Fredericksburg, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Fredericksburg is an independent city
in the Commonwealth of Virginia located 49 miles (78.9 km) south of Washington, D.C.
, and 58 miles (93.3 km) north of Richmond
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County
for statistical purposes.
Located near where the Rappahannock River
crosses the Fall Line
, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era. During the Civil War
, the town, located halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg
and Second Battle of Fredericksburg, preserved in part as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
. Tourism is a major part of the economy, with approximately 1.5 million people visiting the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums and historic sites.
Fredericksburg is the commercial hub of a rapidly growing region in northern Central Virginia, and is the largest city between Richmond
and the Metro Washington area. Major commercial centers include Central Park
(as of 2004, the second-largest mall on the East Coast
) and Spotsylvania Towne Centre
, located in Spotsylvania County adjacent to the city line. Major employers include the University of Mary Washington and Mary Washington Hospital. Many Fredericksburg-area residents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Richmond, Fairfax
, Prince William County
, and Arlington
, as well as Washington, D.C. This has led to Fredericksburg becoming a part of Northern Virginia
not only geographically, but also culturally.
near the head of navigation at the fall line
, Fredericksburg developed as the frontier of colonial Virginia shifted west out of the coastal plain
. The land on which the city was founded was part of a tract patented in 1671. The Virginia General Assembly
established a fort on the Rappahannock in 1676, just below the present-day city. In 1714, Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood
sponsored a German settlement called Germanna
on the Rapidan River
, a tributary of the Rappahannock upstream from the future site of the city, and led an expedition westward over the Blue Ridge Mountains
in 1716.
As interest in the frontier grew, the colonial assembly responded by forming a new county named Spotsylvania
(after the governor) in 1720 and establishing Fredericksburg in 1728 as a port for the county, of which it was then a part. Named for Frederick, Prince of Wales
, son of King George II
, the colonial town's streets bore the names of members of the royal family. The county court was moved to Fredericksburg in 1732, and the town served as county seat
until 1780, when the courthouse was moved closer to the county center. Fredericksburg was incorporated as a town
, with its own court, council, and mayor, in 1781. It received its charter as an independent city
in 1879. The city adopted its present city manager/council form of government in 1911.
The city has close associations with George Washington
, whose family moved to Ferry Farm
in Stafford County
just off the Rappahannock River
opposite Fredericksburg in 1738. Washington's mother Mary later moved to the city, and his sister Betty lived at Kenmore, a plantation house then outside the city. Other significant early residents include the Revolutionary War generals Hugh Mercer
and George Weedon
, naval war hero John Paul Jones
, and future U.S. president James Monroe
. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
in Fredericksburg.
The city's development and success was based on other significant residents, enslaved Africans with varied skills, who were critical to its growth. "Slaves worked on plantations, on the docks, in iron industries, mining and quarries, mercantile businesses, construction, domestic services, and others were skilled blacksmiths, coopers, cobblers, and draymen. African Americans were vital in the development of the area."
During the 19th century, Fredericksburg sought to maintain its sphere of trade but with limited success. It promoted the development of a canal
on the Rappahannock and construction of a turnpike
and plank road
to bind the interior country to the market town. By 1837, a north-south railroad, which became the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
, linked the town to Richmond
, the state capital. A much-needed railroad joining the town to the farming region to the west was not finished until after the Civil War.
During the Civil War
, Fredericksburg gained strategic importance due to its location midway between Washington
and Richmond, the opposing capitals of the Union
and the Confederacy
. During the Battle of Fredericksburg
, December 11–15, 1862, the town sustained significant damage from bombardment and looting by the Union forces. A Second Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in and around the town on May 3, 1863, in connection with the Chancellorsville
campaign (April 27, 1863 – May 6, 1863). The battles of the Wilderness
and Spotsylvania Court House
were fought nearby in May 1864.
After the war, Fredericksburg recovered its former position as a center of local trade and slowly grew beyond its prewar boundaries. The University of Mary Washington
was founded there in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women. Adopting the name of Mary Washington College in 1938, the college was for many years associated with the University of Virginia
as a women's liberal arts college. The college became independent of UVA and began to accept men in 1970. Recently, the college changed names from Mary Washington College to the University of Mary Washington. A separate campus for graduate and professional studies is located in suburban Stafford County
.
The power chord
of modern guitar was first developed by Link Wray
in Fredericksburg in 1958 during his first improvisation of the instrumental piece "Rumble", a single released by Wray & His Ray Men. The local music scene includes a wide variety of genres.
, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²). None of the area is covered with water. The city is part of the boundary between the Piedmont
and Tidewater
regions, and as such is located on the fall line
, as evidently seen on the Rappahannock River
. US-1, US-17, and I-95
all pass through the city, which is located approximately 49 miles (78.9 km) from Washington, D.C.
The city is bounded on the north and east by the Rappahannock River; across the river is Stafford County
. The city is bounded on the south and west by Spotsylvania County
.
(Köppen
Cfa), with slightly cool winters and hot, humid summers. Note that some of the statistics for the city centre may be different than what is presented below due to the park location of the station used.
of 2000, there were 19,279 people, 8,102 households, and 3,925 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,833.0 people per square mile (707.6/km²). There were 8,888 housing units at an average density of 845.0 per square mile (326.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.18% White, 20.41% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. 4.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,102 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.8% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 23.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,585, and the median income for a family was $47,148. Males had a median income of $33,641 versus $25,037 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,527. 15.5% of the population and 10.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Crime in Virginia 2010
Despite recent decades of suburban growth, reminders of the area's past abound. The 40-block Fredericksburg Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places
, embraces the city's downtown area and contains more than 350 buildings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Crowds of tourists are drawn to the historic district of Fredericksburg during the summer months.
Within the historic district, four 18th-century historic sites are run by Preservation Virginia: the Mary Washington House, where George Washington's mother
spent her final years; the late 18th century Rising Sun Tavern and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop
(the fourth is only open on Historic Garden Week
. Sites from the 19th century include the James Monroe Law Office Museum
. Important public buildings include the 1852 courthouse designed by James Renwick
, whose works include the Smithsonian Institution
's castle building in Washington and St. Patrick's Cathedral
in New York City, and the 1816 town hall and market house. The latter building now houses the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. Another site of interest is St. George's Church
.
Nearby the historic district is Kenmore, the plantation home of Washington's sister Betty
and her husband patriot Fielding Lewis
.
The area's Civil War battles are commemorated in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
. Formed by an act of Congress in 1927, the national military park preserves portions of the battlefields of Fredericksburg
, Chancellorsville
, the Wilderness
, and Spotsylvania Court House
. The Fredericksburg National Cemetery, also part of the park, is located on Marye's Heights on the Fredericksburg battlefield and contains more than 15,000 Union burials from the area's battlefields.
Notable 20th-century sites and structures include the campus of the University of Mary Washington
(begun in 1911), and Carl's Ice Cream
, an Art Moderne roadside ice cream stand on the National Register of Historic Places on Route 1.
Nearby points of interest include Ferry Farm
historic site in Stafford County
where Washington spent his boyhood immediately across the river from Fredericksburg, and the George Washington Birthplace National Monument
, located 38 miles to the east in Westmoreland County
. The historic community of Falmouth
lies across the Rappahannock to the north and includes the historic house Belmont, home of American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers
.
Private schools include:
, established in 1908 and opening in 1911, is a four-year public university within the city.
is The Free Lance–Star
. The Free Lance was first published in 1885, and competed with two twice-weekly papers in the city during the late 19th century, the Fredericksburg News and The Virginia Star. While the News folded in 1884, the Star company began publishing the Daily Star in 1893. In 1900, the two companies merged, with both newspapers continuing publication until 1926, when they merged under the present title. Since that time, the Free Lance–Star has been owned and operated by members of the Rowe family of Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg and the nearby region have several radio stations, including
(on the FM
dial) WWED
(89.5, Christian), WJYJ (90.5, Christian), WFLS
(93.3, country), WGRQ
(95.9, "SuperHits", licensed to nearby Fairview Beach), WWUZ
(96.9, classic rock, licensed to nearby Bowling Green), WVBX (99.3, "The Vibe", rhythmic contemporary, licensed to nearby Spotsylvania), WBQB
("B-101.5", adult contemporary) and WGRX
("Thunder 104.5", country, licensed to nearby Falmouth). Fredericksburg AM
stations include WFVA
(1230, nostalgia) and WNTX (1350, talk, news, and sports). WGRQ and WGRX are owned locally by Telemedia Broadcasting. WFLS, WWUZ, WVBX, and WYSK are owned by the Free Lance–Star Company.
In 2001, the Arbitron
media service began listing the Fredericksburg area as a nationally rated radio market. As of the fall of 2005, the area ranked 154th out of 297 markets surveyed, with a total market population of more than 280,000. Large broadcast companies like Clear Channel Communications
and Cumulus Broadcasting are not active in the local market; almost all of its stations remain locally or regionally owned.
Eagles. Other amateur athletics include the Fredericksburg Hotspur
of United Soccer Leagues
Premier Development League (PDL); and the Rappahannock Rugby Club
a senior men's rugby club competing in Division III of the Potomac Rugby Union.
, providing north-south transportation from the region to Stafford, Washington D.C., and points beyond. Route 3 (Plank Road)
is a major east-west route that connects downtown Fredericksburg (via the Blue and Gray Parkway bypass), southern Stafford and King George counties, and Route 301
with the large shopping centers, Spotsylvania Town Center and Central Park. To the west, Route 3 reaches Culpeper
, where it meets Route 29
and Route 15
.
Most of Fredericksburg's traffic flow is to or from the north (Washington D.C. metropolitan area) during peak commuting hours, primarily via Interstate 95
and US-1. The US-1 bridge over the Rappahannock River is often a traffic bottleneck, and Route 3 has become increasingly jammed as residential development has grown west.
As an alternative to I-95, commuters also use the Virginia Railway Express
rail service to Washington. Long-distance rail service is available on Amtrak
, which serves Fredericksburg via the Northeast Regional and Carolinian/Piedmont routes. FRED is a recently started bus service in Fredericksburg which serves most area communities, retail shopping centers, two VRE stations, and downtown Fredericksburg.
Independent city (United States)
In the United States, an independent city is a city that does not belong to any particular county. Because counties have historically been a strong institution in local government in most of the United States, independent cities are relatively rare outside of Virginia , whose state constitution...
in the Commonwealth of Virginia located 49 miles (78.9 km) south of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and 58 miles (93.3 km) north of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides important economic statistics including the gross domestic product of the United States. Its stated mission is to "promote a better understanding of the U.S...
combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
for statistical purposes.
Located near where the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
crosses the Fall Line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the town, located halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
and Second Battle of Fredericksburg, preserved in part as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and elsewhere in Spotsylvania County, commemorating four major battles in the American Civil War.-Park:...
. Tourism is a major part of the economy, with approximately 1.5 million people visiting the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums and historic sites.
Fredericksburg is the commercial hub of a rapidly growing region in northern Central Virginia, and is the largest city between Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and the Metro Washington area. Major commercial centers include Central Park
Central Park (shopping complex)
Central Park is a shopping complex in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with over 255 businesses. The complex is located near the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Route 3. Many national big-box stores, restaurants, and smaller local businesses occupy the Central Park complex. The complex has of...
(as of 2004, the second-largest mall on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
) and Spotsylvania Towne Centre
Spotsylvania Towne Centre
The Spotsylvania Towne Centre is a mall located in Spotsylvania, Virginia, on Virginia State Route 3, less than a mile west of Interstate 95, and directly across from the Central Park shopping and dining complex. The mall is owned and developed by Cafaro Company...
, located in Spotsylvania County adjacent to the city line. Major employers include the University of Mary Washington and Mary Washington Hospital. Many Fredericksburg-area residents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Richmond, Fairfax
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Prince William County
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
, and Arlington
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, as well as Washington, D.C. This has led to Fredericksburg becoming a part of Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
not only geographically, but also culturally.
History
Located on the Rappahannock RiverRappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
near the head of navigation at the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, Fredericksburg developed as the frontier of colonial Virginia shifted west out of the coastal plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
. The land on which the city was founded was part of a tract patented in 1671. The Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
established a fort on the Rappahannock in 1676, just below the present-day city. In 1714, Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood
Alexander Spotswood
Alexander Spotswood was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army and a noted Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He is noted in Virginia and American history for a number of his projects as Governor, including his exploring beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, his establishing what was perhaps the first...
sponsored a German settlement called Germanna
Germanna
Germanna was a German settlement in the Colony of Virginia, settled in two waves, first in 1714 and then in 1717. Virginia Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood encouraged the immigration by advertising in Germany for miners to move to Virginia and establish a mining industry in the...
on the Rapidan River
Rapidan River
The Rapidan River, flowing through north-central Virginia in the United States, is the largest tributary of the Rappahannock River. The two rivers converge just west of the city of Fredericksburg...
, a tributary of the Rappahannock upstream from the future site of the city, and led an expedition westward over the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
in 1716.
As interest in the frontier grew, the colonial assembly responded by forming a new county named Spotsylvania
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
(after the governor) in 1720 and establishing Fredericksburg in 1728 as a port for the county, of which it was then a part. Named for Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
, son of King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, the colonial town's streets bore the names of members of the royal family. The county court was moved to Fredericksburg in 1732, and the town served as county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
until 1780, when the courthouse was moved closer to the county center. Fredericksburg was incorporated as a town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, with its own court, council, and mayor, in 1781. It received its charter as an independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
in 1879. The city adopted its present city manager/council form of government in 1911.
The city has close associations with George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, whose family moved to Ferry Farm
Ferry Farm
Ferry Farm, also known as George Washington Boyhood Home Site or Ferry Farm Site, is the name of the farm and home at which George Washington spent much of his childhood. The site is located in Stafford County, Virginia, along the northern bank of the Rappahannock River, across from the city of...
in Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
just off the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
opposite Fredericksburg in 1738. Washington's mother Mary later moved to the city, and his sister Betty lived at Kenmore, a plantation house then outside the city. Other significant early residents include the Revolutionary War generals Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer was a soldier and physician. He initially served with British forces during the Seven Years War but later became a brigadier general in the Continental Army and a close friend to George Washington...
and George Weedon
George Weedon
George Weedon was an American soldier during the Revolutionary War from Fredericksburg, Virginia.He served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army and later in the Virginia militia....
, naval war hero John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
, and future U.S. president James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was drafted in 1777 by Thomas Jefferson in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1786, the Assembly enacted the statute into the state's law...
in Fredericksburg.
The city's development and success was based on other significant residents, enslaved Africans with varied skills, who were critical to its growth. "Slaves worked on plantations, on the docks, in iron industries, mining and quarries, mercantile businesses, construction, domestic services, and others were skilled blacksmiths, coopers, cobblers, and draymen. African Americans were vital in the development of the area."
During the 19th century, Fredericksburg sought to maintain its sphere of trade but with limited success. It promoted the development of a canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
on the Rappahannock and construction of a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
and plank road
Plank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
to bind the interior country to the market town. By 1837, a north-south railroad, which became the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad was a railroad connecting Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. It is now a portion of the CSX Transportation system....
, linked the town to Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, the state capital. A much-needed railroad joining the town to the farming region to the west was not finished until after the Civil War.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Fredericksburg gained strategic importance due to its location midway between Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Richmond, the opposing capitals of the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. During the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, December 11–15, 1862, the town sustained significant damage from bombardment and looting by the Union forces. A Second Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in and around the town on May 3, 1863, in connection with the Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
campaign (April 27, 1863 – May 6, 1863). The battles of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
and Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
were fought nearby in May 1864.
After the war, Fredericksburg recovered its former position as a center of local trade and slowly grew beyond its prewar boundaries. The University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is a public, coeducational liberal arts college located in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. Founded in 1908 by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a normal school, during much of the twentieth century it was part of the University of Virginia, until...
was founded there in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women. Adopting the name of Mary Washington College in 1938, the college was for many years associated with the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
as a women's liberal arts college. The college became independent of UVA and began to accept men in 1970. Recently, the college changed names from Mary Washington College to the University of Mary Washington. A separate campus for graduate and professional studies is located in suburban Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
.
The power chord
Power chord
In music, a power chord is a chord consisting of only the root note of the chord and the fifth interval, usually played on electric guitar, and typically through an amplification process that imparts distortion...
of modern guitar was first developed by Link Wray
Link Wray
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr was an American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer....
in Fredericksburg in 1958 during his first improvisation of the instrumental piece "Rumble", a single released by Wray & His Ray Men. The local music scene includes a wide variety of genres.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²). None of the area is covered with water. The city is part of the boundary between the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
and Tidewater
Tidewater region of Virginia
The Tidewater region of Virginia is the eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia formally known as Hampton Roads. The term tidewater may be correctly applied to all portions of any area, including Virginia, where the water level is affected by the tides...
regions, and as such is located on the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, as evidently seen on the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
. US-1, US-17, and I-95
Interstate 95 in Virginia
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Interstate 95 runs through the state. It runs concurrently for with Interstate 64 in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of Interstate 85 in Petersburg. Though Interstate 95 was originally planned to go straight through Washington, D.C., it was instead...
all pass through the city, which is located approximately 49 miles (78.9 km) from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The city is bounded on the north and east by the Rappahannock River; across the river is Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
. The city is bounded on the south and west by Spotsylvania County
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
.
Climate
Fredericksburg has a four-season humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa), with slightly cool winters and hot, humid summers. Note that some of the statistics for the city centre may be different than what is presented below due to the park location of the station used.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 19,279 people, 8,102 households, and 3,925 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,833.0 people per square mile (707.6/km²). There were 8,888 housing units at an average density of 845.0 per square mile (326.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.18% White, 20.41% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. 4.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,102 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 23.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,585, and the median income for a family was $47,148. Males had a median income of $33,641 versus $25,037 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $21,527. 15.5% of the population and 10.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Crime
The Fredericksburg Police Department tracks crime information under the state-level system of the Uniform Crime Reporting program. Developed and administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the UCR program provides a nationwide view of crime based on the submission of statistical data from law enforcement agencies across the country. Per State code, the central repository for crime statistics rests with the Department of State Police, which compiles data from all of the participating agencies into an annual publication. The crime information is collected under the National Incident Based Reporting System format, which standardizes the crime data captured for each single incident and arrest within the offense categories.Crime in Virginia 2010
Architecture and historic sites
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, embraces the city's downtown area and contains more than 350 buildings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Crowds of tourists are drawn to the historic district of Fredericksburg during the summer months.
Within the historic district, four 18th-century historic sites are run by Preservation Virginia: the Mary Washington House, where George Washington's mother
Mary Ball Washington
Mary Ball Washington was the second wife to Augustine Washington, and was the mother of George Washington.-Life:...
spent her final years; the late 18th century Rising Sun Tavern and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop
Hugh Mercer Apothecary
Hugh Mercer Apothecary was a pharmacy founded by Hugh Mercer in the mid 18th century. Mercer was a doctor who fled Scotland after the Battle of Culloden...
(the fourth is only open on Historic Garden Week
Historic Garden Week
A pioneering project of the Garden Club of Virginia, Historic Garden Week is a large house tour that runs for a week each April across the Commonwealth of Virginia. In its 78th year, the 2011 tour is of Virginia's most historic houses, as well as a sampling of other notable private residences...
. Sites from the 19th century include the James Monroe Law Office Museum
James Monroe Law Office
The James Monroe Law Office located in Fredericksburg, Virginia was used for that purpose from 1786 to 1789. James Monroe would later become the fifth President of the United States .It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966....
. Important public buildings include the 1852 courthouse designed by James Renwick
James Renwick
James Renwick may refer to:*Jim Renwick , Scottish rugby player*Jim Renwick *James Renwick , Scottish Covenanter...
, whose works include the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's castle building in Washington and St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in New York City, and the 1816 town hall and market house. The latter building now houses the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. Another site of interest is St. George's Church
St. George's Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg
St. George's Episcopal Church is a church in Fredericksburg, Virginia at 905 Princess Anne Street. The church, built in the 18th century and re-built in 1815 and 1849, is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.- History :...
.
Nearby the historic district is Kenmore, the plantation home of Washington's sister Betty
Betty Washington Lewis
Betty Washington Lewis was the younger sister of George Washington and the only sister to live to adulthood. She was the first daughter of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. She is considered a "founding mother" of America.She was born Elizabeth Washington in Westmoreland County,...
and her husband patriot Fielding Lewis
Fielding Lewis
Fielding Lewis was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War and the brother-in-law of George Washington....
.
The area's Civil War battles are commemorated in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and elsewhere in Spotsylvania County, commemorating four major battles in the American Civil War.-Park:...
. Formed by an act of Congress in 1927, the national military park preserves portions of the battlefields of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
, and Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
. The Fredericksburg National Cemetery, also part of the park, is located on Marye's Heights on the Fredericksburg battlefield and contains more than 15,000 Union burials from the area's battlefields.
Notable 20th-century sites and structures include the campus of the University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is a public, coeducational liberal arts college located in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. Founded in 1908 by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a normal school, during much of the twentieth century it was part of the University of Virginia, until...
(begun in 1911), and Carl's Ice Cream
Carl's Ice Cream
Carl's Ice Cream is a roadside ice cream stand located at 2200 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Since 2005, the stand, with its Art Moderne architectural facade, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.,-History:Carl Sponseller founded Carl's Frozen Custard...
, an Art Moderne roadside ice cream stand on the National Register of Historic Places on Route 1.
Nearby points of interest include Ferry Farm
Ferry Farm
Ferry Farm, also known as George Washington Boyhood Home Site or Ferry Farm Site, is the name of the farm and home at which George Washington spent much of his childhood. The site is located in Stafford County, Virginia, along the northern bank of the Rappahannock River, across from the city of...
historic site in Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
where Washington spent his boyhood immediately across the river from Fredericksburg, and the George Washington Birthplace National Monument
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States. Originally settled by John Washington, George Washington's great-grandfather, George Washington was born here on February 22, 1732...
, located 38 miles to the east in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
. The historic community of Falmouth
Falmouth, Virginia
Falmouth is an unincorporated community in Stafford County, Virginia, United States. Situated on the north bank of the Rappahannock River at the falls, the community is north of and opposite the city of Fredericksburg. Recognized by the U.S...
lies across the Rappahannock to the north and includes the historic house Belmont, home of American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers
Gari Melchers
Julius Garibaldi Melchers was an American artist. He was one of the leading American proponents of naturalism.-Biography:...
.
Parks
Public parks run by the city include:- Old Mill Park
- Alum Spring Park
- Hurkamp Park
- Dixon Park
- City Docks
Education
Primary & Secondary Schools
The Fredericksburg City Public Schools are run independent of the surrounding counties. The public primary and secondary schools include:- James Monroe High SchoolJames Monroe High School (Virginia)James Monroe High School is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is a four-year public high school in the Fredericksburg City Schools system. The school is named after James Monroe. The current school building opened to students in September 2006...
- Walker-Grant Middle School
- Hugh Mercer
- Lafayette Upper Elementary School
Private schools include:
- Fredericksburg AcademyFredericksburg AcademyFredericksburg Academy, or FA, is a co-educational independent school in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Created in 1992, FA enrolls 550 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.-Curriculum:Fredericksburg Academy is divided into three divisions:...
Higher Education
The University of Mary WashingtonUniversity of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is a public, coeducational liberal arts college located in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. Founded in 1908 by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a normal school, during much of the twentieth century it was part of the University of Virginia, until...
, established in 1908 and opening in 1911, is a four-year public university within the city.
Media
Fredericksburg's daily newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
is The Free Lance–Star
The Free Lance–Star
The Free Lance–Star is the principal daily newspaper distributed throughout Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a circulation area including the city of Fredericksburg and all or parts of the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Louisa, Orange, Prince William...
. The Free Lance was first published in 1885, and competed with two twice-weekly papers in the city during the late 19th century, the Fredericksburg News and The Virginia Star. While the News folded in 1884, the Star company began publishing the Daily Star in 1893. In 1900, the two companies merged, with both newspapers continuing publication until 1926, when they merged under the present title. Since that time, the Free Lance–Star has been owned and operated by members of the Rowe family of Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg and the nearby region have several radio stations, including
(on the FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
dial) WWED
WWED
WWED and WWEM are Contemporary Christian formatted broadcast radio stations. WWED is licensed to Spotsylvania, Virginia, and serving the Fredericksburg area. WWEM is licensed to Rustburg, Virginia and serving the Lynchburg area...
(89.5, Christian), WJYJ (90.5, Christian), WFLS
WFLS-FM
WFLS-FM is a Country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Fredericksburg, Virginia, serving Central and Northern Virginia. WFLS-FM is owned and operated by The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company of Fredericksburg, VA.-External links:*...
(93.3, country), WGRQ
WGRQ
WGRQ is an American broadcast radio station licensed to serve Fairview Beach, Virginia, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in May 1986, is currently owned and operated by Telemedia Broadcasting, Inc....
(95.9, "SuperHits", licensed to nearby Fairview Beach), WWUZ
WWUZ
WWUZ is a Classic rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bowling Green, Virginia, serving Metro Fredericksburg. WWUZ is owned and operated by The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company of Fredericksburg, VA.-History:...
(96.9, classic rock, licensed to nearby Bowling Green), WVBX (99.3, "The Vibe", rhythmic contemporary, licensed to nearby Spotsylvania), WBQB
WBQB
WBQB is a Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Fredericksburg, Virginia, serving the Central Virginia area. WBQB is owned and operated by Centennial Broadcasting.-History:...
("B-101.5", adult contemporary) and WGRX
WGRX
WGRX is a Country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Falmouth, Virginia, serving the Fredericksburg area. WGRX is owned and operated by Telemedia Broadcasting, Inc.-External links:*...
("Thunder 104.5", country, licensed to nearby Falmouth). Fredericksburg AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
stations include WFVA
WFVA
WFVA is an Adult Standards formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Fredericksburg, Virginia, serving the Metro Fredericksburg area. WFVA is owned and operated Centennial Broadcasting.-Format Flip:...
(1230, nostalgia) and WNTX (1350, talk, news, and sports). WGRQ and WGRX are owned locally by Telemedia Broadcasting. WFLS, WWUZ, WVBX, and WYSK are owned by the Free Lance–Star Company.
In 2001, the Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
media service began listing the Fredericksburg area as a nationally rated radio market. As of the fall of 2005, the area ranked 154th out of 297 markets surveyed, with a total market population of more than 280,000. Large broadcast companies like Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and Cumulus Broadcasting are not active in the local market; almost all of its stations remain locally or regionally owned.
Sports
There are no professional sports teams in Fredericksburg, however, there are a number of amateur and academic teams. Sports at the secondary education are run through the Virginia High School League. On the collegiate level are the University of Mary WashingtonUniversity of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is a public, coeducational liberal arts college located in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. Founded in 1908 by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a normal school, during much of the twentieth century it was part of the University of Virginia, until...
Eagles. Other amateur athletics include the Fredericksburg Hotspur
Fredericksburg Hotspur
Fredericksburg Hotspur is an American soccer team based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
of United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Premier Development League (PDL); and the Rappahannock Rugby Club
Rappahannock rugby club
The Rappahannock Rugby Club is a rugby union club based in Fredericksburg, Virginia and plays in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Division III. It was founded in 2004 and first took the field in 2005. Games and practices are held at . The club has had numerous articles written about it in...
a senior men's rugby club competing in Division III of the Potomac Rugby Union.
Transportation
Fredericksburg is traversed by a series of rural and suburban four-lane highways and a multitude of small, two-lane roads. Among the major arterial roads is U.S. Route 1U.S. Route 1 in Virginia
U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Virginia runs north–south through South Hill, Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Alexandria on its way from North Carolina to the 14th Street Bridge into the District of Columbia...
, providing north-south transportation from the region to Stafford, Washington D.C., and points beyond. Route 3 (Plank Road)
Virginia State Route 3
State Route 3 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia that extends from the town of Culpeper south and eastwardly to Gloucester in Virginia's Middle Peninsula region...
is a major east-west route that connects downtown Fredericksburg (via the Blue and Gray Parkway bypass), southern Stafford and King George counties, and Route 301
U.S. Route 301 in Virginia
U.S. Route 301 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Sarasota, Florida to Glasgow, Delaware. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Skippers north to the Maryland state line at the Potomac River near Dahlgren. US 301 forms the local complement...
with the large shopping centers, Spotsylvania Town Center and Central Park. To the west, Route 3 reaches Culpeper
Culpeper, Virginia
Culpeper is an incorporated town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Culpeper County. Culpeper is part of the Culpeper Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Culpeper County. Both the Town of Culpeper and...
, where it meets Route 29
U.S. Route 29 in Virginia
U.S. Route 29 is a major north–south route in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It covers from the North Carolina border at the city of Danville to the Key Bridge in Washington, D.C....
and Route 15
U.S. Route 15 in Virginia
U.S. Route 15 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Walterboro, South Carolina to Painted Post, New York. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Clarksville north to the Maryland state line at the Potomac River near Lucketts...
.
Most of Fredericksburg's traffic flow is to or from the north (Washington D.C. metropolitan area) during peak commuting hours, primarily via Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Virginia
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Interstate 95 runs through the state. It runs concurrently for with Interstate 64 in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of Interstate 85 in Petersburg. Though Interstate 95 was originally planned to go straight through Washington, D.C., it was instead...
and US-1. The US-1 bridge over the Rappahannock River is often a traffic bottleneck, and Route 3 has become increasingly jammed as residential development has grown west.
As an alternative to I-95, commuters also use the Virginia Railway Express
Virginia Railway Express
The Virginia Railway Express is a regional/ commuter rail service that connects the Northern Virginia suburbs to Union Station in Washington, D.C., via two lines: the Fredericksburg Line from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the Manassas Line from Broad Run/Airport station in Bristow,...
rail service to Washington. Long-distance rail service is available on Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, which serves Fredericksburg via the Northeast Regional and Carolinian/Piedmont routes. FRED is a recently started bus service in Fredericksburg which serves most area communities, retail shopping centers, two VRE stations, and downtown Fredericksburg.
Notable residents and natives
18th century and before
- George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, 1st President of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, leader of the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the... - Mary Ball WashingtonMary Ball WashingtonMary Ball Washington was the second wife to Augustine Washington, and was the mother of George Washington.-Life:...
- Elijah CraigElijah CraigRev. Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher in Virginia, who became an educator and capitalist entrepreneur in the area of Virginia that later became the state of Kentucky...
, BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher imprisoned for religious freedom issues before the American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionThe American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
; leader of the Traveling Church that migrated to Kentucky - Henry CristHenry CristHenry Crist was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He moved with his father to Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools. Later, moved to Kentucky and engaged in the surveying of lands...
, former United States Representative from KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... - John Paul JonesJohn Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
- Fielding LewisFielding LewisFielding Lewis was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War and the brother-in-law of George Washington....
and Elizabeth "Betty" WashingtonBetty Washington LewisBetty Washington Lewis was the younger sister of George Washington and the only sister to live to adulthood. She was the first daughter of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. She is considered a "founding mother" of America.She was born Elizabeth Washington in Westmoreland County,... - Hugh MercerHugh MercerHugh Mercer was a soldier and physician. He initially served with British forces during the Seven Years War but later became a brigadier general in the Continental Army and a close friend to George Washington...
- James MonroeJames MonroeJames Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
- Augustine WashingtonAugustine WashingtonAugustine Washington was the father of general and president George Washington. He belonged to the Colony of Virginia's landed gentry and was a planter and slaveholder.-Family:...
- George WeedonGeorge WeedonGeorge Weedon was an American soldier during the Revolutionary War from Fredericksburg, Virginia.He served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army and later in the Virginia militia....
19th century to present
- Oliver AckermannOliver AckermannOliver Ackermann is the founder of the Brooklyn-based effects pedal company Death By Audio and is the guitarist/vocalist of A Place to Bury Strangers which has been hailed as "the loudest band in New York".-Biography:...
, guitarist and vocalist for A Place To Bury StrangersA Place to Bury StrangersA Place to Bury Strangers are a New York–based noise rock band composed of Oliver Ackermann , Dion Lunadon and Jay Space . The band plays a heavy, atmospheric wall of sound-influenced blend of psychedelic rock, shoegaze and space rock... - Julien BinfordJulien BinfordJulien Binford was an American painter. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and then in France. Settling in Powhatan County, Virginia, he was known for his paintings of the rural population of his neighborhood as well as for his murals. During World War II he lived in New York and painted...
, artist - Al BumbryAl BumbryAlonza Benjamin Bumbry is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres from 1972 through 1985.-Playing career:...
, baseball player - Caressa CameronCaressa CameronCaressa Cameron is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who won the title of Miss America 2010.Cameron graduated from Massaponax High School and currently attends Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia.She won the Miss Virginia title on...
, Miss America 2010Miss America 2010Miss America 2010, the 89th Miss America pageant, was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on January 30, 2010... - George CoghillGeorge CoghillGeorge Coghill is a former American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League and the Scottish Claymores...
, Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Bill CrawleyBill CrawleyWilliam B. Crawley, Jr. is currently a Distinguished Professor of History and Historian at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia....
, historian - James L. Farmer, Jr.James L. Farmer, Jr.James Leonard Farmer, Jr. was a civil rights activist and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement. He was the initiator and organizer of the 1961 Freedom Ride, which eventually led to the desegregation of inter-state transportation in the United States.In 1942, Farmer co-founded the Committee...
, civil rights leader - Derek HartleyDerek HartleyDerek Hartley is an American talk show host, who serves as co-host of the Derek and Romaine Show, a talk radio show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Gay/Lesbian channel, OutQ. The show has a national audience with a potential reach of 18,000,000 listeners. The show can also be heard worldwide on the...
, radio show host - Kelvin JonesKelvin JonesKelvin Jones is an American soccer player currently without a club.-Youth and College:Jones attended Massaponax High School, where he was named the 2000 Virginia High School Player of the Year, and was a member of the Region I ODP and adidas ESP Teams, and played college soccer at Wake Forest...
, professional soccer player - Florence KingFlorence KingFlorence Virginia King is an American novelist, essayist and columnist.While her early writings focused on the American South and those who live there, much of King's later work has been published in National Review...
, author of Southern Ladies and Gentlemen, and Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady - Mark LenziMark LenziMark Edward Lenzi is a former American Olympic diver and diving coach. Lenzi is known for his Olympic gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games, and his Olympic bronze medal in the 1996 Olympic Games on the 3m springboard....
, Olympic diver and gold medalist - John MaineJohn MaineJohn Kevin Maine is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life and college:Maine was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia...
, New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
starting pitcher - Danny McBride, actor
- Erin McKeownErin McKeownErin McKeown is an American multi-instrumentalist and folk-rock singer/songwriter.McKeown began her career in the folk scene. She released her first album, Monday Morning Cold, on her own label , travelling throughout New England while still a student at Brown University in order to promote the...
, musician - George C. RawlingsGeorge C. RawlingsGeorge Chancellor Rawlings Jr. was an American politician, a former member of the Democratic National Committee, and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates ....
, Virginia House of DelegatesVirginia House of DelegatesThe Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the... - Judge ReinholdJudge ReinholdJudge Reinhold is an American actor, perhaps best known for co-starring in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop, Ruthless People, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and The Santa Clause trilogy.-Early life:...
, actor - Jeff RouseJeff RouseJeffrey Norman Rouse is an Olympic Gold Medalist and former World Record Holder in swimming from the United States.-References:* from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.*...
, Olympic swimmer, gold medalist and former world record holder - Dave SmalleyDave SmalleyNot to be confused with Dave Smalley Dave Smalley is an American musician, best known as the punk bands DYS, Dag Nasty, All and singer/guitarist with Down By Law. He is known for his influence on pop punk music and his early contributions to the emo genre...
, musician, member of AllALL (band)All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
, Dag NastyDag NastyDag Nasty was a Washington D.C. punk band formed in 1985 by guitarist Brian Baker of Minor Threat, drummer Colin Sears and bassist Roger Marbury, both of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra, and vocalist Shawn Brown...
, Down by LawDown by Law (band)Down by Law is a punk rock band formed in 1989 by former All frontman Dave Smalley, who is the their only permanent member. The band has recorded 7 studio albums. They stayed on Epitaph Records until 1998 and have since switched to labels. Down by Law has never achieved substantial commercial...
, The Sharpshooters - William P. TaylorWilliam P. TaylorWilliam Penn Taylor was a nineteenth century congressman from Virginia.Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Taylor received a limited schooling as a child. He held several local political offices before being elected an Anti-Jacksonian to the United States House of Representatives in 1832, serving...
, congressman - Keller WilliamsKeller WilliamsKeller Williams is an American musician from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who began performing in the early 1990s. He is also known by the names K-Dub or just Keller, when performing. Williams' music combines elements of bluegrass, folk, alternative rock, reggae, electronica/dance, jazz, funk, and...
, musician - Monty Williams, basketball player
- Eli Kim rapper in the Korean pop group U-KISS
External links
- Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge - George Washington's Mother Lodge
- U.S. National Slavery Museum opens 2007/08
- Local history resources from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library web site
- Fredericksburg.com, the website of the Free Lance-Star newspaper
- George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation (administering Kenmore and Ferry Farm)
- Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
- Belmont, the Gari Melchers Estate and Memorial Gallery