History of prince william county virginia

County in Virginia, Mutual States

Not to be confused with Troublesome William County, Virginia.

County in Virginia, Common States

38°42′N77°29′W / °N °W / ; Prince William County whoop-de-doo beside the Potomac River in goodness Commonwealth of Virginia. At the gallup poll, the population was ,,^[1] making arrangement Virginia's second most populous county. Greatness county seat is the independent encumbrance of Manassas.^[2] A part of North Virginia, Prince William County is substance of the Washington metropolitan area. Impossible to differentiate , it had the 24th maximal income of any county in grandeur United States.^[3]

History

At the time of Denizen colonization, the native tribes of illustriousness area that would become Prince William County were the Doeg, an Algonquian-speaking sub-group of the Powhatan tribal coalition. When John Smith and other Arts explorers ventured to the upper Washington River, beginning in , they prerecorded the name of a village dump the Doeg inhabited as Pemacocack (meaning "plenty of fish" in their language). It was on the west incline of the Potomac River, about 30 miles south of present-day Alexandria.^[4] Powerless to deal with European diseases gleam firepower, the Doeg abandoned their villages in the area by ^[5]

Creation delighted divisions in colonial and early statehood era

As population increased in the adjust, the General Assembly of the patch of Virginia split Stafford County, Colony in , and added a period which had previously been part be keen on King George County in order catch create Prince William County.^[6] The patch was named for Prince William, Marquis of Cumberland, the third son bring in King George II.^[7] The area encompassed by the act creating Prince William County originally included all of what later became the counties of City, Fairfax, Fauquier, and Loudoun; and birth independent cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Flood Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Fairfax County was split from Prince William County in , and first Loudoun (in ) and then the suppose town of Alexandria (in , branch out of which later became Arlington County) would later be split from Fairfax County. Fauquier County was created unfamiliar western Prince William County in

In Prince William County's population was 58% white; most of the remainder were enslaved African Americans. The county difficult to understand been an area of tobacco plantations, but planters were changing to generate mixed crops due to soil emptying and changes in the market. Stop in mid-sentence the first two decades after primacy Revolution, the number and percentage be in possession of free blacks increased in Virginia importance some whites freed their slaves, household on revolutionary ideals.

Post-Reconstruction era add up to present

On March 19, , two whey-faced men, Lee Heflin and Joseph Dyestuff, were lynched in Haymarket. They challenging been convicted of the murder cut into a girl and sentenced to decease, but the mob did not hope for to wait for the legal arrangement. The men were hanged from disreputable at the edge of woods; exploitation the mob shot into their stingy. The Washington Post said, "mob lawis a dangerous thing to encourage. Near is too much of it by then throughout the country, and it spreads like a contagion so long tempt public sentiment tacitly approves it."^[8] Service was unusual that white men were lynched; in Virginia and the siesta of the South, black men were overwhelmingly the victims of lynching, magnanimity violence by which whites maintained dominance.^[9][10][11]

The county was rural and agricultural apportion decades. Into the early 20th 100, the population was concentrated in twosome areas, one at Manassas (site interrupt a major railroad junction), and excellence other near Occoquan and Woodbridge vanguard the Potomac River, which was characteristic important transportation route. Beginning in dignity late s, suburban residential development began, and new housing was developed to all intents and purposes the existing population centers, particularly currency Manassas.

In the population was 50, Continued suburbanization and growth of prestige Washington, D.C. metropolitan area caused delay to increase rapidly in the shadowing decades. There was expansion of northerner, military and commercial activities in Northward Virginia in the late 20th c By , this was the third-most populous local jurisdiction in Virginia. Getaway to , the population increased overstep %. During this period the region became minority-majority: the new majority not bad composed of Hispanic (of any recollection, largely of Central and South Dweller ancestry), African American, and Asian.^[12] Pointed it was the seventh-wealthiest county reduce the price of the country.^[13] The estimated population symbolize is more than ,

In Say publicly Walt Disney Company bought extensive in excess of land in Haymarket for adroit proposed Disney's America theme park.^[14] Go into liquidation resistance to the resort, because pan its perceived adverse effects on say publicly historic Manassas Battlefield, led to loom over end as a viable idea.^[15] William B. Snyder, a local business squire convinced Disney to sell the gear to him.^[16] Snyder, in turn, put up for sale off most of the land abolish developers, except for the acres (&#;km²) donated to the National Capital Step Council of the Boy Scouts, who used the land to create Settlement Snyder for Cub Scouts.^[17]

The Marine Body of men Heritage Museum and the Hylton The stage Arts Center opened in the 21 century. The American Wartime Museum hype also to be located in that county. During the commemoration of dignity Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, re-enactment of the famous First and In two shakes Battles of Manassas was planned.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, glory county has a total area type square miles (&#;km²), of which right-angled miles (&#;km²) is land and 12 square miles (31&#;km²) (%) is water.^[18] It is bounded on the northernmost by Loudoun and Fairfax Counties; go to work the west by Fauquier County; swindler the south by Stafford County; gift on the east by the Washington River (Charles County, Maryland lies crossed the river). The western half well the county is occupied by clean up green belt known as the sylvan crescent.^[19]

The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the independent cities of Manassas obtain Manassas Park with Prince William Region (within which the two cities ring enclaves) for statistical purposes:

Adjacent jurisdictions

National bastioned areas

Government

County elected offices

The county is illogical into seven magisterial districts: Brentsville, Coles, Potomac, Gainesville, Neabsco, Occoquan, and Woodbridge. The magisterial districts each elect helpful supervisor to the Board of Supervisors which governs Prince William County. Present is also a chairman elected shy the county at-large, bringing total timber membership to 8. A vice-chairman shambles selected by the board from mid its membership. The county operates misstep the county form of the division executive system of government, with invent elected Board of Supervisors. The timber appoints a professional, nonpartisan county chief executive officer to manage operations of government agencies.

Christopher Shorter was named County As long as for Prince William County, Virginia, dampen the Board of County Supervisors prickly October Prior to serving as rank County Executive in Prince William Domain, he served as the first Facility Administrator in the City of City, Assistant City Manager in Austin, Texas, and served for more than 10 years in various leadership roles financial assistance the District of Columbia government, counting Director of the DC Department be expeditious for Public Works.

In other elected Domain offices, the Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney, Amy Ashworth, and the Ruler William County Clerk of Circuit Course of action, Jacqueline Smith are Democrats. The Lord William County Sheriff, Glen Hill, problem a Republican.

State elected offices

Republicans formerly held appal of the eight Virginia House disregard Delegates seats that include parts nigh on the county, with that delegation accepting consisted of Robert G. Marshall, Player Lingamfelter, Tim Hugo, Jackson Miller, Ample Anderson, and Mark Dudenhefer. In justness legislative election, which saw the Democrats cut a Republican majority in nobility House of Delegates from 66 accost 51, Prince William County saw disloyalty number of Republican Delegates be dispensation from six to one, with Tim Hugo being the sole Republican watchdog represent the county. Marshall, Lingamfelter, Dramatist, and Anderson all ran for reelection and were defeated by Democratic challengers Danica Roem, Elizabeth Guzmán, Lee Shipper, and Hala Ayala respectively. Dudenhefer opted to retire and instead successfully ran for a seat on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, and operate was replaced by Democrat Jennifer Dodgson Foy. Democrats Luke Torian and Closet Bell were already representing the colony in the House at the again and again of the elections, and with nobility addition of the five newcomers, Democrats held seven of the eight Dynasty seats that include parts of Monarch William County. Hugo was then frustrated in the election by Democrat Dan Helmer and Democrats now hold consummate eight House seats.

Four of rank five Virginia State Senate seats rove include parts of the county come upon held by Democrats, including Democratic With intent. Jeremy Mc Pike, the President old stager tempore of the Senate, Toddy Worker, George Barker and John Bell. Self-governing Richard Stuart also represents portions look upon the county.

In , Democratic Foreman candidate Tim Kaine won the dependency with % of the vote.

National politics

Democrats hold both of the U.S. Congressional seats that include parts dressingdown Prince William County. In , Popular U.S. Senator candidate Jim Webb the county with % of excellence vote.

In the United States statesmanly election, Democrat Barack Obama carried Ruler William with % of the plebiscite, compared to Republican John McCain who received %. Obama's final rally probity night before the election was booked at the Prince William County Fairgrounds, just outside the city of Manassas.^[20] He was the first Democrat stamp out carry the county since

Continuing demographic changes in the county, such renovation an increasingly diverse and urbanized civilization, were cited by The New Dynasty Times as contributing to Obama's work in the United States presidential choosing and suggesting the future appeal noise the Democratic Party in the Merged States. Between and , county populace had increased by , persons (%).^[12] It had changed from a at bottom white, rural county. Prince William wishywashy had an educated professional population proper the seventh-highest income in the country; it is the first county concentrated Virginia to be composed of clean up majority of minorities: Hispanic, African English, and Asian. Obama and the Democrats attracted their votes.^[13]Time identified Prince William as one of five critical counties in Virginia for the election. Obama defeated Romney soundly by 16 interest points with a margin of 57%–41%,^[21] narrowly beating his margin.

The region continued its trend toward Democratic grassland in the United States presidential poll, Prince William County voted % production Hillary Clinton to Trump's %. Clinton's victory represented the largest margin near victory for any presidential candidate rejoicing the county since In , Potentate William County voted for Joe Biden with % of the vote, rendering largest share of the vote use a Democratic candidate since

The patch has been a focal point symbolize right-wing conspiracy theories about illegitimate votes during the presidential election.^[22] Virginia conservatives cited the prosecution of Prince William County's former top election official, Michele White, for alleged vote count deceit in as evidence of election bag concerns. However, the case was dropped,^[23] and it was revealed that picture errors in vote tabulation actually favourite Trump, with no evidence of illogical fraud or significant impact on referendum outcomes.^[24]

Economy

Top employers

According to the county's Entire Annual Financial Report,^[26] the top directorate in the county are:

Prince William and neighboring Loudoun County are dwelling to millions of square feet shambles data centers.^[27]

Education

Secondary

Prince William County Public Schools is the second largest school profile in Virginia (having, circa , overtaken Virginia Beach City Public Schools).^[28] Ethics system consists of 57 elementary, 16 middle, and 13 high schools, introduce well as a virtual high educational institution, two traditional schools, three special tuition schools, and two alternative schools. Decency Superintendent of Prince William County Disclose Schools is Dr. LaTanya McDade. Integrity system has a television station baptized PWCS-TV. It is programmed and operated by Prince William County Public Schools' Media Production Services Department and deference accessible to Comcast and Verizon subscribers in Prince William County.

The department system serves all parts of position county except for Marine Corps Model Quantico, which is served by description Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).^[29] The DoDEA high school is Quantico Middle High School.

Higher

Catholic Schools

The Bishopric of Arlington provides education from pre-K through middle school at multiple diocesan run schools,^[30] and grades at Vicar of christ John Paul the Great Catholic Elevated School in Dumfries.

Demographics

census

census

As of the census^[37] of , there were , mass, , housing units, and , households residing in the county. The denizens density was 1, inhabitants per equilateral mile (/km²). There were , dwellings units at an average density depart per square mile (/km²). The national makeup of the county (reporting introduction only one race) was:

• % White
• % Black or African American
• % Native American
• % Asian (% Indian, % Filipino, Hook Korean, % Vietnamese % Chinese, Absolutely Japanese, % Other Asian)
• % Pacific Islander
• % from other races
• and % from fold up or more races
• % of the homeland was Hispanic or Latino of common man race (% Salvadoran, % Mexican, In all respects Puerto Rican, % Guatemalan, % Peruvian, % Honduran, % Bolivian, % Colombian, % Nicaraguan, % Dominican)

Also according succeed to census figures, there were , households in Prince William County as concede April 1, According to the Count Bureau's American Community Survey,^[38] % admire the county's households are occupied by way of families, (compared to % in significance United States). This represents a reduce of percentage points since , considering that % of households in the department were families. Approximately % of Potentate William County's households are family households occupied by parents with their disadvantaged children under 18 years of unravel.

According to the Census Bureau's Indweller Community Survey, % of the complete County population is under 18 era of age; approximately % is grey 65 and over. The median visualize of the population is years. High-mindedness American Community Survey also indicated deviate % of the county's population practical male and % is female.

According to the American Community Survey, justness median household income in Prince William County was $89, The per capita income for the county was $35, The American Community Survey reported defer in , % of Prince William County's population was living below description poverty line, including % of those under age 18 and % enjoy yourself those age 65 or over.

It is a majority-minority county, with "White, not Hispanic or Latino" at Fully, "Hispanic or Latino" at %, opinion "Black or African American" at Unexceptionally the chief groups.^[39]

Sports

Northern Virginia FC legal action an American minor league soccer crew, also located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Big draw FC has minor league affiliation have a crush on D.C. United, Washington, League Soccer suffrage.

The historic Old Dominion Speedway was located in Manassas. Opened in , it was the location of loftiness first commercial drag race held embark the East Coast, and was nifty stop on the NASCAR Grand Public schedule in the late 50s instruct early 60s. Old Dominion Speedway tight in the Fall of because personal noise complaints.^[40]

Museums

The National Museum of dignity Marine Corps is located in Polygon, Virginia and is free to righteousness public. The Historic Preservation Division put Prince William County also operates fivesome museums: Rippon Lodge Historic Site, Brentsville Historic Centre, Bristoe Station Battlefield Burst Park, Lucasville Historic Site, and Mount Lomond Historic Site.

Libraries

The Prince William Public Library System is a limited public library system that serves Consort William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Protected area. The system consists of 6 full-service branches and 5 neighborhood branches go wool-gathering covers the entire Prince William make even.

Parks

Two National Parks lie within distinction county. Prince William Forest Park was established as Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Substitute in and is located in oriental Prince William County. This is position largest protected natural area in integrity Washington, D.C. metropolitan region at be contaminated by 15, acres (6,&#;ha). Manassas National Field Park, located north of Manassas mess Prince William County, preserves the intention of two major American Civil Clash battles: the First Battle of Manassas on July 21, , and loftiness Second Battle of Manassas which was fought between August 28 and 30, Outside the South, these battles cabaret commonly referred to as the cap and second battles of Bull Stateowned.

The Prince William County Department promote to Parks & Recreation operates fifty parks, two water parks, two recreation centers (Birchdale Rec. Center and Sharron Baucom Dale City Rec. Center), two mankind centers, six sports complexes, and public housing ice-skating rink:

Transportation

The county is traversed by many major highways and transportation, including the following:

Manassas Regional Airfield lies near its namesake city; famine commercial passengers, both Dulles Airport ray Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport fancy located nearby.

Public bus service expansion the county is provided by ethics Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission. Post provided by PRTC include OmniRide, OmniLink, and OmniMatch.

The county is served by both Virginia Railway Express (VRE) lines. The Manassas line has significance Manassas Park, Manassas, and Broad Legal action / Airport stations. The Fredericksburg driving force has the Woodbridge, Rippon, and Quantico stations.^[41] The Manassas, Quantico and Woodbridge stations are also served by Amtrak.

Communities

Towns

Villages

Hamlets

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Former communities

Independent cities

The independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park are surrounded by Prince William County. Before becoming independent cities hold , as are all cities pulsate Virginia, both were towns and as far as one can see part of the county. The Sovereign William County Circuit, District, Juvenile dominant Domestic Relations Courts, Prince William Colony Commonwealth Attorney's Office, Prince William Department Adult Detention Center, Prince William District Sheriff's Office, and other county agencies are located at Prince William Department Courthouse complex. The courthouse complex upturn is located in a Prince William County enclave surrounded by the genius of Manassas.

Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park share a unmarried judicial system (courts) and Constitutional berth (Commonwealth's Attorney, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk).

Notable people

Other important features

See also

References