Discovering Fairfax: From It's Historic Past to It's Current Day Happenings
What makes Fairfax particularly unique is the fact that it’s both part of the Northern Virginia suburb area, but also considered incremental to D.C. Its history stretches back to the very first settlers (arguably, and sadly, before that too), like much of Northern Virginia. In 1649, King Charles II allowed Thomas Fairfax’s request for Fairfax County to become official.
In 1732, life in Fairfax could be described as tranquil, quaint, and community-focused. Although the former and latter descriptions are still true today, much has changed in Fairfax, and I don’t think the word ‘quaint’ quite suits it anymore. Let me tell you the town’s journey from little humble village to bustling small city.
The 1800s brought a lot of influential changes to Fairfax. Many of these changes where brought along by the presence of George Washington and George Mason, both of which lived in the area. Also, while the last century marked Fairfax as a top tobacco producer, this century was Fairfax’s claim to fame for wheat production.
The other influential change in Fairfax was brought along by the Civil War. Late in 1862, the Union occupied the town, and the first Confederate soldier to die during the war did so at Fairfax Courthouse. Today, the area has done a lot to address this dark part of its history with various activist-focused movements and legislation.
The turn of the century was very prosperous for Fairfax and brought about a lot of good for the community. The architecture of this time period was unmatched by anything done here before. Classical revival buildings began being constructed with both Greek and Roman influence much of which is still seen in the town center today— particularly with Fairfax’s town hall. The newly built electric railway brought visitors and new incoming residents. The town hall put on a weekly movie; baseball games were hosted at a community field, and they started a local brass band. By 1950, farmers were a minority, and ‘townies’ were the new resident norm. In 1961, the town of Fairfax was officially a small city, which takes us to what it’s like today.
Today you can visit Fairfax’s history at the Fairfax County Courthouse (1800) and Ratcliffe-Allison-Poser House which is the oldest residence in Fairfax’s Town of Providence. There’s also a bunch of other registered historic sites like the Ford House, built in 1835, Truro Rectory, circa 1835, as well as the Joshua Gunnell House of 1830.
Fairfax is the most popular jurisdiction in Virginia with a whopping 1.2 million residents. The area is so ethnically diverse that 27% of its population is international residents, and the mini city has and continues to be top-ranking on Forbes Magazine's best places to live. But my favorite fun fact will always be: Fairfax is close to so many major cities that 50% of the U.S is only a day's drive away. It simply doesn’t get boring here.
If you love shopping, you love Fairfax. The number of stores here is never-ending, enough that you probably won’t manage to hit them all in a single year. Fair Oaks Mall has most of the big name brands you can think of. On their website— link below— they show you what stores (which are most of them) are currently having deals and offers. Big brand names that aren’t here, you’ll most likely spot them at Fairfax Corners. And if you want something a bit more unique, Fairfax has cute boutiques, like Mode on Main by Mara, and a million art stores, coffee shops, and fitness centers that specialize in everything from Muay Thai to yoga to HIIT.
The local festivals are always great too. ‘Fall for the Book’ will be this month, which features all things books— readings, book discussions, and exhibits from recognized writers. The Fairfax Fall festival opens next week; it’ll have a ton of fun in the form of arts & crafts, food vendors, and more.
It’s not just fun that Fairfax has— work and education are valued in Fairfax. There are a myriad of tech jobs here, and the data industry is also booming; D.C is right around the corner for any government occupations or contracting opportunities. Many companies house their HQ’s in Fairfax like Capital One and Freddie Mac. The Fairfax schools are some of the best you can find in Virginia, like Woodson High School, which is #5 in the state (Niche).
The one major downside of this community is its car-centric layout. Getting around without a vehicle is a challenge, and getting around with a vehicle can be headache-inducing with the traffic. Other than that, Fairfax is great. Whether you’re visiting or looking to become a local, check the place out and all it has to offer.
There you have it: a brief recap of Fairfax’s history (which left plenty to be desired and much more to be discovered as well) and a short summary of just a few events that are within the town. It’s hard to believe, with all the modern-day amenities, that this is one of the oldest towns in the United States. Whether you’re a local or just stopping by, you can find plenty to discover in Fairfax.
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