Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is next to the Potomac River and very close to Washington, D.C..

The city was started in 1749 and grew to become an important port. It was once part of the District of Columbia but returned to Virginia in 1847. Today, Alexandria is a key part of the Washington metropolitan area.

Many people who work for the U.S. federal government, such as at the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, live in Alexandria. The city has many old buildings, especially in its Old Town area, which is part of the Alexandria Historic District. Tourism is also important for the city's economy.

History

Main article: History of Alexandria, Virginia

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Alexandria, Virginia.

Early history

People have lived in the area that is now Alexandria for thousands of years. Indigenous groups were there around 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. By the 14th century, Algonquian-speaking peoples lived near the Potomac River.

In 1608, English explorer John Smith traveled up the Potomac River. He met with the Patawomeck and Doeg tribes on the Virginia side and the Piscataway tribe on the Maryland side. Smith noted a settlement called Assaomeck near what is now Hunting Creek.

Colonial era

In 1669, land was granted to Robert Howsing for bringing people to Virginia. This land would become Alexandria. In 1730, a law said all tobacco in Virginia had to be checked in public places before being sold. One of these places was built at the mouth of Hunting Creek. The town of Alexandria was started in 1749 after a public sale to decide town lots and streets.

The name "Alexandria" may have been chosen to honor the Alexander family or to remember the famous city of Alexandria in Egypt. Another name, "Belhaven," was also thought about to honor a Scottish leader but was not used.

American Revolution

When British forces closed Boston Harbor in 1774, Alexandrians supported Boston by forming a group to share ideas. In 1774, George Washington, George Mason, and others met in Alexandria to issue the Fairfax Resolves, asking for a meeting of colonial leaders and a stop to buying British goods. After the American Revolutionary War began, Alexandria helped the war effort, providing supplies and serving as a center for military activity. The town became an official city in 1779 and became an international port of entry.

As part of the District of Columbia

In 1789, Virginia agreed to give up land for a new federal capital. Alexandria was part of this area. However, residents felt left out and struggled economically. In 1846, a vote allowed Alexandria to return to Virginia, which officially happened in 1847.

Late 19th century

After returning to Virginia, Alexandria worked on building railroads and industries. Even with problems, new ways to travel like streetcars began to appear. The city had money and population problems but got new modern tools like telephones and electricity by the end of the century.

20th century

The early 1900s brought growth to Alexandria's manufacturing, especially in glass making. The city added new areas in 1915 and again in 1930, making it bigger. In 1939, a local person started one of the first sit-in protests against segregation at the city's library. The city changed its layout with new projects.

After World War II, Alexandria moved from making things to focusing on tourism and places to live. The city grew by adding more areas in 1952 and built new ways to travel, including Metro stops in the 1980s. Schools were integrated in 1965, and the city elected its first women to city council and mayor jobs in the 1970s and 1990s.

21st century

In recent years, Alexandria has worked on changing the names of streets and schools that honored people tied to slavery and segregation. New areas, such as the Potomac Yard, continue to grow. Plans for new arenas and school campuses have been talked about, though some projects have had problems.

Geography

Alexandria, Virginia, covers an area of 15.5 square miles (40.1 km²). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water from the Potomac River. The city is next to Washington, D.C. and is bordered by Arlington County and Fairfax County. Some parts of these counties were added to Alexandria starting in the 1930s.

Addresses in Alexandria can be confusing because they come from different areas that joined together. For example, in Old Town, addresses start from King Street and the river. In other parts, they start from different streets. The ZIP Codes that begin with 223 are for Alexandria, but some nearby areas also use these ZIP Codes.

Alexandria has many neighborhoods and planning areas. Some places with Alexandria mailing addresses are actually in Fairfax County, such as Hollin Hills, Franconia, and Mount Vernon.

The weather in Alexandria usually has hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. It has a humid subtropical climate.

Demographics

Alexandria, Virginia had a population of 159,467 people in the 2020 census. The median age was 36.5 years, with about 18.5% of residents under 18 and 11.8% aged 65 or older.

According to 2024 American Community Survey data, the median household income was $124,593. About 5.9% of the population lived below the poverty line. Education levels were high, with 69.4% of residents aged 25 and older having a bachelor's degree or higher.

Racial and ethnic composition

Economy

Alexandria has many important companies and groups. Well-known companies there include Five Guys, The Motley Fool, and ThinkFun. The city also has offices for government agencies like the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Science Foundation.

Many people in Alexandria work in jobs such as management, consulting, and finance. Tourism is also very important to the city, bringing many visitors each year. Most workers in Alexandria live outside the city and travel in for their jobs.

Culture

Alexandria, Virginia, has many fun events and places to visit. Every year, there is a parade called the Scottish Christmas Walk in Old Town during Christmas time. This parade celebrates the city's Scottish history and helps raise money for community services. There are also parades for Saint Patrick's Day and George Washington's birthday. Other yearly events include the Red Cross Waterfront Festival in June, a birthday celebration with fireworks in July, heritage days at Tavern Square, and "First Night Alexandria" on New Year's Eve.

Many interesting places can be found in Alexandria. You can visit the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Christ Church, Gadsby's Tavern, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop. Other notable spots include the Lee-Fendall House, Robert E. Lee's boyhood home, and Alexandria City Hall. The Torpedo Factory Art Center, once a factory, is now full of art studios and exhibits. The Athenaeum is another place for art lovers, and the Little Theatre of Alexandria offers community theater performances.

Media

Alexandria has two local weekly newspapers: the Alexandria Gazette Packet and the Alexandria Times.

Sports

Alexandria has a baseball team called the Alexandria Aces. They play in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League at Frank Mann Field.

Before this, Alexandria had a minor league baseball team named the Alexandria Dukes. In 1984, this team moved to Woodbridge and became The Prince William Pirates. Today, this team is called the Fredericksburg Nationals.

Parks and recreation

Alexandria has more than 900 acres of open space. This includes 566 acres of city-owned parks and 11 recreation centers. One of the largest parks is Chinquapin Park. It has swimming, tennis, racquetball, and other sports. On March 19, 2024, a new recreation center opened at Alexandria City High School. It has a large swimming pool and a therapeutic pool. The city also runs many sports leagues like volleyball, softball, and basketball.

The city is home to Cameron Run Regional Park. It has a water park, miniature golf, and batting cages. There is also a beautiful trail called the Mount Vernon Trail. It runs through Old Town near the Potomac River and connects to Washington, D.C. Along the waterfront, there are many parks to explore.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia, is a special city in Virginia. It has its own government and is not part of a larger county. The city’s leaders get their powers from a group called the Virginia General Assembly.

The city has a group of elected leaders called the City Council. They make rules and hire a City Manager to handle daily work. The Mayor leads meetings and is mostly a symbolic leader. The Council also chooses a Vice Mayor to help when needed.

There are many groups and committees that help the Council make decisions. The city also has its own schools with a school board of nine members.

Alexandria has its own courts, including a special court for young people and families. The city is part of groups in state and federal government, like the Virginia General Assembly and Virginia's 8th congressional district.

History

Alexandria’s government has changed many times. Before 1921, there were different groups of leaders. In 1921, the city changed to a system where the whole city votes for the same group of leaders. This system has been changed a few times since then.

Ecocity

In 2008, the city decided to focus on being a friendly place for everyone, now and in the future. This means taking care of the environment and keeping the city’s history safe. In 2022, Alexandria started charging a small fee for certain bags to help reduce waste.

Public safety

See also: Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria Fire Department

The main group keeping the city safe is the Alexandria Police Department, led by a Chief of Police. The police help keep the city safe.

People in Alexandria elect a leader called a sheriff every four years. The sheriff helps oversee a place where people wait for their court cases.

The Alexandria Fire Department helps with fires and emergencies. They have many stations and workers all over the city.

Education

See also: Alexandria Library (Virginia)

Colleges and universities

Virginia Tech's Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, called WAAC, is in Old Town on Prince Street. It offers studies in city planning, public affairs, architecture, and landscape design. In 2018, Virginia Tech planned a new campus in Potomac Yard for computer science and engineering. Virginia Commonwealth University has a branch in Northern Virginia for its School of Social Work, and The George Washington University has a campus near the King Street–Old Town station. This campus focuses on training in business, city planning, and safety. The city is also home to a campus of the Northern Virginia Community College. The largest school for leaders in the Episcopal Church, Virginia Theological Seminary, is located on Seminary Road.

Primary and secondary schools

Further information: Alexandria City Public Schools

The city is served by the Alexandria City Public Schools system. Alexandria’s public schools include elementary schools for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade, three of which also have Pre-K classes. Two schools, Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston, cover Pre-K through 8th grade. Middle schools, George Washington and Francis C. Hammond, serve students in 6th through 8th grades. Alexandria City High School is the only high school (9th through 12th grade) for the whole city, with two campuses called "Minnie Howard" and "King Street."

Alexandria also has private schools such as St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, Bishop Ireton High School, and Episcopal High School. Other private schools in the city include Alexandria Country Day School, Commonwealth Academy, the Basilica School of Saint Mary, St. Rita's Catholic School, Blessed Sacrament School, and Global Health College.

Infrastructure

Healthcare

Alexandria has a hospital called Inova Alexandria Hospital. There is a health clinic at Mark Center in the city's West End and a teen wellness center at Alexandria City High School.

Transportation

Important highways like I-95 and I-495 (the Capital Beltway), including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River, run near the city. Other highways such as I-395, SR 7 (King Street), and US 1 (Richmond Highway) also pass through Alexandria.

The city runs its own bus system called the DASH. DASH also has a special bus service on King Street. Metrobus and Metrorail stop at several places in the city. There are also water taxis operated by Hornblower Cruises to Georgetown and The Wharf in D.C., and to the National Harbor in Prince George's County.

The historic Union Station offers train services with Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express. There is also a bike-sharing program called Capital Bikeshare with many places to rent bikes.

Notable people

Alexandria, Virginia has been home to many famous people. Some well-known names include actors like Diedrich Bader and Dermot Mulroney. Musicians such as Stewart Copeland from The Police and Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters also live there.

Other famous people include George Washington, who owned a house in the city, and Robert E. Lee, who grew up there. Many politicians, athletes, and artists have lived in Alexandria, making it a place with rich history.

Sister cities

Alexandria has four sister cities around the world. They are Gyumri in Armenia, Helsingborg in Sweden, Dundee in Scotland, and Caen in France. The friendship with Gyumri started after a big earthquake there in 1988.