Stafford County, Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stafford County, Virginia | |
 |
|
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Virginia |
|
 Virginia's location in the USA |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1664 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Stafford |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
725 km² (280 mi²) 700 km² (270 mi²) 25 km² (10 mi²), 3.43% |
| Population - (2005) - Density |
117,874 342/km² |
| Website: www.co.stafford.va.us | |
Stafford County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446. Its county seat is Stafford6. As of 2005, the current population is estimated at 117,874. The 27.5% increase is the third largest increase in population in Virginia since 2000.
This county is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Contents |
[edit] History
Stafford County was established by the British colonial government of Virginia in 1664 from territory previously part of Westmoreland County, and originally encompassed the majority of Northern Virginia (and as such, the county once included the areas which later became Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Prince William County). The county is named for Staffordshire, England and is the sister city of Stafford, England.
Pocahontas, the Indian princess, was kidnapped at Marlborough Point in the eastern part of the county and taken to Jamestown.
George Washington spent much of his childhood in the lower part of the county on his family's home, Ferry Farm, along the Rappahannock River across from the city of Fredericksburg. It was during this time that George supposedly cut down the legendary cherry tree. Colonial Forge High School was built on a tract of land owned by his father, Augustine Washington.
Aquia Episcopal Church, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1757 and remains open today.
During the Revolutionary War the Stafford iron works furnished arms for the American soldiers.
Aquia sandstone quarried from Stafford's Government Island was used to build the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
More than 100,000 troops occupied Stafford during the American Civil War for several years. The Battle of Aquia Creek took place in Stafford in the Aquia Harbour area.
In Falmouth, a town in the southern part of Stafford County bordering Fredericksburg, is Belmont, home to the late-19th century artist Gari Melchers.
Stafford County today is considered part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and many residents commute north on Interstate Highway 95, U.S. Route 1, and Virginia Railway Express.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 725 km² (280 mi²). 700 km² (270 mi²) of it is land and 25 km² (10 mi²) of it (3.43%) is water. The Potomac River flows along part of the eastern border of the county, while the Rappahannock River runs along the extent of the county's southern border. It is bounded on the north by Prince William County, on the south by Culpeper County, Spotsylvania County, and Caroline County and the independent city of Fredericksburg; on the east by King George County and, across the Potomac River, by Charles County, Maryland; and bounded on the west by Fauquier County.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2005, there were 117,874 people, 38,237 households, and 24,481 families residing in the county. The population density was 132/km² (342/mi²). There were 31,405 housing units at an average density of 45/km² (116/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.00% White, 15.6% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. 5.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 38,187 households out of which 46.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.00% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.90% were non-families. 13.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the county, the population was spread out with 31.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 33.70% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $75,546, and the median income for a family was $78,575. Males had a median income of $47,080 versus $31,469 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,762. About 2.40% of families and 3.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
- Ferry Farm
- Belmont
- Aquia Church
- Chatham Manor
- Celebrate Virginia
[edit] Local newspapers
- The Free Lance-Star
- The Stafford County Sun
[edit] Localities
[edit] Geographical
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Zip Codes
- 22405, 22406, 22554, 22556
[edit] Major bodies of water
[edit] External links
|
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||
| Stafford • North Stafford • Brooke Point • Colonial Forge • Mountain View | |||||||
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Edward E. Drew • T. Benton Gayle • Stafford • Andrew G. Wright • H.H. Poole • Rodney Thompson • Dixon-Smith |
||||||
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anne E. Moncure • Stafford • Grafton Village • Falmouth • Hartwood • Garrisonville • Widewater • Rockhill • Park Ridge • Ferry Farm • Hampton Oaks • Winding Creek • Rocky Run • Kate Waller Barrett • Conway • Margaret Brent • Anthony Burns |
||||||
