George Mason University, located in unincorporated Fairfax County along Fairfax's southern border, is the largest public university inVirginia with 40,185 students as of 2023.[6]
The area now known as the City of Fairfax began as the Town of Providence, a rural crossroads and the administrative seat ofFairfax County in the early19th century. The town grew around the courthouse and developed as a local center for governance and commerce. In 1874, the town changed its name to Fairfax.[9]
Once inhabited by theManahoac andPiscataway peoples, the area that the city now encompasses was settled in the early 18th century by farmers from Virginia'sTidewater Region.[10][11][12][13] The town of "Providence" was established on the site by an act of the state legislature in 1805.[14]
On June 1, 1861, the first land battle of theCivil War, theBattle of Fairfax Court House, was fought in Fairfax after aUnion army scouting party clashed with the local militia; the outcome was indecisive with neither side gaining advantage. Asecond battle took place in Fairfax two years later, on June 27, 1863, in which Union troops were defeated, which delayed the movements ofConfederate cavalry chiefJeb Stuart with disastrous consequences forRobert E. Lee at the subsequentBattle of Gettysburg, the Civil War's bloodiest battle, which began several days later.[15]
In 1859, Fairfax was renamed the "Town of Fairfax".[14] It was incorporated as a town in 1874.[14] It was incorporated as a city in 1961 bycourt order.[14] Under Virginia law the city was separated from Fairfax County yet remains the county seat.[16]
Piney Branch Mill, part of the Hope Park estate of Edward Payne in the 1800s
The former Fairfax County Courthouse is the oldest historic building in Fairfax. The first Fairfax courthouse was established in 1742 near present-dayTysons, and is the namesake for Old Courthouse Road.[18] 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 thegallows at the old courthouse.[19]
In 1752, the courthouse was moved toAlexandria, 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 andRoute 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 fromPhiladelphia toWashington, 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 OldLittle River Turnpike at present-day Main Street and Ox Road onChain Bridge Road on land donated by town founder Richard Ratcliffe.[20]
The courthouse changed hands repeatedly during theAmerican Civil War. The firstConfederate officer battle casualty,John Quincy Marr, occurred on the grounds of the courthouse.[21] The first meeting of the Fairfax Court was held April 21, 1800.[22]: 45 The oldest two-story building in Fairfax, theFairfax Public School[b] was built in 1873 for $2,750.[23] In addition to elementary school use, the building has also housed special education, adult education, and police academy training.[24][25]: 144
On July 4, 1992, the building became the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center.[25]: 156–157 Joseph Edward Willard built the town hall building in 1900, and then gifted it to the town in 1902.[26]
The Old Town Hall now houses the Huddleston Library and the Fairfax Art League.[27]
While the city is the county seat, a small portion of the county comprising the courthouse complex, the jail, and a small area nearby is itself an exclave of the county within the city.[29][30][31] Fairfax County's Government Center is west of Fairfax.[32]
Fairfax city, 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.
Old Town Fairfax has undergone an extensive redevelopment, which began in 2005.[42] The redevelopment added a new Fairfax Regional Library, more than 45,000 square feet (4,200 m2) of retail and restaurant space, more than 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) of office condominiums, and 85 upscale residential condominium units.[43]
In May 2009, Fairfax was rated as No. 3 in the "Top 25 Places to Live Well" byForbes Magazine.[44] Forbes commended Fairfax for its strong public school system, high median salary, and a rate of sole proprietors per capita that ranks it in the top 1 percent nationwide. According to the magazine, "These factors are increasingly important in a recession. When businesses and jobs retract, as they have nationwide, municipalities with strong environments for start-ups, and those that offer attractive amenities, are better suited to recover from economic downtimes, as there are more business activity filling the void."
The 2010 4th of July parade, including theClifton Horse Society
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.[47]
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.[48]
Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts
Each April, Fairfax, in cooperation withGeorge 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.[49]
National Trails Day
In June, a National Trails Day is held to celebrate the trails, open spaces and parks in the Fairfax.[50]
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 #3, and a live concert and fireworks display atFairfax High School.[51]
Irish Festival
In September, a festival of Irish and Celtic song, dance and music is held in and around Old Town Fairfax.[52]
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 atGeorge Mason University and throughout theWashington 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.[53]
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.[54]
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.[55]
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.[56]
As an independent city of Virginia, rather than an incorporated town within a county, Fairfax derives its governing authority from theVirginia General Assembly. In order to revise the power and structure of the city government, the city must request the General Assembly to amend the charter. The present charter was granted in 1966.[14] Anexclave of Fairfax County is located within Fairfax.[30][31]
United States presidential election results for Fairfax, Virginia[57]
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.[14] 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 theU.S. President,U.S. Vice President, twoU.S. Senators (six-year terms), and oneU.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."[58] The detective then arranged a meeting with Silverthorne and two other men, in which they agreed to exchange methamphetamine. At the meeting inTysons, 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.[58] He announced his resignation on Monday, August 8, 2016, in a letter to the City Council.[59]
Silverthorne maintains that he was not distributing methamphetamine for sex, and he was not tried for any sexual crimes.[60]
In December 2024 the recipients of the City's new Nonprofit Grants Program[61] were named.[62] 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:
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.
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.*[63]
Theschool division for the city is Fairfax City Public Schools.[64] The public schools in the City of Fairfax are owned by the city but administered by theFairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system under contractual agreement with Fairfax County. This arrangement began to be in place in 1961.[65] Fairfax schools includeFairfax High School, Katherine Johnson Middle School, formerly Lanier Middle School,[66] Daniels Run Elementary School, Providence Elementary School, and Fairfax Academy.[67]
Schools within the city that are not owned by the city government include the Boyd School,[f] Gesher Jewish Day School, Kellar School ofInova Kellar Center,[g] Lee HighwayKinderCare,[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][68]
George Mason University, the largest university inVirginia, is located just south of Fairfax's city limits,[69] with a small portion of the university grounds in the Fairfax city limits.[70]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 theUniversity of Virginia named the Northern Virginia University Center of the University of Virginia.[71] 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.[72] The university is most known for its programs ineconomics,law,creative writing,computer science, andbusiness.[73] George Mason University faculty have twice won theNobel Prize in Economics. George Mason University economics professorsJames M. Buchanan andVernon L. Smith won it in 1986 and 2002, respectively.[74]
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.[75]
The intersection ofU.S. Route 50 andU.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 andState 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.
In February 2019, the city has launched a one-year pilot program for e-scooters and other dockless transportation.[78] Three micro-mobility companies have been chosen to run the pilot,Bird company,[79] Lime, and Spin.
^"George Mason University Key Facts For 2017"(PDF). Office of Government & Community Relations, George Mason University. December 20, 2016.Archived(PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. RetrievedJune 26, 2019.
^abNetherton, Nan; et al. (1997).Fairfax, Virginia: A City Traveling Through Time. Fairfax, VA: Fairfax, VA: History of the City of Fairfax Round Table.ISBN0-914927-26-4.
Mann, C. Harrison (1832–1979).C. Harrison Mann, Jr. papers. Arlington County, Virginia: George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center. RetrievedFebruary 23, 2017.
Finley, John Norville Gibson (July 1, 1952).Progress Report of the Northern Virginia University Center(PDF). Archived fromthe original(PDF) on February 20, 2017."The report that follows is a progress report on the Northern Virginia University Center since its beginnings in 1949 by its Local Director, Professor J. N. G. Finley." George B. Zehmer, Director Extension Division University of Virginia
^"Biographical Data".Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Houston, Texas: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. February 11, 2015. RetrievedApril 9, 2017.
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