Wikipedia

Northern Virginia

"NoVA" redirects here. For other uses of "Nova", seeNova (disambiguation).

Northern Virginia,locally referred to asNOVAorNoVA,comprises severalcountiesandindependent citiesin theCommonwealthofVirginiain the United States. The region radiates westward and southward fromWashington, D.C.,the nation's capital, and has a population of 3,257,133 people as of 2023U.S. Census Bureauestimates, representing of a third of the state's total population. It is the most populous region in both Virginia and the regionalWashington metropolitan area.[2][3][4]

Northern Virginia
Region
Tysons in Fairfax County
The Pentagon
West Front of George Washington's Mount Vernon
Reston, Virginia
Old Town Alexandria
Clockwise from the top left:Tysons stationentrance on the MetroSilver Line,The Pentagon,Restonand theDulles Toll Road,Old Town Alexandria,Mount Vernon
Nickname(s):
NOVA, NoVA, Nova
The counties of Virginia that form part of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area
The counties of Virginia that form part of theWashington–Baltimore combined statistical area
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
Counties and independent citiesAlexandria,Arlington County,Clarke County,Culpeper County,Fairfax,Fairfax County,Falls Church,Fauquier County,Frederick County,Fredericksburg,Loudoun County,Manassas,Manassas Park,Orange County,Prince William County,Rappahannock County,Spotsylvania County,Stafford County,Warren County,Winchester
Largest cityAlexandria
Area
[1]
• Land11,425.6 km2(4,411.45 sq mi)
13 counties and 7 independent cities in Virginia within the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area or Washington-Baltimore Combined Statistical Area
Population
(2023)
3,257,133
• Density285.07/km2(738.34/sq mi)
DemonymNorthern Virginian

Communities in the region form the Virginia portion of the Washington metropolitan area and the largerWashington–Baltimore metropolitan area.Northern Virginia has a significantly larger job base than either Washington, D.C. or theMarylandportion of its suburbs,[5]and is the highest-income region of Virginia, with several of thehighest-income countiesin the nation, including three of the ten highest counties for median household income, according to the 2019American Community Survey.[6]

Northern Virginia's transportation infrastructure includes two major airports,Ronald Reagan Washington NationalandDulles International Airport,several lines of theWashington Metrosubway system, theVirginia Railway Expresssuburban commuter rail system,transit busservices, bicycle sharing and bicycle lanes and trails, and an extensive network ofInterstate highwaysand expressways.

The Pentagon,the headquarters of theU.S. Department of Defenseand the world'ssecond-largest office,is located inArlington Countyin Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia also houses theGeorge Bush Center for Intelligence,the headquarters for theCentral Intelligence AgencyinLangley,theUnited States Patent and Trademark OfficeinAlexandria,and several large companies, including several majoraerospace manufacturing,consulting firms,anddefense industry,which serve it and other components of theU.S. federal government.

Tourist attractions in Northern Virginia include various memorials, museums, andColonialandCivil War–era sites, includingArlington National Cemetery,Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park,Manassas National Battlefield Park,Mount Vernon,theNational Museum of the Marine Corps,theNational Museum of the United States Army,theUdvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Muuseum,and theUnited States Marine Corps War Memorial.Other attractions include portions of theAppalachian Trail,Great Falls Park,Old Town Alexandria,Prince William Forest Park,and portions ofShenandoah National Park.

Etymology

edit
Further information:Northern Neck
Northern Virginiamegaprojectsas of May 2011

The region is sometimes spelled "northern Virginia", but theU.S. Geological Survey'sCorrespondence Handbookstates that the 'n' in Northern Virginia should be capitalized since it is a place name rather than a direction or general area.[7]

The name "Northern Virginia" does not seem to have been used in the early history of the area.[8]According to Johnston, some early documents and land grants refer to the "Northern Neck of Virginia", a reference to theNorthern Neckand describing an area that began at the western shore of theChesapeake Bayand includes a territory that extended west, including all the land between thePotomacandRappahannockrivers, with a western boundary called the Fairfax line.[8]The Fairfax line, surveyed in 1746, ran from the first spring of thePotomac River,which remains marked today by theFairfax Stone,to the first spring of theRappahannock River,at the head of theConway River.[8]The Northern Neck was composed of 5,282,000 acres (21,380 km2), and was larger in area than five of the modern U.S. states:[8]

This monument, at the headspring of the Potomac River, marks one of the historic spots of America. Its name is derived from Thomas Lord Fairfax who owned all the land lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. The first Fairfax Stone, marked "FX", was set in 1746 by Thomas Lewis, a surveyor employed byLord Fairfax.This is the base point for the western dividing line betweenMarylandandWest Virginia.

— Fairfax Stone inscription[8]

Early development of the northern portion of Virginia was in the easternmost area of that early land grant, which encompasses the modern counties ofLancaster,Northumberland,Richmond,andWestmoreland.At some point, these eastern counties came to be called separately simply "the Northern Neck", and, for the remaining area west of them, the term was no longer used. By some definitions,King George Countyis also included in the Northern Neck, which is now considered a separate region from Northern Virginia.[9]

One of the most prominent early mentions of "Northern Virginia" as a title was the naming of theConfederateArmy of Northern Virginiaduring the American Civil War (1861–1865).

Definition

edit
A map of the formerDC-MD-VA-WVcombined statistical area

The most common definition of Northern Virginia includes the independent cities and counties on the Virginia side of theWashington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Areaas defined by theU.S. Office of Management and Budget[10]within theExecutive Office of the President of the United States.

Northern Virginia includes five counties,Arlington,Fairfax,Loudoun,Prince William,andStaffordcounties, and six independent cities,Alexandria,Fairfax,Falls Church,Fredericksburg,Manassas,andManassas Park.

History

edit

Colonial period

edit
Further information:Colony of Virginia
A map of theNorthern Neck Proprietaryland grant,c. 1737
The gravesite ofThomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of CameroninWinchester

TheColony of Virginiawas settled atJamestownin 1607. The area now generally regarded as "Northern Virginia" was within a larger area defined by a land grant from KingCharles II of Englandon September 18, 1649, while the monarch was in exile in France during theEnglish Civil War.Eight of his loyal supporters were named, among them Thomas Culpeper.[11]

On February 25, 1673, a new charter was given toThomas Lord CulpeperandHenry Earl of Arlington.Lord Culpeper was named the Royal Governor of Virginia from 1677 to 1683.Culpeper Countywas later named for him when it was formed in 1749; however, history does not seem to record him as one of the better of Virginia's colonial governors. Although he becamegovernor of Virginiain July 1677,[12]he did not come to Virginia until 1679, and even then seemed more interested in maintaining his land in the "Northern Neck of Virginia" than governing. He soon returned to England.[13]

In 1682, rioting in the colony forced Culpeper to return. By the time he arrived, however, the riots were already quelled. After apparently misappropriating £9,500 from the treasury of the colony, he returned to England and the King was forced to dismiss him. During this tumultuous time, Culpeper's erratic behavior meant that he had to rely increasingly on his cousin and Virginia agent, Col.Nicholas Spencer.[14][15]Spencer succeeded Culpeper as acting Governor following Culpeper's departure. Culpeper's descendants allowedRobert "King" Carterand other Virginians to manage the properties.[16]

In 1736, legal claim to the land was finally established by Culpeper's grandson,Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron,who became known in the colony as "Lord Fairfax", following a survey authorized by GovernorWilliam Gooch.[citation needed]The lands of Lord Fairfax and Northern Virginia were geographically defined as the land between theRappahannockandPotomacrivers, and were officially called the "Northern Neck".[17]In 1746, a back line was surveyed and established between the headwaters of the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, defining the west end of the grants. According to documents held by the Handley Regional Library of the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, the grant of 5,282,000 acres (21,380 km2) included 22 modern counties, including Northumberland, Lancaster, Westmoreland, Stafford, King George, Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Madison, Clarke, Warren, Page, Shenandoah, and Frederick counties in Virginia, and Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties inWest Virginia.[18]

Lord Fairfax was a lifelong bachelor, and became one of the more well-known persons of the late colonial era. In 1742, the new county formed fromPrince William Countywas namedFairfax Countyin his honor, one of several locations in Northern Virginia and West Virginia'sEastern Panhandlenamed after him.[19]Lord Fairfax established his residence at his brother's home at "Belvoir" on the grounds of present-dayFort Belvoirin Fairfax County.[16]He later built a hunting lodge named "Greenway Court",[11]which was located nearWhite PostinClarke Countynear theBlue Ridge Mountains,and moved there. Around 1748, heGeorge Washington,who was then 16-years-old. Impressed with Washington's energy and talents, he employed him to survey his lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.[11]

Lord Fairfax maintained neutrality as theAmerican Revolutionary Warbegan in 1775. Just a few weeks after the surrender ofBritish Armytroops underGeneral CornwallisatYorktown,Fairfax died at his home at Greenway Court on December 9, 1781, at the age of 90. He was entombed on the east side of Christ Church inWinchester.[16]While his plans for a large house at Greenway Court never materialized, and his stone lodge is now gone, a small limestone structure he built remains on the site in his honor.[11]

Statehood and Civil War

edit
Mount Vernon,the plantation home ofGeorge WashingtoninFairfax County
Arlington House,a mansion commissioned by a step-grandson ofGeorge Washingtonand last used as a residence byRobert E. Leeis now part of the grounds ofArlington National Cemetery

Following the American Revolutionary War, theThirteen Coloniesformed the United States of America, andContinental Armycommander and VirginianGeorge Washingtonbecame the new nation's first president. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Washington was a surveyor and developer ofcanalsthat were used for transportation. He was also a proponent of the bustling port city ofAlexandria,located on thePotomac Riverbelow thefall line,not far from his plantation atMount VernoninFairfax County.

During much of the colonial era and from 1790 to 1800, the nation's capital was inPhiladelphia.In 1800, however, with Washington's guidance and support, the new federal city of present-dayWashington, D.C.was laid out and established for the purpose of serving as the national capital. The region straddled the Potomac River and was located on a square of territory ceded to the federal government by Maryland and Virginia. Alexandria, a port city at the time, was on the eastern edge south of the river. On the outskirts on the northern side of the river, wasGeorgetown,another port city.

As the federal city grew, land in the portion contributed by Maryland proved best suited and adequate for early development. Not really part of the functioning federal city, citizens in Alexandria, who lacked voting input, were frustrated by the laws of the District's government.Slaveryalso arose as an contentious issue. In 1846, to mitigate these issues and as part of abolishing slave trading in the District, theU.S. Congresspassed a billretroceding to Virginiathe area south of the Potomac River, which was thenAlexandria County.That area now forms all of present-dayArlington County,which was renamed from Alexandria County in 1922, and a portion of theindependent cityofAlexandria.

Slavery,states' rights,and economic issues increasingly divided the northern and southern states during the first half of the 19th century, eventually leading to theAmerican Civil War,which lasted from 1861 to 1865. Although Maryland was aslave state,it remained with theUnion,while Virginia seceded and joined the newly formedConfederate States of America,whose capital was established atRichmond.

TheU.S. Supreme Courthas never issued a firm opinion on whether the retrocession of the Virginia portion of the District of Columbia was constitutional. In the 1875 case ofPhillips v. Payne,the Supreme Court held that Virginia hadde factojurisdiction over the area returned by Congress in 1847, and dismissed the tax case brought by the plaintiff. The court, however, did not rule on the core constitutional matter of the retrocession. Writing the majority opinion,Justice Noah Swaynestated only that:

The plaintiff in error is estopped from raising the point which he seeks to have decided. He cannot, under the circumstances, vicariously raise a question, nor force upon the parties to the compact an issue which neither of them desires to make.[20]

With barely 100 mi (160 km) separating the two capital cities, Northern Virginia found itself in the center of much of the conflict, which inflicted destruction and bloodshed. TheArmy of Northern Virginiawas the primary army for theConfederate States of Americain the east. Owing to the region's proximity to Washington, D.C., and the Potomac River, the armies of both sides frequently occupied and traversed Northern Virginia. As a result,several battles were fought in the area.

Northern Virginia was the operating area ofJohn Singleton Mosby,a Confederate partisan, and several small skirmishes were fought throughout the region between his Rangers and Federal forces occupying Northern Virginia.

Following the end of the Civil War, the conflict remained popular among the region's residents, and many area schools, roads, and parks were named for Confederate generals and statesmen, includingJefferson Davis Highway,Washington-Lee High School,and others.

Virginia split during the American Civil War, as was foreshadowed by the April 17, 1861,Virginia Secession Convention.Fifty counties in the western, mountainous portion of the state were largely opposed to secession in 1861. This region broke away from the Confederacy in 1863 and entered the Union as a new state,West Virginia.Unlike the eastern part of the state, West Virginia did not have fertile lands tilled by slaves and was geographically separated from the state government in Richmond by theAppalachian Mountains.During this process, a provisional government of Virginia was headquartered in Alexandria, which was underUnioncontrol during the war.[citation needed]Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Frederick, Loudoun, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties voted in favor of Virginia remaining in the Union in 1861, but eventually broke away from the state.[21]

As a result of West Virginia's formation, part of Lord Fairfax's colonial land grant, which defined Northern Virginia, was ceded in the establishment of that state in 1863. Now known as theEastern Panhandle of West Virginia,the area includesBerkeley CountyandJefferson Countyin West Virginia.

20th century

edit
The Pentagon,headquarters of theDepartment of DefenseinArlington County

TheDepartment of Defense's increasing reliance on information technology companies during theCold Warwas influential in launching the modern Northern Virginia economy and spurred urban development throughout the region.[22]After end of the Cold War in 1991, prosperity continued in the region as it positioned itself as the "Silicon Valley"of theEastern United States.The Internet was first commercialized in Northern Virginia, which served as the headquarters of many of the firstInternet service providers.[23]

The first major interconnection point of the Internet,MAE-East,was established in the 1990s inAshburnafter Virginia-area network provider operators decided to connect their networks.[24]This infrastructure legacy is ongoing, as data center operators continue to expand near these facilities.[25][26]

21st century

edit

In early 2001, local Internet companyAOLboughtTime Warner,the world's largest traditional media company, near the end of thedot-com bubbleera. After the Internet bubble burst, however, Northern Virginia office vacancy rates gew from two percent in 2000 to 20 percent in 2002.[22]After 2002, vacancy rates improved, falling below 10 percent as defense spending increased following theSeptember 11 attacks.The subsequentAfghanistanandIraqwars also contributed to the region's growth, as the federal government increased its contracting with private defense firms.[22]

Regional organizations

edit

Northern Virginia Regional Commission

edit

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC)[27]is a regional government that represents a regional council of thirteen member Northern Virginia local governments.[28]These local governments include the counties ofArlington,Fairfax,Loudoun,andPrince William.The local governments include the incorporated cities ofAlexandria,Fairfax,Falls Church,Manassas,andManassas Park.The local governments also include the incorporated towns ofDumfries,Herndon,Leesburg,andVienna.NVRC's chief roles and functions are providing information, performing professional and technical services for its members, and serving as a mechanism for regional coordination regarding the environment, transportation, affordable housing, community planning, military, and human services. Programs and projects address a wide array of local government interests.

According to Virginia's Regional Cooperation Act, NVRC is a political subdivision. The region is technically referred to as Virginia's planning district #8.[29]The commission was established pursuant to Articles 1 and 2, Chapter 34, of the Acts of the Virginia General Assembly of 1968, subsequently revised and reenacted as the Regional Cooperation Act. Any incorporated county, city, or town in Northern Virginia with a population exceeding 3,500 that adopts NVRC's charter agreement is eligible to become a member of the commission.

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

edit
Main article:Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Northern Virginia constitutes a considerable portion of the population and number of jurisdictions that comprise theMetropolitan Washington Council of Governments(MWCOG). Founded in 1957, MWCOG is a regional organization of 22 Washington-area local governments, as well as area members of theMarylandandVirginiastate legislatures, theU.S. Senate,and theU.S. House of Representatives.MWCOG provides a forum for discussion and the development of regional responses to issues regarding the environment, transportation, public safety, homeland security, affordable housing, community planning, and economic development.[30]

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, a component of MWCOG, is the federally designatedmetropolitan planning organizationfor the metropolitan Washington area, including Northern Virginia.[31]

Demographics

edit
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900188,919—
1910194,7313.1%
1920206,5046.0%
1930229,20511.0%
1940298,58830.3%
1950488,94563.8%
1960788,16261.2%
19701,118,06441.9%
19801,357,38721.4%
19901,805,09133.0%
20002,253,25124.8%
20102,794,95724.0%
20203,197,07614.4%
2023 (est.)3,257,1331.9%
1900–2020[32]

As of April 2020there were 3,197,076 people in Northern Virginia; approximately 37 percent of the state's population.[33]

These population counts include all counties within Virginia that are part of theWashington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Areaor theWashington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Areaas defined by theU.S. Office of Management and Budget[10]within theExecutive Office of the President of the United States.

Of the 3,159,639 people in Northern Virginia in the 2019 estimates, 2,776,960 lived in "central" counties, or those counties and equivalent entities as delineated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget as forming part of the urban core of the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. These counties includeArlington,Fairfax,Fauquier,Loudoun,Prince William,Staffordand theindependent citiesofAlexandria,Fairfax,Falls Church,Manassas,Manassas ParkandFredericksburg.

An additional 390,679 people lived in counties of the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area or the Baltimore-Washington Combined Statistical Area not considered "central." These counties, largely considered exurban or undergoing suburban change, includeClarke,Culpeper,Frederick,Madison,Rappahannock,Spotsylvania,Warren,and the independent city ofWinchester.

In addition, there are counties outside of the Washington Metropolitan Area that under more broad definitions are referred to as being part of Northern Virginia. TheUniversity of VirginiaWeldon Cooper Center for Public Service categorizesKing George Countyas part of Northern Virginia, though the county was removed from the Washington Metropolitan Area in 2003.[34]King George County andOrange Countyalso include areas, such asLake of the Woods,where the cross-commuting interchange with the Washington Metropolitan Area is high enough to merit inclusion in the Metropolitan Area,[35]although more far-flung parts of these counties still cause the county-wide commuter interchange to fall below the threshold for inclusion in the Washington Metropolitan Area or Washington-Baltimore Combined Statistical Area. The demographic figures above do not include population counts for these two counties.

Racial and ethnic composition

edit

The2020 U.S. Censusresulted in the following racial and ethnic composition for Northern Virginia:

Jurisdiction Population (2020 Census) White alone, not Hispanic or Latino Hispanic or Latino Black or African American alone Asian alone American Indian and Alaska Native alone Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone Two or More Races
City of Alexandria 159,467 51.9% 16.7% 21.8% 5.9% 0.2% 0.0% 5.3%
Arlington County 238,643 61.4% 15.6% 9.7% 11.0% 0.6% 0.1% 3.6%
Clarke County 14,783 85.3% 6.4% 4.7% 1.4% 0.7% 0.1% 2.5%
Culpeper County 52,552 69.8% 11.6% 14.6% 1.7% 0.8% 0.2% 3.3%
City of Fairfax 24,146 56.2% 17.2% 4.9% 17.2% 0.1% 0.0% 5.1%
Fairfax County 1,150,309 50.0% 16.5% 10.6% 20.1% 0.5% 0.1% 3.9%
City of Falls Church 14,658 71.2% 10.6% 4.8% 10.0% 0.6% 0.1% 4.7%
Fauquier County 72,972 79.0% 9.2% 7.8% 1.7% 0.5% 0.1% 2.8%
Frederick County 91,419 82.3% 9.3% 4.7% 1.8% 0.5% 0.1% 2.4%
City of Fredericksburg 27,982 54.3% 12.4% 21.2% 4.7% 0.3% 0.1% 5.8%
Loudoun County 420,959 54.8% 13.9% 8.1% 20.3% 0.5% 0.1% 3.9%
Madison County 13,837 84.3% 3.2% 9.3% 0.6% 0.3% 0.0% 2.9%
City of Manassas 42,772 39.5% 38.1% 15.4% 6.3% 1.4% 0.2% 3.6%
City of Manassas Park 17,219 31.2% 41.0% 15.6% 11.5% 1.6% 0.3% 3.5%
Prince William County 482,204 41.5% 24.5% 22.2% 9.4% 1.1% 0.2% 4.7%
Rappahannock County 7,348 88.3% 4.4% 4.2% 1.0% 0.4% 0.1% 2.0%
Spotsylvania County 140,032 66.6% 10.7% 17.5% 2.8% 0.5% 0.2% 3.6%
Stafford County 156,927 59.3% 14.2% 20.0% 3.6% 0.8% 0.2% 4.5%
Warren County 40,727 86.0% 5.3% 5.0% 1.3% 0.6% 0.1% 2.6%
City of Winchester 28,120 65.7% 18.3% 11.3% 2.7% 0.9% 0.1% 3.6%

Northern Virginia as a whole is 51.2% White, 17.4% Hispanic, 16.3% Asian, 14.1% Black, and 2.4% Other.

Background

edit
Demographics in Northern Virginia's five largest jurisdictions[4]
Household income No. VA U.S.
($200k+) 13.6% 3.7%
$100k+ 46.1% 19.0%
$75k-100k 15.1% 12.1%
$50k-75k 16.3% 18.8%
$25k-50k 14.2% 25.6%
$25k or less 8.4% 24.5%
Race No. VA U.S.
White 67.2% 74.1%
Black or African American 11.6% 12.4%
Asian 12.5% 4.3%
(Hispanic or Latino) 13.9% N/A
Some other race N/A 6.2%
Two or more races 2.4% 2.1%
Educational attainment No. VA U.S.
(Graduate/professional) 25.2% 9.9%
Bachelor's or higher 55.5% 27.0%
Associate's 5.7% 7.4%
Some college 14.8% 19.5%
High school/equivalent 15.8% 30.2%
Less than high school 8.1% 15.9%

Northern Virginia is home to people from diverse backgrounds, with significant numbers ofKorean Americans,Vietnamese Americans,Bangladeshi Americans,Chinese Americans,Filipino Americans,Russian Americans,Arab Americans,Palestinian Americans,Uzbek Americans,Afghan Americans,Ethiopian Americans,Indian Americans,Iranian Americans,Thai Americans,andPakistani Americans.Annandale,Centreville,Chantilly,andFairfax Cityhave very largeKorean Americancommunities.Falls Churchhas a large Vietnamese American community, and the region is home to a smallTibetan Americancommunity.

There is a sizableHispanicpopulation, primarily consisting ofSalvadorans,Peruvians,Puerto Ricans,Cubans,Bolivians,Mexicans,andColombians.Arlington is the center of the largestBoliviancommunity in North America (mostly immigrants fromCochabamba).[citation needed]Many of these immigrants work in transportation-related fields, small businesses, hospitality, vending, gardening, construction, and cleaning.

Of those born in the U.S. and living in Northern Virginia's four largest counties, their place of birth bycensus regionis 60.5 percent from theSouth,21.0 percent from theNortheast,11.5 percent from theMidwest,and 7.0 percent from theWest.33.7 percent were born in Virginia, which is categorized as part of theSouthern United Statesalong with neighboring Maryland and Washington, D.C., by the Census Bureau.[citation needed]

Educational attainment

edit

The core Northern Virginia jurisdictions of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William comprising a total population of 1,973,513 is highly educated, with 55.5 percent of its population 25 years or older holding a bachelor's degree or higher.[citation needed]This is comparable toSeattle,the most educated large city in the U.S., with 53.4 percent of residents having at least a bachelor's degree.[36][37]The number of graduate/professional degree holders in Arlington is relatively high at 34.3 percent, nearly quadruple the rate of the U.S. population as a whole.[38]

Affluence

edit
Reston,aplanned community,[39]seen from theDulles Toll Road

The region is known in Virginia and theWashington metropolitan areafor its relative affluence.Stafford Countyin Northern Virginia is one of the seven counties in the nation where black households make more than white households.[40]Among large cities or counties in the nation withmedian household incomesin excess of $100,000, the top two cities, which comprise over half the region's population, are in Northern Virginia.[41]

Northern Virginia also has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, making the actual purchasing power of these households considerably less than in other less affluent areas.[42]According toNielsenClaritas, Loudoun County and Arlington County have the highest concentration of 25- to 34-year-olds with incomes of $100,000+ in the nation.[43][44]

In 1988,Tysons Galleria,a large shopping mall, opened acrossVirginia Route 123fromTysons Corner Centerwith high-end department storesNeiman MarcusandSaks 5th Avenue,hoping to become the Washington area's upscale shopping destination. The mall had trouble with sales and attracting high-end boutiques well into the 1990s and faced competition fromFairfax Square,which opened nearby in 1990 with the largestTiffany & Co.boutique outside of New York City.[45]Following a 1997 renovation, Tysons Galleria was able to attract high-end stores. In 2002,National Geographicdescribed it as "theRodeo Driveof theEast Coast."[46]

In 2008, luxury home serviceSotheby'sInternational Realty, which had three offices in Virginia serving the rest of the state, and two in Washington, D.C., opened a new office inMcLeanto sell high-end real estate in Northern Virginia.[47]

Crime

edit

According to the "Crime in Virginia 2021" report, published by the Department of State Police, Northern Virginia had homicide rates below the state average:

Jurisdiction Population (2020 Census) Homicides (2020) Homicide Rate (per 100,000) Homicides (2021) Homicide Rate (per 100,000)
Alexandria city 159,467 3 1.88 2 1.25
Arlington County 238,643 3 1.26 0 0.00
Clarke County 14,783 0 0.00 0 0.00
Culpeper County 52,552 0 0.00 0 0.00
Fairfax city 24,146 0 0.00 0 0.00
Fairfax County 1,150,309 16 1.39 26 2.26
Falls Church city 14,658 1 6.82 0 0.00
Fauquier County 72,972 3 4.11 3 4.11
Frederick County 91,419 3 3.28 2 2.19
Fredericksburg city 27,982 3 10.72 3 10.72
Loudoun County 420,959 1 0.24 3 0.71
Madison County 13,837 1 7.23 1 7.23
Manassas city 42,772 1 2.34 1 2.34
Manassas Park city 17,219 0 0.00 0 0.00
Prince William County 482,204 7 1.45 10 2.07
Rappahannock County 7,348 0 0.00 0 0.00
Spotsylvania County 140,032 5 3.57 3 2.14
Stafford County 156,927 2 1.27 4 2.55
Warren County 40,727 0 0.00 0 0.00
Winchester city 28,120 2 7.11 1 3.56
REGION TOTAL 3,197,076 51 1.60 59 1.85

A 2009 report by the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force suggests that anti-gang measures and crackdowns onillegal immigrantsby local jurisdictions are driving gang members out of Northern Virginia and into more immigrant-friendly locales in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the rest of Virginia.[48]The violent crime rate in Northern Virginia fell 17 percent from 2003 to 2008.[48]Fairfax County has the lowest crime rate in the Washington metropolitan area, and the lowest crime rate amongst the 50 largest jurisdictions of the United States.[49][50][51]

While the region has extremely low violent crime rates, it is an emerging hub for teensex trafficking,with regional gangs finding it more profitable than selling drugs or weapons.[52]

Economy

edit
Main article:Economy of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Arlington,home to some of the tallest high rises in theWashington metropolitan area[53][54]

Former Virginia GovernorBob McDonnelldescribed Northern Virginia as "the economic engine of the state" during a January 2010 Northern Virginia Technology Council address.[55]

As of 2007the Northern Virginia office submarkets contain 172,000,000 sq ft (16,000,000 m2) of office space, 33 percent more than those in Washington, D.C., and 55 percent more than those in its Maryland suburbs. 8,000,000 sq ft (740,000 m2) of office space is under construction in Northern Virginia. 60 percent of the construction is occurring in the Dulles Corridor submarket.[56]

As of September 2008, the unemployment rate in Northern Virginia was 3.2 percent, about half the national average, and the lowest of any metropolitan area.[57][58]While the U.S. as a whole had negative job growth between September 2007 to September 2008, Northern Virginia gained 12,800 jobs, representing half of Virginia's new jobs.[59]As of July 2010, the unemployment rate of the region was 5.2 percent.[60]

In the mid-2000s, Fairfax County was one of few places in the nation that attracted morecreative-classworkers than it created.[61]

Internet

edit
Crystal CityinArlington Countywas selected as a location forAmazon'sAmazon HQ2real estate search. The regional headquarters complex will include up to 6,000,000 sq ft (557,400 m2),[62]rivaling the nearby Pentagon.

Northern Virginia is the busiestInternetintersection in the nation,[63]with up to 70 percent of all Internet traffic flowing throughLoudoun Countydata centers every day.[26]It is the largestdata centermarket in the world by capacity, with nearly double that ofLondon,and the world's fastest-growing data market as of 2018.[64][65]Loudoun County expects to have 6,500,000 sq ft (600,000 m2) of data center space by 2021.[66]By 2012,Dominion Energyexpects that 10 percent of all electricity it sends to Northern Virginia will be used by the region's data centers alone.[67]Accentureestimates that 70 percent ofAmazon Elastic Compute Cloudservers are located in their Northern Virginia zone.[68][69]A 2015–16 estimate byGreenpeaceputs Amazon's current and upcoming power capacity in Northern Virginia at over 1gigawatt.[63]

Federal government

edit
Main article:List of federal agencies in Northern Virginia
The region is home to three of the four largestU.S. intelligence agenciesby budget.

Thefederal governmentis a major employer in Northern Virginia, which is home to numerous government agencies, including the headquarters of theCentral Intelligence Agencyandthe Pentagon,headquarters of theDepartment of Defense.The area also includesFort Myer,Fort Belvoir,Marine Corps Base Quantico,theFBI Academy,DEA Academy,Naval Criminal Investigative Service,theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office,andU.S. Geological Survey.

Government contracting is an important part of the region's economy. Arlington alone is home to over 600 federal contractors and has the highest weekly wages of any major jurisdiction in theWashington metropolitan area.[70][71]

The following government agencies have either 10,000+ employees or a $10+ billion budget:

Other federal agencies in Northern Virginia include:

Notable companies

edit
Further information:Dulles Technology CorridorandList of companies headquartered in Northern Virginia
Capital One TowerinTysons,the tallest building in theWashington metropolitan areaand a centerpiece of the 5,000,000 sq ft (464,500 m2) headquarters campus forCapital One[72]
Largest public companies(Fortune 5002021)[73]
Company Industry Headquarters National rank
AES Corporation Utilities: Gas and Electric Arlington County, Virginia 313
Beacon Building Products Wholesalers: Diversified Herndon, Virginia 420
Boeing Aerospace and Defense Arlington County, Virginia 58
Booz Allen Hamilton Information Technology Services McLean, Virginia 391
CACI International Information Technology Services Arlington County, Virginia 473
Capital One Financial Commercial Banks McLean, Virginia 99
DXC Technology Information Technology Services Tysons, Virginia 152
Freddie Mac Diversified Financials McLean, Virginia 47
General Dynamics Aerospace and Defense Reston, Virginia 84
Hilton Hotels Corporation Hospitality McLean, Virginia 324
Leidos Information Technology Services Reston, Virginia 248
Northrop Grumman Aerospace and Defense Falls Church, Virginia 86
NVR, Inc. Homebuilders Reston, Virginia 383
Science Applications Information Technology Services Reston, Virginia 412
Largest private companies(ForbesAmerica's Largest Private Companies 2021)[74]
Company Industry Headquarters National rank
Bechtel Construction Reston, Virginia 15
Carahsoft Information Technology Services Reston, Virginia 44
Mars Food and Drink McLean, Virginia 4

Verisign,the manager of the.comand.nettop-level domains,is based in the region. Major companies formerly headquartered in the region includeAOL,Mobil,Nextel/Sprint,PSINet,Sallie Mae,MCI Communications,Transurban,andUUNET.

Attractions

edit
TheSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,part of theNational Air and Space MuseumatDulles International Airport

The region's large shopping malls, such asPotomac MillsandTysons Corner Center,attract many visitors, as do the region'sCivil Warbattlefields, which include the sites of both theFirstandSecond Battle of Bull RuninManassasand theBattle of FredericksburginFredericksburg.[75][circular reference]Old Town Alexandriais known for its historic churches, townhouses, restaurants, gift shops, artist studios, and cruise boats.

The waterfront and outdoor recreational amenities such as biking and running trails, including theWashington and Old Dominion Rail Trailthat leads from Alexandria to the foothills of the Blue Ridge, theMount Vernon Trailand trails along various stream beds, whitewater and sea kayaking, and rock climbing areas along thePotomac River,various parks,Great Falls Park,and historicMount Vernon,which opened a new visitor center in 2006. The Government Island park and quarry inStafford Countyhas views of the Potomac River. Aquia Creek was the source for many of the building materials for theWhite House,andU.S. Capitol.[76][circular reference]Also inStafford Countyare historic places, includingGeorge Washington's boyhood home,Ferry Farm,[77][circular reference],theCivil Warheadquarters and plantationChatham Manor[78][circular reference],andGari Melchers Home & Studio.[79][circular reference]

Arlington National Cemeteryand theSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,an annex of theNational Air and Space Museum,which includes exhibits that cannot be housed at the main museum in Washington, D.C., due to space constraints. Concerts and other live shows are held at theWolf Trap National Park for the Performing ArtsinWolf Trap.[80]

Politics

edit
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[81]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 34.3%567,659 63.7%1,053,815 2.1%33,812
2016 34.8%505,659 58.6%851,505 6.7%96,693
2012 42.1%575,477 56.4%771,396 1.5%20,330
2008 41.2%530,038 57.8%743,193 1.0%12,920
2004 48.9%539,992 50.3%554,592 0.8%9,102
2000 49.6%459,322 46.7%432,189 3.7%34,276
1996 47.4%367,540 46.5%360,492 6.1%47,413

Background

edit
Alexandria, Virginia,the adopted hometown ofGeorge Washington

From the mid-1880s until the mid-1960s Virginia politics were dominated byConservative Democrats.AfterWorld War I,under the leadership ofHarry Flood Byrd,who becameGovernor of Virginiaand later aU.S. senator,the group became known as theByrd Organization.With a power base in a network of the constitutional officers of most of Virginia's counties, they controlled Virginia's state government. The Byrd Organization largely followed conservative and anti-debt principles espoused by Byrd, who grew up in a rural setting during the fiscally stressed era followingReconstruction.Although a member of theDemocratic Partyand an initial supporter of PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt,Senator Byrd became a bitter opponent of theNew Dealand related national policies, particularly those involving fiscal and social issues. He became Virginia's senior senator after the death of SenatorCarter GlassofLynchburgin 1946.

The period followingWorld War IIsaw substantial growth in the size and diversity of Virginia's suburban areas, including Northern Virginia,Richmond,andHampton Roads.People of the emerging middle class were increasingly less willing to accept the rural focus of the General Assembly, nor Byrd's extreme positions on public debt and social issues. The latter was nowhere more graphically illustrated than with Byrd's violent opposition toracial integrationof the state'spublic schools.His leadership in the failed policy ofMassive Resistanceto racial desegregation of the public schools and efforts to circumvent related rulings of theUnited States Supreme Courtultimately caused closure of some public schools in the state and alienated many middle-class voters. The Byrd Organization had never been strong in Virginia's independent cities, and beginning in the 1960s, city and suburban factions increasingly supported efforts to make broad changes in Virginia. In this climate, theRepublican Party of Virginiabegan making inroads.

Rulings by both state and federal courts that "Massive Resistance" was unconstitutional and a move to compliance with the court orders in early 1959 by GovernorJ. Lindsay Almond,and the General Assembly could be described as marking the Byrd Organization's "last stand", although the remnants of the Organization continued to wield power for a few years longer.[82]

When Senator Byrd resigned in 1965, he was replaced by his sonHarry F. Byrd Jr.in theU.S. Senate.In 1969, however, the 80-year domination of Virginia politics by the Byrds ended with the election ofLinwood Holton,a conservative Democrat who subsequently became aRepublicanand was reelected in 1973, representing the first Republican governor had been elected in the 20th century.

During the last quarter of the 20th century, Virginia's Republicans gained ground against the Democrats. RepublicanJohn Warnerfrom Northern Virginia gained one of the seats in the U.S. Senate in 1978. After longtime state senatorL. Douglas Wilderbecame governor in 1989, the first African American to be elected a governor in the United States, Republicans subsequently gained control of the Governor's mansion after the 1993 election. Republicans finally gained control of the General Assembly in the 1999 elections.

For a number of years, the recurring Republican theme was to reduce waste in state government and taxes. However, this seemed to reach a peak during the administration ofJim Gilmore,with a move to repeal an unpopular car tax accompanied by a failure to provide promised replacement funds to the counties, cities and towns. Subsequently, two Democrats were elected consecutively as governor, and control in the General Assembly shifted back to a more bipartisan balance of power. As governor, bothMark WarnerandTim Kainewere confronted with stabilizing state economics and dealing with a deteriorating transportation funding situation partially caused by the state's failure to index state fuel taxes to inflation, with a "cents per gallon" tax rate unchanged since the administration of Democratic GovernorGerald Balilesin 1986.

21st-century politics

edit
2005 Virginia gubernatorial electionmap
Map of the2020 United States presidential election in Virginia
Virginia Congressional Districts as of 2023

In the 21st century, Northern Virginia is becoming increasingly known for favoring candidates of theDemocratic Partyat both the state and national level. Fairfax County supportedJohn Kerryin the2004 presidential election,and also voted heavily forBarack Obamain the2008 presidential election,the first time a Democratic candidate for president carried the Commonwealth of Virginia sinceLyndon Johnsonin1964.The area also voted for DemocratsJim Webbin 2006 for U.S. Senate,Tim Kainein 2005 for governor, andMark Warnerin 2001 for governor. In these three races for statewide office, the margins tallied in Northern Virginia provided the Democratic candidate with a winning margin of victory.

DemocratJim Webbdefeated incumbent SenatorGeorge Allenby the slim margin of 49.6 to 49.2 percent in 2006.[83]However, that margin increased to 58.1 to 40.7 percent in favor of the Democratic challenger in the counties and cities of Northern Virginia, whereas Webb ran behind Allen somewhat, 46.1 to 52.7 percent, in the remainder of the commonwealth. Webb carriedFairfax County,Prince William County,andLoudoun County,as well as the more urban areas ofArlington,Alexandria,andFalls Church.Allen's sole wins in Northern Virginia were the cities ofManassasandManassas Park,winning the latter two only by the narrow margins of 3.54 and 2.38 percent, respectively.

In the2004 presidential election,53 percent of Northern Virginia voters voted forJohn Kerry,the Democratic candidate and 46 percent voted forGeorge W. Bush,theRepublicancandidate. This contrasted with the rest of Virginia, which gave 43 percent to Kerry and 56 percent to Bush. Kerry also carriedFairfax County,the most populous county in Virginia, andFairfax City,the first time those jurisdictions had voted Democratic sinceJohnson's national landslide in 1964.The strongest support in the area for the Democrats lies insidethe Beltway,in Arlington,Alexandria,and parts of Fairfax County. The more distant areas (i.e.,Loudoun County,Stafford CountyandPrince William County) historically have been more conservative; however, as they have increased in population, they have become more liberal. Both Mark Warner in 2001 and John Kerry in 2004 lost Loudoun and Prince William counties. Tim Kaine wonPrince William County,andLoudouncounties in 2005. Tim Kaine wonStafford County in 2018.[84]In 2006 despite not polling as strongly as Mark Warner statewide, Democratic senate candidate Jim Webb won both Loudoun and Prince William counties. In 2005, 65 percent of the voters of Northern Virginia voted for DemocratTim Kainefor governor overJerry Kilgore,who received only 32 percent of the vote, easily 14 points lower than George W. Bush's showing only a year earlier.

The Democrats in Virginia also have made considerable gains in theVirginia House of Delegateswhich helped turn both chambers of the state legislature to the Democrats. Since 2015 Democrats have flipped districts in the suburbs of Washington D.C in counties such asStafford County,Prince William County,andLoudoun County.These flips have shown the changing demographics and voting bloc in these counties and the expansion of suburbanization and Northern Virginia. For example, the 28th district a seat held by Republicans since 1984 in Stafford County and parts of Fredericksburg and seat of former Republican Virginia Speaker of the HouseWilliam J. Howell.10 years ago Republicans won the Virginia House of Delegates election with 74% of the vote in the district. In the 2019 electionJoshua G. Cole,a fierce Democrat and supporter of the Green New Deal, flipped the district by 4 points. Another district the 2nd district that encompasses Prince William County and Stafford County was once a swing district held by both Republicans and Democrats. In 2017, Democrats flipped the district with 64% of the vote and was re-elected with 60% of the vote withJennifer Caroll Foya supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment which she passed this year with the new Democratic trifecta in the state.

The7th,8th,the10th,and the11thcongressional districtslie within Northern Virginia.(As of 5/15/2023) The current representatives are from the 8th district isDon Beyer(D), from the 7th district isAbigail Spanberger(D), from the 10th district isJennifer Wexton(D), and the current representative from the 11th district isGerry Connolly(D). Three of four districts voted for Jim Webb in the 2006 Senate election.

In the 2005 gubernatorial election, the entire region continued to move away from the Republicans. Fairfax County, Arlington County, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, and Falls Church, and for the first time,[citation needed]Loudoun County and Prince William County, went to Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate. The area continued to be more Democratic the closer it was to Washington, D.C., but Richmond resident Kaine was able to accomplish what Northern Virginian Mark Warner had been unable to do just four years earlier in 2001: carry Loudoun County and Prince William County (as well as win over 60 percent of the vote in Fairfax County).

In 2008, economistNancy Pfotenhauer,a spokesperson and adviser for theJohn McCain presidential campaign,created controversy by referring to the areas of Virginia not included in Northern Virginia as "real Virginia", picking up on a Republicantalking pointthatSarah Palinpromoted; namely that red states are the "real America" and more "pro-America".[85]Joe McCain,brother of John McCain, also called Arlington and Alexandria in Northern Virginia "communist country".[86]

In the2008 presidential election,the majority of Northern Virginia voters voted for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Over 70 percent of registered voters in Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church voted for Obama.[87]Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Manassas and Prince William County also went to Obama, with Obama receiving 60 percent of the vote in Fairfax County compared to Republican candidate John McCain's 39 percent.[87]Obama's win in Fairfax County, the most populous county in the state, marks the second time a Democrat has carried that county sincethe 1964 breakdown of Democratic predominance in the South[broken anchor](the other being the 2004 presidential elections when the county went to John Kerry). Obama's victory in Northern Virginia continues the trend of Northern Virginia favoring Democrats over Republicans.

In the2009 gubernatorial election,though Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church would back Democraticstate SenatorCreigh Deedsin his unsuccessful run for governor, Republican former state Attorney General, and future Governor,Bob McDonnell,who overwhelmingly defeated Deeds 59 to 41 percent across the state as a whole, won Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Stafford County, Manassas, and Prince William County. However, a January 2010 special state senate election in the Fairfax county-based 37th State Senatorial district, which was held followingKen Cuccinelli's (R) resignation from theSenate of Virginiaupon his election as state attorney general two months earlier, was won by then-DelegateDavid W. Marsden(D). Marsden's victory would suggest that despite McDonnell's performance in northern Virginia during the 2009 gubernatorial election, the Democratic trend in the region has not been reversed.[88]

In 2011, a poll byThe Washington Postfound that 47 percent of Virginians favored the legalization of same-sex marriage, 43 percent opposed it, and 10 percent had no opinion. It found 55 percent favored allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, while 35 percent opposed that and 10 percent had no opinion.[89]The same poll found that 64 percent of residentsArlington,Alexandria,Fairfax,Fairfax Countysupport same-sex marriage, 63 percent of residents ofLoudoun,Prince William,Manassas,Manassas Park,Stafford,Fauquier,Culpeper,Madison,Rappamannock,Warrenton,Clarke County,Frederick,andWinchestersupport same-sex marriage, while only 42 percent of the rest of Virginia supports same-sex marriage.[90]

Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren counties, as well as Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester cities, form Northern Virginia's contribution to the Washington metropolitan area;Hillary Clintonreceived 849,758 votes compared toDonald Trump's 503,120 votes in the twelve-county and seven-city region, a 63–37 percent split in the2016 presidential election.Despite the 26 percent margin of victory for Clinton, seven counties voted for Trump. This compares to Clinton's 825,974 votes to Trump's 236,827 votes (78 to 22 percent) in Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties in Maryland as well as her 282,830 votes to his 12,723 votes (96 to 4 percent) in Washington, D.C. Among the aforementioned counties in Maryland, Trump carried two of them. The entire Washington metropolitan area – all seventeen counties and seven cities in Maryland and Virginia, plus the District of Columbia – voted 1,958,562 ballots to 752,670 ballots (72 to 28 percent) for Clinton and Trump, respectively. Compared to the entire state, Northern Virginia's twelve counties and seven cities represent 36 percent of the total electorate.[91]

Culture

edit
Spectators watching a performance atWolf Trap

Due to the proximity to the capital, many Northern Virginians go toWashington, D.C.,for cultural outings and nightlife. TheKennedy Centerin Washington, D.C., is a popular place for performances, as isWolf Trap National Park for the Performing ArtsnearVienna.Jiffy Lube Live(nearManassas),EagleBank ArenaatGeorge Mason UniversityinFairfax,andCapital One Arenain Washington serve as popular concert venues, and Capital One Arena also serves as the home of sporting events.Smithsonianmuseums also serve as local cultural institutions with easy proximity to Northern Virginia, and theUdvar-Hazy Centerof theNational Air and Space Museumin Chantilly is popular as well.

ThePentagon CityandTysons Galleria(pictured) malls are both attached to their ownRitz-Carltonhotels.

Tysons Corner Center( "Tysons I" ) is one of the largest malls in the country and is a hub for shopping in the area.Tysons Galleria( "Tysons II" ), its counterpart across Route 123, carries more high-end stores.Tysonsitself is the 12th-largest business district in the United States.[92][better source needed]Other malls includeSpringfield Mall,Fair Oaks Mall,Manassas Mall,Spotsylvania Towne Centrewhich has a mall and a mixed-use retail and commercial area, andThe Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.Dulles Town Centeris the region's newest mall, serving the easternLoudoun Countyarea.Reston Town Centeris a high-density mixed-use retail, commercial, and residential development located just off the 267 Toll Road inReston.Potomac Mills,located in Prince William County, is the largestoutlet mallin the region. The town ofLeesburgin Loudoun County contains the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets outlet mall.

Recreation

edit

Northern Virginia is home to many activities for families and individuals, including biking/walking trails, sports leagues, recreation facilities, museums, historic homes, and parks.

It is home to theNorthern Virginia Swim League,which comprises 102 community pools, and NVSL-Dive, which is composed of 47 teams in Fairfax and Arlington counties. The swim and dive teams compete over the course of 5–6 weeks from the end of June through the first weekend in August.

TheNational Capital Area Counciloperates in the Washington metropolitan area. It serves localities in the Washington D.C Metropolitan Area. In Northern Virginia, it has chapters and divisions that serve, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Stafford County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and the City of Fairfax. It also serves Caroline County, the City of Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County.

The National Capital Soccer League serves soccer leagues and associations in the Washington D.C Metropolitan Area. It includes Northern Virginia soccer associations in Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Stafford County, Arlington County, the City of Fredericksburg, the City of Alexandria, the City of Fairfax, and one soccer association in Culpeper County, Winchester, and Warrenton.

Secession

edit

Former Republican delegateJeannemarie Devolites Davisexpressed a common sentiment when she said "The formula for funding school construction in Northern Virginia requires that we pay 500 percent more than the actual cost of a project. We have to pay 500 percent because we give 400 percent away to the rest of the state." The state government's funding level for transportation projects in Northern Virginia is a perennial issue that often causes consternation from the region's politicians and citizens.[93]

Many people consider the idea of secession a rhetorical one used to express frustration with the treatment of Northern Virginia by the state government as well as the opposing political sentiments between it and the rest of Virginia. Critics often point out that all states include regions of varying income and political discrepancies within their borders. Nevertheless, the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., are often seen as an extension of the more urbanized Mid-Atlantic, north-east, and the Boston-Washington corridor, even though Virginia as a whole is considered a Southern state. This perception is especially fueled by the region's closeness to Washington, D.C., large numbers of Northern transplants, and the prevalence of both new immigrant communities and growing ethnic diversity. Nevertheless, there is no serious secessionist movement.

Transportation

edit
Main article:Transportation in Northern Virginia

Airports

edit
Further information:Dulles International AirportandRonald Reagan Washington National Airport
Dulles International AirportinDulles
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stationatRonald Reagan Washington National AirportinCrystal City

The area has two major airports,Ronald Reagan Washington National AirportinCrystal City,thenation's 23rd-busiest airport by passenger traffic as of 2022and the busiest airport in theWashington metropolitan area,andDulles International AirportinDulles.[94]in both passenger loadings and aircraft movements, and the 16th-busiest airport[95]in the nation by takeoffs and landings in 2007. Dulles is the region's primary international gateway, serves as a hub forUnited Airlines,and has recently improved its low-cost carrier offerings with the addition of multiple flights bySouthwestandJetBlue.

Subway and passenger trains

edit
Further information:Virginia Railway ExpressandWashington Metro

Commuters are served by theWashington Metrosubwayand theVirginia Railway Express(VRE), a commuter railroad. Metro is the second-busiest subway system in the nation after theNew York City Subwaysystem.[96]Acompleted expansion projectextends the system pastDulles International AirportintoLoudon County.The VRE has two lines adjacent to I-66 and I-95 starting in Union Station and extending toManassasandSpotsylvania,respectively.[97][circular reference]VRE service is significantly more limited, but nevertheless saw over a year of continuous ridership increase from 2007 into 2008.[98]Bus service is provided by WMATA's Metrobus and several local jurisdictions.

Highways

edit

The Washington metropolitan area has the worst traffic in the nation,[99]and Northern Virginia is home to six of the ten worstbottlenecksin the area.[100]To alleviate gridlock, local governments encourage using Metrorail,HOV,carpooling,slugging,and other forms of mass transportation. Major limited- or partially limited-access highways include Interstates 495 (theCapital Beltway),95,395,and66,theFairfax County Parkwayand adjoiningFranconia–Springfield Parkway,theGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway,and theDulles Toll Road.High-occupancy vehicle(HOV) lanes are used for commuters and buses on I-66, I-95/395, and the Dulles Toll Road. A study done by INRIX Roadway Analytics ranked Southbound I-95 from Washington D.C to the southern tip of Stafford County the worst single traffic hotspot in the nation. It also ranked Northbound I-95 from Spotsylvania County to the northern tip of Stafford County the seventh worst traffic hotspot in the nation.[101]Northern Virginia is also home to the Express Lanes. These express lanes are where a car has anE-ZPasstransponder and is charged for riding a distance on the express lanes. They are currently being built on I-66, and are currently available on I-395, I-495 from the Springfield Interchange to Tysons Corner but are being extended to theMaryland-Virginia border, and I-95 from the end of I-395 (Springfield Interchange) to centralStafford Countyand are being extended toFredericksburg.

Two major regional bottlenecks, theSpringfield InterchangeandWoodrow Wilson Bridge,were massively reconstructed with completion in 2007 and 2008. Generally, Potomac River crossings remain major choke points; proposals to add crossings (such as nearLeesburgorQuanticoas part of a long-proposedOuter Beltway) are opposed by Virginia communities near the suggested bridge sites, and by Marylanders who fear that new bridges would bring new housing development to green space in that state such asPoolesville.[citation needed]Because of Northern Virginia's high housing costs, tens of thousands of employees there choose more affordable housing far away in outer Virginia exurban counties, or inPrince George's CountyandSouthern Maryland,thus creating tremendous traffic congestion on the Potomac bridges. This situation is much like metropolitan areas of California. Furthermore, Fairfax County localities such asGreat Falls,Dranesville,andCliftonimpose low-density, large-acreage residential zoning, which forces developers to leapfrog into Loudoun and Prince William counties to build housing, thus increasing commuters' driving distances. In recent years, developers have continued to develop inLoudoun County,but have filledPrince William County,leading many developers to move south toStafford County,where local government has been more receptive to developments.

Education

edit

Primary education

edit
Further information:Fairfax County Public Schools
George Mason UniversityinFairfax,the largest university in the state by student population with 40,185 as of 2022

Fairfax County'spublic school systemincludes theThomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology,an award-winningmagnet school.As of 2021, 19 of the region's schools appear in the top 200 ofNewsweek's "America's Top Public High Schools", and Thomas Jefferson is ranked number one.[102]In comparison, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the rest of Virginia have 10 schools between them in the top 200.[102]

Colleges and universities

edit
Further information:George Mason University

George Mason University,inFairfax,is the largest public university in Virginia.

Other higher education institutions includeNorthern Virginia Community College(colloquially known as NOVA) inAnnandale(with several branch campuses throughout Northern Virginia), theUniversity of Mary WashingtoninFredericksburg,Patrick Henry Collegeinwestern Loudoun County,andMarymount Universityin north Arlington. TheUniversity of VirginiaandVirginia Techmaintain a Center inFalls Church,andGeorge Washington Universityhas a campus inLoudon County.Virginia Commonwealth UniversityHealth Systems has a satellite campus inFairfaxat theInova Health System.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^13 counties and seven independent cities within the Washington MSA or Washington-Baltimore CSA
  2. ^Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017, U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division(Report). Washington:U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.[dead link]
  3. ^"Demographics".Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.Charlottesville:University of Virginia.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2019.RetrievedMarch 16,2019.
  4. ^ab"American FactFinder".Archived fromthe originalon June 25, 2009.RetrievedMarch 26,2008.
  5. ^Gregg, Aaron (August 19, 2016)."D.C. suburbs becoming one of the country's fastest-growing employment hubs".The Washington Post.Washington.Archivedfrom the original on August 26, 2016.RetrievedAugust 28,2016.
  6. ^"America's Richest Counties".Forbes.com.January 22, 2008.Archivedfrom the original on May 13, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 8,2008.
  7. ^"USGS Correspondence Handbook".Archived fromthe originalon February 6, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 14,2012.
  8. ^abcdeJohnston, Wilbur S. (2006). "The Northern Neck in Colonial Context". Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, Winchester Printers, Inc.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  9. ^The Official Guide of Virginia's Northern Neck (2007), Northern Neck Tourism Council
  10. ^abhttps://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/about/omb-bulletins.htmlArchivedMarch 29, 2019, at theWayback Machine| OMB Bulletin No. 18-04, Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas
  11. ^abcd"Thomas, Lord Fairfax".The Fort Edwards WebPage.Archivedfrom the original on January 21, 2011.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
  12. ^Grant of the Office of Lieutenant and Governor-GeneralArchivedFebruary 20, 2023, at theWayback Machine,June 21, 1675, Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, Great Britain Public Record Office, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1896
  13. ^Letter from Nicholas Spencer to Secretary Thomas CoventryArchivedFebruary 20, 2023, at theWayback Machine,August 20, 1680, reporting news of Culpeper's departure from Virginia, Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, Great Britain Public Record Office, Whitehall, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890
  14. ^"History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia..."J. B. Lippincott & co. October 5, 1860 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^Letters of William FitzhughArchivedFebruary 20, 2023, at theWayback Machine,The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography,Vol. II, The Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, 1895
  16. ^abc"The Fairfax Grant".Virginia Places.Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2016.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
  17. ^Grymes, Charles A."The Fairfax Grant".Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 7,2008.
  18. ^"Lord Fairfax Land Records".Handley Regional Library: Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. Archived fromthe originalon October 1, 2006.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
  19. ^"A Guide to the Lord Thomas Fairfax land grant to Robert Carter".Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library. 2008.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2010.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
  20. ^"Phillips v. Payne, 92 U.S. 130".FindLaw.1875.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2017.RetrievedMarch 7,2017.
  21. ^"Virginia Convention of 1861 - Civil War Collections - University of Richmond".Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2011.RetrievedNovember 5,2013.
  22. ^abc"War on Terror a Boon For Virginia".Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2008.RetrievedApril 9,2008.
  23. ^"Northern Virginia".Archivedfrom the original on February 28, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 17,2010.
  24. ^Bamford, James (2009).The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America.Random House. p. 187.ISBN9780307279392.RetrievedFebruary 27,2014.
  25. ^Miller, Rich (June 9, 2009)."The Internet's Busiest Intersection".Data Center Knowledge.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  26. ^abO'Connell, Jonathan (January 17, 2014)."Data centers boom in Loudoun County, but jobs are not following".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2015.RetrievedNovember 25,2015.
  27. ^"Northern Virginia Regional Commission - Website | Official Website".www.novaregion.org.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2020.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  28. ^"Member Governments | Northern Virginia Regional Commission - Website".www.novaregion.org.Archivedfrom the original on August 5, 2020.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  29. ^"About VAPDC".Vapdc 080318.Archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2020.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  30. ^"MWCOG.org – About Us".Archivedfrom the original on February 19, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 26,2009.
  31. ^"MWCOG.org – Transportation – TPB".Archivedfrom the original on February 4, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 26,2009.
  32. ^Resident Population Data."Resident Population Data – 2010 Census".2010.census.gov. Archived fromthe originalon October 23, 2012.RetrievedDecember 22,2016.
  33. ^"Population and Housing Unit Estimates"(Excel).U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division.Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  34. ^https://demographics.coopercenter.org/virginia-regionsArchivedMay 27, 2020, at theWayback Machine| University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
  35. ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2016.RetrievedMarch 16,2019.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ^"ACS: Ranking Table – Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed a Bachelor's Degree".United States Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon October 13, 2004.RetrievedAugust 27,2008.
  37. ^"Seattle city, Washington – Educational Attainment".Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2020.RetrievedNovember 12,2008.
  38. ^"Arlington County, Virginia – Educational Attainment".Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2020.RetrievedNovember 12,2008.
  39. ^Rems, Janet (March 3, 2011)."City planners use Reston as a model".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2011.RetrievedMarch 4,2011.
  40. ^Henderson, Tim (November 10, 2016)."Black households make more money than white ones in these seven counties".PBS NewsHour.Archivedfrom the original on August 5, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  41. ^"Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data From the 2007 American Community Survey"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on May 5, 2010.RetrievedDecember 7,2017.
  42. ^"Cost of Living Can Significantly Affect" Real "Median Household Income".Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2008.
  43. ^Gowen, Annie (November 6, 2009)."Loudoun tops the nation in 25-to-34-year-olds with hefty incomes".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on May 25, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 6,2017.
  44. ^"Nielsen | Audience is Everything".www.nielsen.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  45. ^Potts, Mark (November 13, 1989)."The Swanky Side of Fairfax Square".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 27, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  46. ^"Tysons Galleria"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 20, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 2,2009.
  47. ^Plumb, Tierney (September 18, 2008)."Sotheby's International Realty opens shop in Northern Virginia".Washington Business Journal.Archivedfrom the original on January 16, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  48. ^abKlopott, Freeman (October 27, 2009)."Gangs flee N.Va.for havens in Md., D.C., report says".Washington Examiner.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  49. ^"Crime Drops for Fourth Straight Year in Fairfax County".Fairfax County. December 5, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon August 17, 2007.
  50. ^"2 Counties: A Dangerous Difference; While Montgomery's Crime Rate Has Risen, Fairfax's Is Down Series: VULNERABLE SUBURBS: THE GROWTH OF VIOLENT CRIME Series Number: 2/2".
  51. ^Connolly, Gerald (November 1, 2007)."Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Election"(Interview).The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on October 13, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  52. ^Zapotosky, Matt (September 29, 2013)."Gangs in Northern Virginia increasingly selling children for sex".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  53. ^Downey, Kirstin (May 6, 2007)."High-Rises Approved That Would Dwarf D.C."The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  54. ^"Diagrams - SkyscraperPage.com".skyscraperpage.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  55. ^Hubler, David (January 27, 2010)."Virginia's new governor keeps focus on jobs and technology".Washington Technology.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  56. ^"The CoStar Office Market Watch".The Washington Post.May 28, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  57. ^"Unemployment: Where does your state rank?".CNNMoney.Archivedfrom the original on September 23, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  58. ^Clabaugh, Jeff (October 26, 2008)."Northern Virginia still creating jobs".Washington Business Journal.Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2012.RetrievedNovember 14,2008.
  59. ^McCaffrey, Scott (October 26, 2008)."Arlington Jobs Picture Still Best in Virginia".Sun Gazette Newspapers.RetrievedNovember 14,2008.[permanent dead link]
  60. ^McCaffrey, Scott (September 2, 2010)."Unemployment Dips Slightly Across Arlington".InsideNoVA.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  61. ^Koelemay, Doug (April 25, 2005)."Competing for the Creative Class".Bacon's Rebellion.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2010.RetrievedAugust 28,2016.
  62. ^Franklin, Sydney (May 17, 2019)."Amazon reveals first rendering of its HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia".The Architect's Newspaper.Archivedfrom the original on May 17, 2019.RetrievedMay 31,2019.
  63. ^abMiller, Rich (January 16, 2017)."Amazon Approaches 1 Gigawatt of Cloud Capacity in Virginia".Data Center Frontier.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2017.RetrievedOctober 17,2017.
  64. ^"Northern Virginia – world's first data center market to reach one gigawatt of capacity".Data Economy. April 26, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2019.
  65. ^Miller, Rich (March 16, 2017)."Northern Virginia: America's Largest Data Center Market".Data Center Frontier.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2017.RetrievedOctober 17,2017.
  66. ^Censer, Marjorie (August 27, 2011)."After dramatic growth, Ashburn expects even more data centers".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.Loudoun officials said they expect 6.5 million square feet in data centers by 2021.
  67. ^Garber, Kent (March 24, 2009)."The Internet's Hidden Energy Hogs: Data Servers".U.S. News & World Report.Archivedfrom the original on April 27, 2009.RetrievedMarch 25,2007.
  68. ^Miller, Rich (March 14, 2012)."Estimate: Amazon Cloud Backed by 450,000 Servers".Data Center Knowledge.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  69. ^Miller, Rich (January 15, 2013)."Amazon Adding Cloud Capacity in Northern Virginia".Data Center Knowledge.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  70. ^Ledford, Tranette."Best East Coast Cities for Defense Jobs".Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 14,2009.
  71. ^Perrins, Gerald; Nilsen, Diane (December 2006)."Industry dynamics in the Washington, DC, area: has a second job core emerged?"(PDF).Monthly Labor Review.Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on June 5, 2007.
  72. ^Neibauer, Michael (March 20, 2014)."Positive review for Capital One's massive headquarters in Tysons".Washington Business Journal.American City Business Journals.Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2020.RetrievedMay 31,2019.
  73. ^"Fortune 500".Fortune.com.Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  74. ^"America's Largest Private Companies".Forbes.2021.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  75. ^Battle of Fredericksburg
  76. ^Public Quarry at Government Island
  77. ^Ferry Farm
  78. ^Chatham Manor
  79. ^Gari Melchers Home & Studio
  80. ^Cooper, Rachel."Top 10 Northern Virginia Attractions".About.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 22, 2009.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  81. ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2018.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  82. ^Glasrud, Bruce; Ely, James W. (May 1977). "The Crisis of Conservative Virginia: The Byrd Organization and the Politics of Massive Resistance (book review)".The Journal of Southern History.43(2). The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 43, No. 2: 324–325.doi:10.2307/2207385.JSTOR2207385.
  83. ^"General Election- November 7, 2006".Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2006.RetrievedNovember 16,2006.
  84. ^Branscome, Jeff (November 7, 2018)."Election results in Fredericksburg region reflect suburban-rural divide".Fredericksburg.com.The Free Lance-Star.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  85. ^Tapper, Jake (October 18, 2008)."McCain Adviser Says Northern Virginia Not" Real "Virginia".Archived fromthe originalon October 26, 2008.RetrievedOctober 28,2008.
  86. ^Tapper, Jake (October 5, 2008)."Joe McCain Makes Bad Joke".Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2008.RetrievedDecember 6,2008.
  87. ^ab"County Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2009.RetrievedMay 20,2010.
  88. ^Pascoe, Bill (January 13, 2010)."Virginia Special Election Sends a Message to GOP".The Economist Group. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 13,2010.
  89. ^Cohen, Jon; Helderman, Rosalind S. (May 9, 2011)."Virginians are almost evenly split on gay marriage, Post poll finds".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  90. ^"Virginia politics, Northern Virginia style".The Washington Post.May 10, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on February 6, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
  91. ^Leip, David."General Election Results – Virginia".United States Election Atlas.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2011.RetrievedJuly 15,2018.
  92. ^Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce,"Our Community"ArchivedJanuary 7, 2016, at theWayback Machine
  93. ^Lindsay, Drew (November 1, 2008)."Will Northern Virginia Become the 51st State?".The Washingtonian.Archivedfrom the original on March 19, 2012.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
  94. ^Aratani, Lori (April 1, 2017)."BWI, Reagan National airports set records for passenger traffic - the Washington Post".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017.RetrievedJuly 11,2017.
  95. ^"FAA - Top 50 Busiest U.S. Airports for 2007 – All Airports".Archived fromthe originalon June 5, 2008.Retrieved2009-01-06.
  96. ^Dawson, Christie (December 4, 2008)."Heavy Rail Rapid Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2008"(PDF).American Public Transportation Association. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 6, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 27,2009.
  97. ^Virginia Railway Express
  98. ^Hannon, Kelly (October 11, 2008)."Fredericksburg.com – VRE riders breaking records".Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 6,2009.
  99. ^Trull, Armando (September 27, 2011)."D.C. Area Has Worst Traffic in U.S".Archived fromthe originalon December 1, 2011.RetrievedDecember 3,2011.
  100. ^Essley, Liz (December 2, 2011)."Top 10: The worst traffic bottlenecks in the Washington area".Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2015.RetrievedDecember 3,2011.
  101. ^Shenk, Scott (September 27, 2017)."D.C.-to-Stafford stretch of I–95 tabbed worst traffic hotspot in U.S.".Fredericksburg.com.The Free Lance-Star.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.
  102. ^ab"High Schools news & latest pictures from Newsweek.com".Newsweek.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021.

Further reading

edit
edit

38°51′45″N77°20′42″W/ 38.86250°N 77.34500°W/38.86250; -77.34500

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northern_Virginia&oldid=1235421126"