Fredericksburg, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Historic Downtown Fredericksburg | |
 Flag  Seal  Coat of arms | |
| Motto: America's Most Historic City | |
 Location of Fredericksburg in Virginia | |
  Fredericksburg  Fredericksburg  Fredericksburg | |
| Coordinates:38°18′6.5″N77°28′15″W / 38.301806°N 77.47083°W /38.301806; -77.47083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | None (Independent city since 1879, adjacent toSpotsylvania County) |
| Founded | 1728 |
| Incorporated | 1781 |
| Named after | Frederick, Prince of Wales |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kerry P. Devine |
| Area | |
| 10.52 sq mi (27.24 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.45 sq mi (27.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.069 sq mi (0.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| 27,982 | |
| • Density | 2,677/sq mi (1,034/km2) |
| • Urban | 167,679 (US:216th) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 22401 (USPS designates 5 zip codes for Fredericksburg, but 4 of them lie outside the Independent City in surrounding counties; only 22401 lies inside it) |
| Area code | 540 |
| FIPS code | 51-29744[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1494947[3] |
| Website | www |
| * Independent from Spotsylvania County in 1879 | |
Fredericksburg is anindependent city inVirginia, United States. The population was 27,982 at the2020 census.[4] It is 48 miles (77 km) south ofWashington, D.C., and 53 miles (85 km) north ofRichmond.[5][6] TheBureau of Economic Analysis combines the city with neighboringSpotsylvania County for statistical purposes.
Located near where theRappahannock River crosses theAtlantic Seaboard fall line, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during thecolonial era. It was halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces during theAmerican Civil War, and was the site of theBattle of Fredericksburg andSecond Battle of Fredericksburg. These battles are preserved, in part, as theFredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. More than 10,000African Americans in the region leftslavery for freedom in 1862 alone, getting behind Union lines. Tourism is a major part of the economy. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums, art shops, galleries, and many historical sites.[7]
Fredericksburg is home toCentral Park. TheSpotsylvania Towne Centre is located in Spotsylvania County, adjacent to the city. Major employers include theUniversity of Mary Washington (named for themother ofGeorge Washington, who lived here), Mary Washington Healthcare, andGEICO. Many Fredericksburg area residents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Washington and Richmond, as well asFairfax,Prince William, andArlington counties.[8][9][10][11]
Theindependent city of Fredericksburg was named in 1728 forFrederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son ofKing George II. The designation coincided with the Virginia General Assembly's effort to establish a formal trading center at the fall line of theRappahannock River a transitional zone where the river ceased to be navigable for larger vessels. Prior to English colonization, the area was inhabited by Algonquian-speaking tribes affiliated with the Powhatan Confederacy and later became a frontier for inland expansion from the Tidewater region.[7][12] The selection of the site reflected practical logistics. Positioned at the head of navigation, Fredericksburg developed into aport town for exportingtobacco and receiving manufactured goods. Its function was tied to the movement of agricultural products rather than urban planning or centralized governance. The presence of large landholdings nearby, such asFerry Farm purchased in 1738 byAugustine Washington aligned with the town's role as a local hub.[13] During thecolonial period, the town played a vital role in Virginia's economy and political life. It was home to many prominent families, including the Washingtons atGeorge Washington's boyhood home,Ferry Farm Historic Site which lies just across the river from the city of Fredericksburg.[14] Fredericksburg was incorporated as a town in 1781 and became anindependent city in 1879, a legal status retained under Virginia's city-county separation framework. The city witnessed significant destruction during theAmerican Civil War, particularly during theBattle of Fredericksburg in 1862, which caused long-term disruption to its infrastructure and population.[15]
.jpg)
At the time of European encounter, the indigenous inhabitants of the area that became Fredericksburg were aSiouan-speaking tribe called theManahoac. English colonists recorded the name of the Manahoac village there asMahaskahod.[12] Siouan tribes occupied much of the area of the Piedmont. The Tidewater areas of the coastal plain had primarilyAlgonquian-speaking tribes making up thePowhatan Confederacy.
Fredericksburg developed as the frontier ofcolonial Virginia shifted west from thecoastal plain into the Piedmont. The land on which the city was founded was part of a tract patented in 1671. TheVirginia General Assembly established a fort on the Rappahannock in 1676, just downriver of the present-day city. In 1714, Lieutenant GovernorAlexander Spotswood sponsored a German settlement calledGermanna on theRapidan River, a tributary of the Rappahannock upstream from the future site of the city. In 1716, he led anexploratory expedition westward over theBlue Ridge Mountains.
As interest in the frontier grew, the colonial assembly formedSpotsylvania County in 1720, named after Royal Lieutenant GovernorAlexander Spotswood. In 1728, Fredericksburg was declared a port for the county, of which it was then a part. Streets within the town were named after relatives of Frederick, Prince of Wales, who was the town's namesake.,[16] The county court was moved to Fredericksburg in 1732. Hence, the community served ascounty seat until 1780. The court was then moved toSpotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia – closer to the geographical center of Spotsylvania County. This led to Fredericksburg becoming incorporated with its own court, council, and mayor. It received its charter as an independent city in 1879 and under Virginia law, was separated from Spotsylvania County. The city adopted its present city manager/council form of government in 1911.
The city has close associations withGeorge Washington, whose family in 1738 moved toFerry Farm inStafford County near the Rappahannock River opposite Fredericksburg. Washington's mother,Mary, later moved to the city, and his sisterBetty lived atKenmore, a plantation house then outside the city. Several citizens played active roles during theAmerican Revolution (1763–1781). For example, a number of locals signed the Leedstown Resolves, which formed an association to protest the Stamp Act in the 1760s.[17] In the 1770s,Fielding Lewis, owner of Kenmore Plantation and brother-in-law toGeorge Washington, also operated an arms factory for the Continental Army. Other significant early residents include the Revolutionary War generalsHugh Mercer andGeorge Weedon, naval war heroJohn Paul Jones, and future U.S. presidentJames Monroe. Thomas Jefferson wrote theVirginia Statute for Religious Freedom in Fredericksburg.[18]
During the 19th century, mills continued to be developed along the Rappahannock River, which provided water power. There were mills for grinding flour, processing and weaving cotton, and other manufacturing. Fredericksburg sought to maintain its sphere of trade, but with limited success. It promoted the development of acanal on the Rappahannock and construction of aturnpike andplank road to bind the interior country to the market town. By 1837, a north–south railroad, which became theRichmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, linked the town to Richmond, the state capital. A much-needed railroad joining the town to the West's farming region was not finished until after the Civil War.
During theCivil War, Fredericksburg was strategically important because of its port location midway betweenWashington and Richmond, the opposing capitals of theUnion and theConfederacy. During theBattle of Fredericksburg from December 11–15, 1862, the town sustained significant damage from bombardment andlooting by the Union forces.
During that engagement, nearly 10,000 enslaved people left area plantations and city households to gain freedom by crossing the Rappahannock River to Stafford County and join the Union lines, part of a movement by enslaved people throughout the South in wartime.[19] John Washington, a literate enslaved person who shortly crossed to freedom, wrote later about people watching the approach of Union troops across the river from Fredericksburg: "No one could be seen on the street but the colored people. and every one of them seemed to be in the best of humors."[20]
TheSecond Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in and around the town on May 3, 1863, in connection with theChancellorsville campaign (April 27, 1863 – May 6, 1863). The battles ofthe Wilderness andSpotsylvania Court House were fought nearby in May 1864. The Washington Woolen Mill, a large three-story building, was converted to use as a hospital during the war.
After the war, Fredericksburg recovered its former position as a center of local trade and slowly grew beyond its prewar boundaries. Neither the city of Fredericksburg nor the surrounding counties reached the 1860 level of population again until well into the 20th century. After the war, many freedmen moved to Richmond andPetersburg, where there had been established free black communities before the war, and there was more work.
In the early 20th century, as theJim Crow era continued in the South, there was widespread population movement. Many African-Americans left rural areas of the South for work and other opportunities in industrial cities of the North and Midwest in theGreat Migration. Some settled in Washington, D.C., where there were more opportunities, or further north.
War-related buildup at defense facilities forWorld War II added to the area's population in the 1940s. The 1960s brought renewed growth and development, fueled by the construction ofInterstate 95, which eased commuting and trade. By the 1970s, the city and the area had become a bedroom community for jobs inNorthern Virginia andWashington, D.C. Headquarters agencies,lobbyists,consultants, defense andgovernment contractors, and a range of other businesses were part of the regional economy influenced by theU.S. government. The city also benefited from its relative proximity to four military installations: theUnited States Marine Corps'Quantico Base, theU.S. Army'sFort Belvoir, theU.S. Navy'sDahlgren Surface Weapons Base, and theVirginia National Guard'sFort A.P. Hill.
TheUniversity of Mary Washington was founded in Fredericksburg in 1908 as theState Normal and Industrial School for Women, to train white women for teaching K-12 and industrial skills. Adopting the name of Mary Washington College in 1938, the college was for many years associated with theUniversity of Virginia (then limited to white men) as a women'sliberal arts college. The college officially desegregated in 1964. The college became independent of theUniversity of Virginia and began to accept men in 1970. In 2004, the college changed its name from Mary Washington College to the University of Mary Washington. Two additional campuses for graduate and professional studies and education and research are located inStafford County and inKing George County, respectively.
MusicianLink Wray invented thepower chord of modern rock guitar in Fredericksburg in 1958 during an improvisation of the instrumental piece"Rumble", a single subsequently released by Wray & His Ray Men.[21] This innovation became widely used by rock guitarists. In the early 21st century, the local music scene includes a wide variety of genres.
A commuter rail line – theVirginia Railway Express – was established in the 1980s, providing passage to Washington, D.C. and other cities north of Fredericksburg.
The city has become the regional healthcare center for the area. Retail, real estate, and other commercial growth exploded in the early 21st century, eventually slowing during theGreat Recession beginning in 2007. Hispanic growth skyrocketed from 2011 to 2020, with Chancellor Green in nearby Spotsylvania County becoming a local enclave.[citation needed]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km2), 10.4 square miles (27.0 km2) of which is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.67%, of which is water.[22] The city is part of the boundary between thePiedmont andTidewater regions, and as such is located on thefall line, as evident on theRappahannock River.US 1,US 17, andI-95 all pass through the city, which is located 53 miles (85 km) south of downtownWashington, D.C.
The city is bounded on the north and east by the Rappahannock River; across the river isStafford County. The city is bounded on the south and west bySpotsylvania County.
Fredericksburg has a four-seasonhumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa), with cool winters and hot, humid summers. Daytime temperatures for much of the year average slightly higher than in Washington, D.C. due to the southerly aspect, although the inland location and distance from theurban heat island present in the nation's capital make for significantly cooler low temperatures.
| Climate data for Fredericksburg, Virginia (downtown, 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1995–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) | 80 (27) | 90 (32) | 95 (35) | 96 (36) | 102 (39) | 102 (39) | 103 (39) | 98 (37) | 96 (36) | 83 (28) | 80 (27) | 103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.9 (7.7) | 49.3 (9.6) | 57.0 (13.9) | 68.5 (20.3) | 76.1 (24.5) | 84.3 (29.1) | 88.5 (31.4) | 86.6 (30.3) | 80.3 (26.8) | 70.0 (21.1) | 58.9 (14.9) | 50.0 (10.0) | 67.9 (19.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.5 (1.9) | 38.1 (3.4) | 45.3 (7.4) | 56.1 (13.4) | 64.6 (18.1) | 73.6 (23.1) | 78.1 (25.6) | 76.3 (24.6) | 69.6 (20.9) | 58.1 (14.5) | 47.1 (8.4) | 39.2 (4.0) | 56.8 (13.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 26.9 (−2.8) | 33.5 (0.8) | 43.6 (6.4) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.9 (17.2) | 67.6 (19.8) | 65.9 (18.8) | 58.9 (14.9) | 46.2 (7.9) | 35.2 (1.8) | 28.3 (−2.1) | 45.6 (7.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) | −8 (−22) | 5 (−15) | 20 (−7) | 32 (0) | 45 (7) | 53 (12) | 51 (11) | 42 (6) | 28 (−2) | 17 (−8) | 7 (−14) | −8 (−22) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.72 (69) | 2.50 (64) | 3.96 (101) | 3.37 (86) | 4.19 (106) | 3.88 (99) | 4.82 (122) | 2.99 (76) | 4.54 (115) | 3.72 (94) | 3.52 (89) | 3.19 (81) | 43.40 (1,102) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.7 (9.4) | 5.2 (13) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.3 (5.8) | 11.3 (29) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.2 | 7.2 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 12.8 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 113.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.3 |
| Source:NOAA[23][24] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,485 | — | |
| 1800 | 2,808 | 89.1% | |
| 1810 | 2,509 | −10.6% | |
| 1820 | 3,498 | 39.4% | |
| 1830 | 3,308 | −5.4% | |
| 1840 | 3,974 | 20.1% | |
| 1850 | 4,061 | 2.2% | |
| 1860 | 5,022 | 23.7% | |
| 1870 | 4,046 | −19.4% | |
| 1880 | 5,010 | 23.8% | |
| 1890 | 4,528 | −9.6% | |
| 1900 | 5,068 | 11.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,874 | 15.9% | |
| 1920 | 5,882 | 0.1% | |
| 1930 | 6,819 | 15.9% | |
| 1940 | 10,066 | 47.6% | |
| 1950 | 12,158 | 20.8% | |
| 1960 | 13,639 | 12.2% | |
| 1970 | 14,450 | 5.9% | |
| 1980 | 15,322 | 6.0% | |
| 1990 | 19,027 | 24.2% | |
| 2000 | 19,279 | 1.3% | |
| 2010 | 24,286 | 26.0% | |
| 2020 | 27,982 | 15.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1790–1960[26] 1900–1990[27] 1990–2000[28] 2010–2020[29] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[30] | Pop 2020[31] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 14,760 | 15,201 | 60.78% | 54.32% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,367 | 5,956 | 22.10% | 21.29% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 58 | 86 | 0.24% | 0.31% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 670 | 1,325 | 2.76% | 4.74% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 16 | 24 | 0.07% | 0.09% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 64 | 280 | 0.26% | 1.00% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 744 | 1,638 | 3.06% | 5.85% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,607 | 3,472 | 10.73% | 12.41% |
| Total | 24,286 | 27,982 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of thecensus[32] of 2020, there were about 29,000 people, 8,102 households, and 3,925 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,833 inhabitants per square mile (708/km2). There were 8,888 housing units at an average density of 845 per square mile (326/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 54%White, 21%Black orAfrican American, 0.31%Native American, 4.74Asian, 0.067Pacific Islander, 2.56% fromother races, and 1.95% from two or more races.12% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 8,102 households, out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.8% weremarried couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.8% under the age of 18, 23.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
According to data from the US Census, the median household income in the city is $83,445 and the median income for a family is $121,781.[33] Theper capita income for the city is $43,063. 18% of the population is below thepoverty line.[34]
The Fredericksburg Police Department[35] tracks crime information under the state-level system of theUniform Crime Reporting program.[note 1] Per state code, the central repository for crime statistics rests with the Department of State Police, which compiles data from all of the participating agencies into anannual publicationArchived November 25, 2011, at theWayback Machine.[36]
Fredericksburg Historic District | |
 | |
| Location | Roughly bounded by Rappahannock River, Hazel Run, Prince Edward and Canal Sts., Fredericksburg, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001053[37] |
| VLR No. | 111-0132 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1971 |
| Designated VLR | March 2, 1971[38] |
Despite recent decades of suburban growth, reminders of the area's past abound. The 40-blockFredericksburg Historic District, listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, embraces the city's downtown area and contains more than 350 buildings and locations dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, including theFredericksburg Town Hall and Market Square,Lewis Store, and former site of theSlave Auction Block.
Within the historic district, four 18th-century historic sites have been managed by the "Washington Heritage Museums": theMary Washington House, whereGeorge Washington's mother lived in her final years; the late 18th-centuryRising Sun Tavern, and theHugh Mercer Apothecary Shop (the fourth, the St. James House (built 1768), is open to the public only duringHistoric Garden Week). Important public buildings include the 1852 courthouse designed byJames Renwick, whose works include theSmithsonian Institution's castle building in Washington andSt. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, and the 1816 town hall and market house, now operated as the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. Another site of interest isSt. George's Church. The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library is located on the site where Monroe practiced law from 1786 to 1788. The museum is housed in a building made up of three individual structures, constructed at different times, beginning in 1816.
Near the historic district isKenmore, the plantation home of George Washington's sisterBetty and her husband,Fielding Lewis.
Civil War battles are commemorated inFredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Formed by an act of Congress in 1927, the national military park preserves portions of the battlefields ofFredericksburg,Chancellorsville,the Wilderness, andSpotsylvania Court House. TheFredericksburg National Cemetery, also part of the park, was developed by the federal government after the war on Marye's Heights on the Fredericksburg battlefield. It contains more than 15,000 Union burials from the area's battlefields. Many unidentified soldiers were buried in mass graves.
Among the 10,000 slaves crossing the Rappahannock for freedom with the Union in 1862 was John Washington. A literate slave from Fredericksburg, he settled in New York and wrote an account of the wartime events several years later. His manuscript was discovered in the 1990s. It was published as the basis of two books,David W. Blight'sA Slave No More (2007), andJohn Washington's Civil War: A Slave Narrative (2008), edited by Crandall Shifflett.[15] In 2010, the National Park Service, which manages the battlefield, Stafford County, and the City of Fredericksburg worked collaboratively to post new historical markers on either side of the Rappahannock River as part of a "Freedom Trail" to mark this exodus.[19]
Notable 20th-century sites and structures include the campus of theUniversity of Mary Washington (begun in 1908), andCarl's Ice Cream, an Art Moderne roadside ice cream stand, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Nearby points of interest includeFerry Farm historic site across the Rapahannock inStafford County where Washington spent his boyhood, and theGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument, located 38 miles (61 km) to the east inWestmoreland County on the Northern Neck. The historic community ofFalmouth lies across the Rappahannock to the north and includes the historic house Belmont, home of American Impressionist artistGari Melchers.
TheFredericksburg Nationals minor league baseball team began play atVirginia Credit Union Stadium in 2021.[39]
Sports at the secondary education level are run through theVirginia High School League. On the collegiate level are theUniversity of Mary Washington Eagles. Other amateur athletics includeFredericksburg FC of theNational Premier Soccer League (NPSL); and the Rappahannock Rugby Football Club, a senior men's and women's rugby club competing in Division II (men) and Division III (women) of the Capital Rugby Union.[citation needed]
Public parks run by the city include:[40]
By long-standing tradition (dating back to the FederalHatch Act of 1939, which prohibited government employees from participating in partisan politics), local elections in Fredericksburg are officially non-partisan. Neither the mayoral and council elections nor local constitutional positions (e.g. sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, Commonwealth Attorney) list candidates with a party label.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 272 | 34.21% | 523 | 65.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 402 | 41.57% | 562 | 58.12% | 3 | 0.31% |
| 1888 | 409 | 40.74% | 595 | 59.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1892 | 311 | 31.90% | 655 | 67.18% | 9 | 0.92% |
| 1896 | 388 | 41.41% | 533 | 56.88% | 16 | 1.71% |
| 1900 | 353 | 37.39% | 587 | 62.18% | 4 | 0.42% |
| 1904 | 124 | 25.83% | 352 | 73.33% | 4 | 0.83% |
| 1908 | 252 | 46.75% | 285 | 52.88% | 2 | 0.37% |
| 1912 | 51 | 9.01% | 414 | 73.14% | 101 | 17.84% |
| 1916 | 173 | 31.23% | 380 | 68.59% | 1 | 0.18% |
| 1920 | 299 | 33.48% | 581 | 65.06% | 13 | 1.46% |
| 1924 | 223 | 27.56% | 558 | 68.97% | 28 | 3.46% |
| 1928 | 697 | 53.99% | 594 | 46.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 366 | 30.73% | 812 | 68.18% | 13 | 1.09% |
| 1936 | 411 | 30.29% | 944 | 69.57% | 2 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 522 | 33.35% | 1,037 | 66.26% | 6 | 0.38% |
| 1944 | 698 | 38.93% | 1,092 | 60.90% | 3 | 0.17% |
| 1948 | 810 | 41.95% | 816 | 42.26% | 305 | 15.79% |
| 1952 | 1,536 | 61.20% | 970 | 38.65% | 4 | 0.16% |
| 1956 | 1,672 | 60.25% | 934 | 33.66% | 169 | 6.09% |
| 1960 | 1,566 | 53.72% | 1,326 | 45.49% | 23 | 0.79% |
| 1964 | 1,511 | 38.47% | 2,410 | 61.35% | 7 | 0.18% |
| 1968 | 2,142 | 42.27% | 2,036 | 40.17% | 890 | 17.56% |
| 1972 | 3,211 | 64.53% | 1,702 | 34.20% | 63 | 1.27% |
| 1976 | 2,527 | 49.07% | 2,550 | 49.51% | 73 | 1.42% |
| 1980 | 2,502 | 50.36% | 2,174 | 43.76% | 292 | 5.88% |
| 1984 | 3,500 | 58.60% | 2,439 | 40.83% | 34 | 0.57% |
| 1988 | 3,401 | 55.26% | 2,683 | 43.60% | 70 | 1.14% |
| 1992 | 2,819 | 40.98% | 3,266 | 47.48% | 794 | 11.54% |
| 1996 | 2,579 | 41.84% | 3,215 | 52.16% | 370 | 6.00% |
| 2000 | 2,935 | 43.93% | 3,360 | 50.29% | 386 | 5.78% |
| 2004 | 3,390 | 44.95% | 4,085 | 54.16% | 67 | 0.89% |
| 2008 | 3,413 | 35.27% | 6,155 | 63.60% | 109 | 1.13% |
| 2012 | 4,060 | 35.50% | 7,131 | 62.35% | 246 | 2.15% |
| 2016 | 3,744 | 33.26% | 6,707 | 59.58% | 806 | 7.16% |
| 2020 | 4,037 | 31.39% | 8,517 | 66.22% | 308 | 2.39% |
| 2024 | 4,480 | 32.99% | 8,760 | 64.52% | 338 | 2.49% |
Like the rest ofNorthern Virginia, Fredericksburg has trended stronglyDemocratic in the early 21st century. In the2008 presidential election, voters in Fredericksburg gaveBarack Obama a total of 63.6% of the vote.[43] OnlyArlington County,Alexandria, andFalls Church in Northern Virginia had a higher percentage of votes for Obama.[44] No Republican presidential candidate has carried Fredericksburg sinceGeorge H. W. Bush did so in1988. In the2016 presidential election, then-candidateDonald Trump garnered the lowest percentage of the city's vote for any Republican candidate since 1936; about two percent fewer votes were garnered in2020.
Fredericksburg operates with acouncil-manager government, with Kerry Devine as the current mayor, first elected in 2024.
The following is the current makeup of City Council.[45]
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Kerry Devine | Independent | At-Large | |
| Vice Mayor | Charlie Frye Jr. | Independent | Ward 4 | |
| Member | Jason Graham | Independent | Ward 1 | |
| Member | Jon Gerlach | Independent | Ward 2 | |
| Member | Susanna Finn | Independent | Ward 3 | |
| Member | Jannan Holmes | Independent | At-Large | |
| Member | Will Mackintosh | Independent | At-Large | |
The Fredericksburg City Public Schools are run independently of the surrounding counties. The public primary and secondary schools include:[46]
Private schools include:
TheUniversity of Mary Washington, established in 1908 and opened in 1911, is a four-year public university within the city.
Germanna Community College, established in 1970, is a public two-year program with a campus in Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg's daily newspaper isThe Free Lance–Star.The Free Lance was first published in 1885, and competed with two twice-weekly papers in the city during the late 19th century, theFredericksburg News andThe Virginia Star. While theNews folded in 1884, theStar moved to daily publication in 1893. In 1900, the two companies merged, with both newspapers continuing publication until 1926, when they merged as a single daily newspaper under the current title. Until June 19, 2014, theFree Lance–Star was owned and operated by members of the Rowe family of Fredericksburg. At that time, Sandton Capital Partners purchased the paper. On December 31, 2015, the newspaper and associated website were purchased byBerkshire Hathaway's BH Media Group.[48]Fredericksburg Today, an onlinehyperlocal news site began operation following the 2014 bankruptcy ofThe Free Lance–Star.[49] In 2024,Fredericksburg Today was replaced byThe Fredericksburg Free Press, a501(c)(3)nonprofit dedicated to providing impartial and nonpartisan digital news to the Fredericksburg region.[50][51]
Fredericksburg and the nearby region have several radio stations, including (on theFM dial)WQIQ (88.3, "Radio IQ", public radio, licensed to nearby Spotsylvania),WLJV (89.5, contemporary Christian),WPER (90.5, Christian),WFLS (93.3, country),WGRQ (95.9, "SuperHits", classic hits, licensed to nearby Fairview Beach),WWUZ (96.9, classic rock, licensed to nearby Bowling Green),WVBX (99.3, contemporary hit radio, licensed to nearby Spotsylvania),WBQB ("B-101.5", adult contemporary) andWGRX ("Thunder 104.5", country, licensed to nearby Falmouth). FredericksburgAM stations includeWFVA (1230, news and talk) andWNTX (1350, talk, news, and sports). WGRQ and WGRX are owned locally by Telemedia Broadcasting. WFLS, WWUZ, WVBX, and WNTX are owned byAlpha Media.[citation needed]
In 2001, theArbitron media service began listing the Fredericksburg area as a nationally rated radio market.[citation needed] As of the fall of 2014, the area ranked 146th out of 272 markets surveyed, with a total market population of more than 325,000. Large broadcast companies likeClear Channel Communications andCumulus Broadcasting are not active in the local market; almost all of its stations remain locally or regionally owned.[citation needed]
In television, Fredericksburg is part of the Washington market. One local television station,NBC affiliateWHFV, was briefly on the air in the 1970s.[citation needed]
From 1997 to 2005,Studio Ironcat, a small publishing company dedicated to publication ofmanga and later,Amerimanga, was based in Fredericksburg.[52][53]
Fredericksburg is traversed by a series of rural and suburban four-lane highways and a multitude of small, two-lane roads. The primary highway serving Fredericksburg isInterstate 95, which connects northward toWashington, D.C. and southward toRichmond, Virginia. Among the major arterial roads isU.S. Route 17, providing northwest–southeast transportation across the region. Through Fredericksburg, I-95 and US 17 are concurrent, though a localbusiness route on the latter provides local access to downtown.Route 3 (Plank Road) is a major east–west route that connects downtown Fredericksburg (via the Blue and Gray Parkway bypass), southern Stafford and King George counties, andRoute 301 to the east with the large shopping centers, Spotsylvania Town Center and Central Park. To the west, Route 3 reachesCulpeper, where it meetsRoute 29 andRoute 15.[citation needed]
Most of Fredericksburg's traffic flow is to or from the north (Washington, D.C. metropolitan area) during peak commuting hours, primarily via I-95 andU.S. Route 1. The Route 1 bridge over the Rappahannock River is often a traffic bottleneck, and Route 3 has become increasingly congested as residential development grows and as the location of major regional shopping centers.[citation needed]
As an alternative to I-95, some commuters use theVirginia Railway Express rail service to Washington. Long-distance rail service to the north is available onAmtrak'sNortheast Regional trains.[54] Long-distance rail service to the south is provided by Amtrak'sSilver Meteor,Carolinian,Palmetto andPiedmont trains[55]
Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) is a bus service that started in 1996 in Fredericksburg and serves most area communities, retail shopping centers, two VRE stations, and downtown Fredericksburg.[56]
Four major airports serve Fredericksburg and the surrounding area.Reagan National andDulles International Airports are to the north within Virginia. Beyond them to the northeast isBaltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland, andRichmond International Airport is south of Fredericksburg.
{{citation}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)In 1738, a 150-acre property just across the Rappahannock River from the fledgling town of Fredericksburg ... was sold ... to Augustine who moved the family there
In January of 1777, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson met with a small group to draft what would become the Bill to Establish Religious Freedom in Virginia.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.lived for a time in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where his brother had a business
he moved to Fredericksburg in the 1740s
Upon her marriage, Betty moved into a large brick house in Fredericksburg
Mercer worked as an apothecary and practiced medicine in Fredericksburg
James L. Farmer, 79, the founder of the Congress of Racial Equality and the moving force behind some of the most dramatic episodes of the civil rights era of the 1960s, died yesterday at a hospital in Fredericksburg, Va.
A delegation from Este, Italy is here. They are the city's newest sister city.
38°18′07″N77°28′15″W / 38.301829°N 77.470778°W /38.301829; -77.470778
Places adjacent to Fredericksburg, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
