Prince William County, Virginia
| Prince William County, Virginia | ||
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 Location in the state of Virginia |
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 Virginia's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1731 | |
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| Seat | Manassas | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
348 sq mi (901 km²) 338 sq mi (875 km²) 11 sq mi (28 km²), 3.04% |
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| PopulationEst. - (2009) - Density |
394,370 831/sq mi (321/km²) |
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| Website | www.pwcgov.org | |
Prince William County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The estimated population in 2009 of the county was 394,370. Its county seat is the independent city of Manassas[1]. It is part of Northern Virginia and is one of the highest-income counties in the United States.
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History
When Captain John Smith and other English explored the upper Potomac beginning in 1608, they reported that the area within present Prince William was occupied by the Doeg tribe. The Doegs still maintained several villages in this area into the 1650s, when colonists began to patent the land.
Prince William County was created by an act of the General Assembly of the colony of Virginia in 1731, largely from the western section of Stafford County as well as a section of King George County.[2] The area encompassed by the Act creating Prince William County originally included all of what later became Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, the City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park (and the various incorporated towns therein). The County was named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, the third son of King George II.
The County was a rural community for years and the population was centered in two areas, one at Manassas (home to a major railroad junction), the other near Occoquan and Woodbridge along the Potomac River. Beginning in the late 1930s, a larger suburban population grew up near the existing population centers, particularly in Manassas. The town's post-World War II growth led it to become an independent city in 1975. Beginning in the late 1960s, the County began transitioning into a bedroom community of Washington, DC and its population expanded dramatically to the point where, by the end of the 20th century, it was the third most populous local jurisdiction in Virginia. Much of this growth has taken place in the last twenty years.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 348 square miles (902 km²), of which 338 square miles (875 km²) is land and 11 square miles (27 km²) (3.04%) is water. It is bounded on the north by Loudoun and Fairfax counties; on the west by Fauquier County; on the south by Stafford County; and on the east by the Potomac River (Charles County, Maryland lies across the river).
Adjacent jurisdictions
- Loudoun County, Virginia - North
- Fairfax County, Virginia - North-East
- Charles County, Maryland - South-East
- Stafford County, Virginia - South
- Fauquier County, Virginia - West
- Manassas, Virginia - Center (enclave)
- Manassas Park, Virginia - Center (enclave)
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Loudoun County | Fairfax County | |
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| Fauquier County |  |
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 Prince William County, Virginia  |
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| Stafford County | Charles County, Maryland |
National protected areas
- Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge
- Manassas National Battlefield Park
- Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- Prince William Forest Park
Government and politics
The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Brentsville, Coles, Dumfries, Gainesville, Neabsco, Occoquan, and Woodbridge. The magisterial districts each elect one supervisor to the Board of Supervisors which governs Prince William County. There is also a Chairman elected by the county at-large, bringing total Board membership to 8; this may increase after the 2010 census when an eighth magisterial district is likely to be added. A Vice-Chairman is selected by the Board from amongst its membership. The current Chairman is Corey A. Stewart, who previously served as the Occoquan District Supervisor. The current Vice-Chairman is Michael C. May, the Occoquan District Supervisor. The County operates under the county form of the County Executive system of government, with an elected Board of Supervisors. The Board then appoints a professional, nonpartisan County Executive to manage government agencies.
The county earned a "B-" transparency score for disclosure of its government data from Sunshine Review.[3]
Republicans hold six of the eight seats on the Board of Supervisors as well as the offices of County Sheriff and Clerk of the Court. No Democrat has chaired the Board of County Supervisors since Kathleen Seefeldt left office in January 2000. Republicans hold two of the three U.S. Congressional seats (VA-1 and VA-10). that include parts of Prince William County and control four of the five Virginia House of Delegates seats that include parts of the County. Republican delegates include Robert G. Marshall, Scott Lingamfelter, Jeff Frederick and Jackson Miller. Paul Nichols is the democratic member of the House. The three of county's Virginia State Senate seats are held by Democrats and one by a Republican, including Democratic Sen. Charles Colgan, the President pro tempore of the Senate. In 2005, Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Timothy M. Kaine won the county with 49.95% of the vote. In 2006, Democratic U.S. Senator candidate Jim Webb carried the county with 50.51% of the vote. The Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney, Paul Ebert, is also a Democrat. The Sheriff, Glen Hill, is a Republican as is the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Michèle McQuigg.
The County has had several special elections since 2006. That year, the then-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Sean Connaughton, was appointed as head of the U.S. Maritime Administration by President George W. Bush. Recently Sean Connaughton was appointed as Virginia Secretary of Transportation by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. A special election to fill the vacancy was called for the same day as the U.S. Senate election between Jim Webb and George F. Allen. Occoquan District Supervisor Stewart won the election and a special election was called for January 2007 to fill the vacancy in the Occoquan District. Mr. Stewart's successor for the Occoquan District was Michael C. May, a fellow Republican.
In the United States presidential election of 2008, Democrat Barack Obama carried Prince William with 57.51% of the vote, compared to Republican John McCain who received 41.62%. Obama's final rally the night before the election was held at the Prince William County Fairgrounds, just outside the city of Manassas.[4]
| Position | Name | Affiliation | First Election | District | |
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| Chairman | Corey A. Stewart | Republican | 2003 | At-Large | |
| Supervisor | W.S. Wally Covington, III | Republican | 2003 | Brentsville | |
| Supervisor | Martin E. Nohe | Republican | 2003 | Coles | |
| Supervisor | Maureen S. Caddigan | Republican | 1995 | Dumfries | |
| Supervisor | John T. Stirrup, Jr. | Republican | 2003 | Gainesville | |
| Supervisor | John D. Jenkins | Democrat | 1982 | Neabsco | |
| Supervisor | Michael C. May | Republican | 2007 | Occoquan | |
| Supervisor | Frank J. Principi | Democrat | 2007 | Woodbridge | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | First Election | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheriff | Glendell Hill | Republican | 2004 | County Wide | |
| Commonwealth's Attorney | Paul B. Ebert | Democrat | 1968 | County Wide | |
| Clerk of Circuit Court | Michèle B. McQuigg | Republican | 2008 | County Wide | |
Education
Public schools
Prince William County Public Schools is the second largest school system in Virginia (having recently overtaken Virginia Beach City Public Schools).[5] The system consists of around 62 elementary, 15 middle, and 12 high public schools, as well as a virtual high school, two traditional schools, five special education schools, and two alternative schools. The Superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools is Steven L. Walts.
The system has a television station called PWCS-TV. It is programmed and operated by Prince William County Public Schools' Media Production Services Department and is accessible to Comcast and Verizon subscribers in Prince William County.
Edulink Intouch Online is a parent-school communication system that allows secure access to student information such as school attendance and grades.
Colleges
- Northern Virginia Community College
Universities
- George Mason University
- Strayer University
- University of Northern Virginia
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 11,112 |
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| 1910 | 12,026 | 8.2% | |
| 1920 | 13,660 | 13.6% | |
| 1930 | 13,951 | 2.1% | |
| 1940 | 17,738 | 27.1% | |
| 1950 | 22,612 | 27.5% | |
| 1960 | 50,164 | 121.8% | |
| 1970 | 111,102 | 121.5% | |
| 1980 | 144,636 | 30.2% | |
| 1990 | 215,686 | 49.1% | |
| 2000 | 280,813 | 30.2% | |
| Est. 2009 | 394,370 | 40.4% | |
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 280,813 people, 94,570 households, and 72,724 families residing in the county. The population density was 831 people per square mile (321/km²). There were 98,052 housing units at an average density of 290 per square mile (112/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.93% White, 18.76% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 3.81% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 4.35% from other races, and 3.62% from two or more races. 9.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
By 2005 non-Hispanic whites were 54.2% of Prince William County's population. 19.4% of the population was African-American. 0.5% was Native American. 6.4% of the population was Asian American. The growth of the Asian population was, numerically and as a percentage of the total population in this subgroup, dwarfed by the growth of the Latino population, which made up 18.0% of the county's total population by 2005.
There were 94,570 households, out of which 44.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.32.
In the county, the population distribution included 30.40% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 35.20% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 4.80% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $65,960, and the median income for a family was $71,622. Males had a median income of $45,595, compared to $34,286 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,641. About 3.30% of families and 4.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.60% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.
Sports
The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Nationals play in the high-A Carolina League and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Northern Virginia Royals are an American minor league soccer team, also located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Royals have minor league affiliation with D.C. United, Washington, DC Major League Soccer franchise.
Located in Manassas is the historic Old Dominion Speedway. Opened in 1948, it was the location of the first commercial drag race held on the East Coast. It was also a stop on the NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) schedule in the late 50's and early 60's. It still holds weekly drag races and NASCAR-sanctioned races.
Museums
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the new historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. It is located in Triangle, Virginia and is free to the public.
National Parks
Prince William Forest Park
Prince William Forest Park was established as Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area in 1936 and is located in eastern Prince William County, Virginia. The park is the largest protected natural area in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region at over 15,000 acres (61 km²).
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park, located north of Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia, preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles: the First Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861, and the Second Battle of Manassas which was fought between August 28 and August 30, 1862. These battles are commonly referred to as the first and second battles of Bull Run outside the South.
County Parks
Prince William County Park Authority
The Prince William County Park Authority[7], founded in 1977 by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, provides the residents and visitors with recreational programs, parks and facilities. The park authority is an autonomous organization governed by an eight member board appointed by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and funded by a tax transfer and revenue producing facilities. The park board appoints an executive director to act as the Chief Administrative Officer and to execute the board's policies and programs.
Transportation
Airports
- Washington Dulles International Airport
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Manassas Regional Airport
- Stafford Regional Airport
Public Bus Service
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) is the public transportation system in Prince William County, Virginia. Services provided by PRTC include OmniRide, OmniLink, and OmniMatch.
Commuter Rail Service
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is a commuter rail service that connects the Northern Virginia area with Washington, DC. Both VRE lines have three stations each in Prince William County. The Manassas line has the Manassas Park, Manassas, and Broad Run / Airport stations. The Fredericksburg line has the Woodbridge, Rippon, and Quantico stations.[8]
Major highways
Interstate 66
Interstate 95
U.S. 1
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 29
State Route 28
State Route 123
State Route 234
Prince William Parkway
Towns and other localities
Incorporated towns
Four incorporated towns are located within Prince William County:
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Unincorporated communities
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Extinct towns/communities
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Independent cities
The independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park are surrounded by Prince William County. Prince William, Manassas Park, and Manassas are combined for purposes of criminal, traffic, civil, and juvenile and domestic relations courts within Circuit 31. The Courthouse Complex itself is located in a Prince William County enclave surrounded by the City of Manassas. The County Government Administration Complex is in the unincorporated community of Woodbridge. Its mailing address is 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192.
Other important features
- Prince William Forest Park, the largest National Park Service property in the Washington, D.C., region
- Leesylvania State Park, the ancestral home of the Lee family. The park offers a range of recreational activities and beautiful views of the river.
- Marine Corps Base Quantico, a large military installation
- Manassas National Battlefield Park, an important Civil War battlefield
- Jiffy Lube Live, a large concert venue
- Potomac Mills, the 10th most popular tourist destination in Virginia and largest outlet mall in the region.
- Old Dominion Speedway, A race track near Manassas, VA featuring a 1/8th mile drag strip, and a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8 mile high banked oval track
See also
- Prince William County Public Schools
- Prince William County Police Department
- Prince William County Sheriff's Office
- Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue
- Splash Down Water Park
References
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Legislation creating Prince William County, Virginia, in 1730". Historic Prince William. http://www.historicprincewilliam.org/creation.html. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ↑ Inside Nova, Prince William County earns B-minus from Sunshine group, July 8, 2010
- ↑ Thousands gathering for Obama's final rally Retrieved February 18, 2010
- ↑ "Northern Virginia rises to dominance". The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia). 2007-12-31. http://hamptonroads.com/2007/12/northern-virginia-rises-dominance. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ Prince William County Park Authority Retrieved April 14, 2010
- ↑ VRE Station Map Retrieved 08/09/2009
External links
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Commonwealth of