney (four-year term), and Clerk of the Court (eight-year term). State elected officials who represent Fairfax include the Virginia Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Virginia Senator (34th District), and Virginia Delegate (37th District). Starting with the 2023 election, the city will lie within the 37th Virginia Senate district and the 11th House of Delegates district. Federal elected officials who represent the Fairfax include the U.S. President, U.S. Vice President, two U.S. Senators (six-year terms), and one U.S. Representative, 11th District (two-year term).

Mayor arrested for distribution of methamphetamine

On August 4, 2016, then-Mayor Scott Silverthorne was arrested in a sting operation conducted by the Fairfax County Police Department. After receiving a tip that he was involved in drugs-related activities online, a police detective engaged Silverthorne on an online website "...used to arrange for casual sexual encounters between men."^[70] The detective then arranged a meeting with Silverthorne and two other men, in which they agreed to exchange methamphetamine. At the meeting in Tysons, detectives performed the exchange and then arrested Silverthorne along with the two other men. He was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.^[70] He announced his resignation on Monday, August 8, 2016, in a letter to the City Council.^[71]

Silverthorne maintains that he was not distributing methamphetamine for sex, and he was not tried for any sexual crimes.^[72]

Nonprofit Grants Program

In December 2024 the recipients of the City's new Nonprofit Grants Program^[73] were named.^[74] Announced in 2024 the City funded the grant program $300,000. Ongoing funding for the nonprofit grant program will be approved as part of the city's annual budget process. The City offers two grant options for human services nonprofits:

1. Standard Nonprofit Grant: This competitive program funds nonprofits seeking to develop, expand, or enhance services for city residents in the areas of prevention, crisis intervention, long-term support, and human services. Organizations may apply for a $10,001–$50,000 grant. For FY25, $275,000 is allocated.
2. Mini-Grant: The Mini-Grants program provides funding through a competitive process for eligible nonprofits focused on capacity building or small-scale projects. The application requires basic details about the organization's mission, project, budget, and two performance measures. Organizations may apply for a $5,000–$10,000 grant. For FY25, $25,000 is allocated.*^[73]

Primary and secondary schools

The school division for the city is Fairfax City Public Schools.^[75] The public schools in the City of Fairfax are owned by the city but administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system under contractual agreement with Fairfax County. This arrangement began to be in place in 1961.^[76] Fairfax schools include Fairfax High School, Katherine Johnson Middle School, formerly Lanier Middle School,^[77] Daniels Run Elementary School, Providence Elementary School, and Fairfax Academy.^[78]

Schools within the city that are not owned by the city government include the Boyd School,^[f] Gesher Jewish Day School, Kellar School of Inova Kellar Center,^[g] Lee Highway KinderCare,^[h] Little Flock Christian School, Northern Virginia Christian Academy, Oak Valley Center,^[i] Paul VI Catholic High School (moved in 2020–2021),^[j] The Salvation Army's University View Child Care Center,^[k] Saint Leo The Great School,^[l] Trinity Christian School, and Truro Preschool and Kindergarten.^[m][79]

Colleges and universities

George Mason University, the largest university in Virginia, is located just south of Fairfax's city limits,^[80] with a small portion of the university grounds in the Fairfax city limits.^[81] The university enrolls 33,917 students, making it the largest university by head count in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The university was founded in 1949, and was initially an extension of the University of Virginia named the Northern Virginia University Center of the University of Virginia.^[82] Nine years after its founding, in 1958, the Town of Fairfax purchased 150 acres (0.61 km²) for the university, though the property remained within the county when the town became a city. In 1972, following several name changes, the institution became George Mason University.^[83] The university is most known for its programs in economics, law, creative writing, computer science, and business.^[84] 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.^[85]

Roads

The intersection of U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 29 is located in the northeast corner of the city. The two major highways join to form Fairfax Boulevard for approximately 2.8 miles (4.5 km) through the city before separating. State Route 123, State Route 236 and State Route 237 pass through the city. SR 236 is named Main Street in the city and then becomes Little River Turnpike once the city line is crossed. Interstate 66 passes just outside the city limits and is the major highway serving the Fairfax region. Connections to I-66 from the city can be made via U.S. Route 50 and State Route 123.

Public transportation

Rail

Further information: Burke Centre station and Vienna station (Washington Metro)

Although these stations are located outside city limits, trips to and from Fairfax are served by:

• Vienna station of the Washington Metro
• Burke Centre station of Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak