Welcome to Fairfax, Virginia
History
Nestled in the heart of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax is known for its quality of life, superior school system, diverse cultural events, and beautiful homes conveniently located near our nation’s capital. In 2009, Forbes Magazine ranked Fairfax for its strong public school system, high median income, and growing sole proprietors as Number 3 in the “Top 25 Places to Live Well.”
The city derives its name from Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, who was awarded five million acres in land in Northern Virginia by King Charles. The first settlers in the 1800s were migrating farmers, part of the Virginia Tidewater region. Since its settlement, Fairfax contributed to the nation’s history by hosting the scene of the first land battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Fairfax Court House in 1861.
Much later, in the 1950s, the residential population boomed, helped by growth and expansion of George Mason University and businesses in the surrounding areas. As of 2010, there were 1,081,726 people, 350,714 households, and 250,409 families residing in the county.
Living in Fairfax
Fairfax is known for a variety of festivities to cater all tastes. Fairfax hosts recurring monthly and yearly events that encourage its citizens to enjoy the city and the people around them. These cultural activities include:
- Fairfax Farmers’ Market
- Chocolate Lover’s Festival
- Fairfax Civil War Day
- Spotlight on the Arts Festival
- National Trains Day
- Independence Day Celebration
- Irish Festival
- Fall for the Book Festival
- Festival of Lights & Carols
- and so many more!
In addition to Fairfax festivals, residents enjoy the large amount of local parks and golf courses in the area. The Fairfax county has many protected areas, a total of over 390 county parks on more than 23,000 acres. The county also maintains many miles of bike trails running through county parks, adjacent to roads and through towns such as Vienna and Herndon. The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail runs through Fairfax County, offering one of the region’s best, and safest, routes for recreational walking and biking. In addition, nine miles of the Mount Vernon Trail runs through Fairfax County along the Potomac River.
The Army Navy Country Club offers challenging fairways, elegant dining venues, swimming pools, a fitness center, and tennis courts for members to enjoy. The country club attracts active duty and retired members of the armed forces, as well as civilian membership.
Fairfax’s shopping destinations include Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center, Fair City Mall, and Fairfax Shopping Center.
For additional activities within Fairfax, please visit the Virginia is For Lovers – Fairfax Page
Award-Winning Schools
Students in Fairfax attend Fairfax County Public Schools, which have been recognized for high on-time graduation rates, student diversity, and merit scholarship recipients.
Fairfax is also home to great colleges and universities. George Mason University, the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is located just to the south of the Fairfax city limits. Northern Virginia Community College, the second largest multi-campus community college in the United States, and the largest educational institution in Virginia, has its Annandale Campus immediately to the east of the city limits.
Buying or Selling Your Home in Fairfax?
When it comes to making the tradition to your new home, whether you’re relocating to Fairfax or selling your property, having the right tools and advice on your side can make all the difference. Use my 20 years of real estate experience to your advantage, and let’s discuss your unique Fairfax home buying or home selling needs.
To learn more about Fairfax County, please visit their county page at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov
Source Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax,_Virginia
