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City Tour of Fairfax VA
Fairfax Historical Timeline
Fairfax County was created by the Virginia Assembly from the northern
part of Prince William County in 1742.
Fairfax County originally included all of what are now Loudoun County,
Arlington County, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church.
Fairfax County was named for the English nobleman Thomas, sixth Lord
Fairfax.
In 1742, the population of Fairfax County was only about 4,000 people,
and about 1,000 of these were black slaves.
In 1790, the population of Fairfax County was only about 12,000 people;
in 1870 the population remained at about 12,000 people; as late as 1930,
the population of all of Fairfax County was still only about 25,000 people.
In 1861, Fairfax County voted 1,231 to 289 in favor of Virginia seceding
from the Union.
Fairfax County overwhelmingly supported the ratification of the new
federal constitution in 1788.
George Mason of Fairfax County is often regarded as the father of our
federal Bill of Rights.
The first Fairfax County courthouse was near what is now Tysons Corner.
From 1752 until 1800, the Fairfax County Courthouse was in the town
of Alexandria.
In the 1950s, three Nike anti-aircraft missile batteries were built
in Fairfax County to help protect the city of Washington.
The name Reston comes from the initials of Robert E. Simon, who developed
the new "town" in the 1960s.
From 1742 until 1870, Fairfax, like other Virginia counties, was governed
by its County Court.
The first Board of Supervisors to govern Fairfax County was elected
in 1870.
In the early 20th century there were four small local airports in Fairfax
County. One was where the Skyline Towers is currently located at Bailey’s
Crossroads; another was at the site of the present Loehmans Plaza shopping
center, and two others were in southern Fairfax County along Route-1 --
one at Hybla Valley and another at Beacon Hill.
The George Washington Memorial Parkway, which runs along the river in
Fairfax County from the 14th street bridge to Washington’s home
at Mount Vernon, was built in 1932 to commemorate Washington’s 200th
birthday.
The Fairfax County Police Department was first authorized by the Board
of Supervisors in 1941.
The first Fairfax County Library opened in 1939.
Seven Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Fairfax County, including
Freddie Mac, General Dynamics, Nextel Communications, Capital One Financial,
Sallie Mae, Gannett and NVR. (Fairfax County EDA Facts, December 2003)
More than 28,700 Fairfax County businesses employed nearly 543,000 workers.
(Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, 2003)
An estimated 223 foreign-owned firms operate businesses in Fairfax County
employing more than 18,640 people. (Fairfax County EDA Facts, December
2003)
Fairfax County leads Virginia in the number of companies owned by Asians
and Pacific Islanders, African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indian and
Alaska natives, and women. (Fairfax County EDA Profile, September 2003)
Fairfax County is home to more than 4,800 technology firms, ranging
from high-profile publicly held companies to entrepreneurial startups.
(Fairfax County EDA Facts, December 2003)
More than 300 trade associations and professional societies are headquartered
in Fairfax County. (Fairfax County EDA Facts, December 2003)
Fairfax Links
Fairfax County Virginia
George Mason University
Fairfax County Public
Schools
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