Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is approximately south of Washington, D.C. It is part of the Northern Virginia region, and the D.C area. It is one of the fastest-growing and highest-income counties in America. As of the 2020 United States census, the population sits at 156,927. Its county seat is Stafford.
Located across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County, Stafford County is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2006, and again in 2009, Stafford was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 11th highest-income county in the United States. According to a Census Bureau report released in 2019, Stafford County is currently the sixth highest-income county in North America.
History For thousands of years, various native cultures succeeded each other in their territories along the Potomac River and its tributaries. By the time of English colonization, there were 32 Algonquian-speaking Native American tribes in the present-day coastal Tidewater Virginia area, including those of the Patawomeck and numerous tribes that were part of the Powhatan Confederacy. The former small tribe, still centered in Stafford County, was recognized by the state of Virginia in 2010.
The Indigenous' first recorded encounter with Europeans in this area was in 1608, with John Smith of the Jamestown Settlement. During a time of recurring tension between the early English colonists and the local natives, the colonists led by Samuel Argall captured Chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, while she was living with her husband, Kocoum, at the Patawomeck town of Passapatanzy. The colonists took her from Passapatanzy, located in the eastern part of what is now Stafford County, to a secondary English settlement, known as Henricus (or Henrico Town). During her captivity there, Alexander Whitaker converted Pocahontas to Christianity. She took the name "Rebecca" at her baptism. Rebecca/Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe on April 5, 1614, in Jamestown. Their mixed-race descendants were among the First Families of Virginia.
The English colonial government of Virginia imposed its own order on the land and peoples. In 1664 it established Stafford County from territory previously part of Westmoreland County (which had been created from Northumberland County in 1653). It was named after Staffordshire, England. As originally delineated, Stafford County included a much larger area than its current borders. As population grew, the following counties and jurisdictions were created: Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties, and the City of Alexandria. It is part of the area now considered Northern Virginia.
George Washington spent much of his childhood in the lower part of the county at his family's home Ferry Farm, which at the time was part of King George County and was along the Rappahannock River across from Fredericksburg. Colonial Forge High School was built on a tract of land owned in colonial times by his father Augustine Washington. George Mason, another Founding Father, also lived in Stafford during his formative years.Connor Jr., Albert Z. (2003). A History of Our Own, Virginia Beach: The Donning Company Publishers.
Aquia Church, built in 1757, is unusual among local structures for having been designed on the plan of a Greek cross rather than the more standard Roman Cross design. In addition, Aquia Church has a rare three-tiered pulpit; it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Episcopal church continues to be active today.Information about historical churches, including the Aquia Episcopal Church , Simply Fredericksburg
Stafford County industry and resources were important to the colony and early nation. During the Revolutionary War, the Stafford ironworks furnished arms for the colonial rebel soldiers.DeOnne C. Scott, Stafford County (VA): Images of America, Amazon.com Aquia Creek sandstone, quarried from Government Island, was used to build the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
During the American Civil War, the county was part of the battlegrounds, occupied repeatedly by more than 100,000 troops for several years. In 1862, before and after the Battle of Fredericksburg, some 10,000 slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus and Trail of Freedom is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river, in Fredericksburg and in Stafford County."Trail of Freedom", Rappahannock River Heritage Trail, University of Mary Washington blog The Battle of Aquia Creek took place in the Aquia Harbour area. Both the Union Army and the Confederate Army struggled to control the strategic Potomac Creek Bridge at various times during the war.
Falmouth, a town bordering Fredericksburg, was the home of late-19th century American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers. His house, Belmont, still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
20th century to present
Stafford County has developed to be one of the core counties of the Washington metropolitan area and Northern Virginia, the seat of government and numerous major defense installations. Marine Corps Base Quantico occupies northern areas of the county. The FBI Academy, FBI National Laboratory and NCIS HQ are located on the Stafford side of MCBQ. Many residents commute north to work there and in other defense and federal facilities, as well as private companies, in Washington and its environs on Interstate Highway 95, U.S. Route 1, and by Virginia Railway Express. Stafford County is suburban and home to many Washington, D.C., commuters and workers who work for the federal government. It is also home to many military families because of its proximity to MCBQ. Theoe facts contribute to the high-income of families in Stafford County and the high number of home-ownership and college graduates. Stafford County is also one of the few counties in America where black households make more than white households. In recent years Stafford County has experienced major suburbanization, and growth as more and more workers move to the suburbs for their families. Thus, many developers are currently active in Stafford County in housing and retail projects.
In the early morning hours of May 9, 2008, a tornado touched down in the southern part of the county, severely damaging about 140 suburban homes.
The county was severely affected by "Snowmageddon," the massive blizzards of December 2009 and February 2010, and received some of the heaviest snow in the D.C. metropolitan area, with about 25 inches of snow in December, and 19 inches in February.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.9%) is water. The independent city of Fredericksburg developed at the fall line of the Rappahannock, supporting mills run by water power. To the northwest of there is the Piedmont area. Aquia Creek empties into the tidal segment of the Potomac River at Brent Point. Its location and proximity to Washington, D.C., has caused many federal government workers and commuters to live in the county. Stafford County's location, close to Washington, D.C., and MCB Quanico, are one of the major reasons for the county's suburbanization and growth.
Major bodies of water Rappahannock River Potomac River Aquia Creek
Adjacent counties and independent city
Fauquier County – northwest Prince William County – north Charles County, Maryland – east King George County – southeast Caroline County – south Fredericksburg – southwest Spotsylvania County – southwest Culpeper County – west
Government and politics
The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: George Washington, Hartwood, Falmouth, Griffis-Widewater, Aquia, Garrisonville, and Rockhill. The magisterial districts, roughly equal in population, each elect one supervisor to the Board of Supervisors which governs Stafford County. The county operates under the county form of the County Executive system of government, with an elected Board of Supervisors. The Board hires a professional, nonpartisan County Administrator to manage government agencies. The current County Administrator is Thomas C. Foley. Stafford County is currently a battleground county politically which leans Republican. Due to its rapid suburbanization and growth of families, and Federal Government employees from D.C. and being a part of Northern Virginia it has trended Democratic; however, it has stayed Republican at the state and local level. The Board of Supervisors currently has a Republican majority, that is also true of the Stafford School Board (although they are elected on a bipartisan basis). In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democratic candidate to carry Stafford County since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Stafford County is represented by Congressman Eugene Vindman of Virginia's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the state level, it is represented by Republican Tara Durant and Democrat Jeremy McPike in the Virginia State Senate. Democrats Candi King, Joshua G. Cole and Republican Paul Milde represent the county in the Virginia House of Delegates.
County-Wide Commonwealth's Officials Office Name Affiliation Commonwealth's Attorney Eric Olsen Republican Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky Republican Sheriff David Decatur Republican Treasurer Michael Sienkowski Republican Clerk of Circuit Court Kathy Sterne Republican
Current Partisan Composition of the Board of Supervisors + Board of Supervisors Position Name Affiliation First election District Chair Deuntay Diggs Independent 2024 George Washington Vice-chair Tinesha Allen Democratic 2020 Griffis-Widewater Supervisor Maya Guy Democratic 2026 Aquia Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yeung Democratic 2022 Garrisonville Supervisor Kecia Evans Democratic 2026 Falmouth Supervisor Darrell E. English Republican 2022 Hartwood Supervisor Crystal Vanuch Republican 2020 Rock Hill
Past composition of the Board 2003-2005
Republican incumbent Robert Gibbons from the Rockhill District won re-election after a failed state legislature race in which he lost in the primary. Democrat Peter Fields from the George Washington district won re-election to his second term. Independent Jack Cavilier ran for re-election and won in the Griffis-Widewater district, keeping the Board of Supervisors at a gridlock 3-3-1 partisan split. Position Name Affiliation First election District Supervisor Robert Gibbons Republican 1991 Rock Hill Supervisor Kandy Hillard Democratic 2001 Aquia Supervisor Gary Pash Democratic 2001 Garrisonville Supervisor Gary Snellings Republican 2001 Hartwood Supervisor Mark Osborn Republican 2001 Falmouth Supervisor Peter Fields Democratic 1999 George Washington Supervisor Jack Cavilier Independent 1999 Griffis-Widewater
2005-2007
Growth being a main concern of residents four incumbents lost re-election bids. Gary Snelings, a Republican from the Hartwood district lost re-election by 36 votes to Independent Joe Brito. Republican incumbent Mark Osborn lost re-election in the Falmouth district for a second term, to Democratic political newcomer George Schwartz. Democrats in the northern part of the county were replaced by Republicans. Gary Pash, a Democrat representing the Garrisonville District and Kandy Hillard a Democrat representing the Aquia District were replaced by Republicans Mark Dudenhefer and Paul Milde, respectively.