Fauquier County, Virginia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Fauquier County

County

Fauquier County

Fauquier County Courthouse in Warrenton

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Virginia

Founded

1759

Largest town

Warrenton

Area

• Total

651 sq mi (1,690 km²)

• Land

647 sq mi (1,680 km²)

• Water

3.8 sq mi (10 km²) 0.6%

Population

(2020)

• Total

72,972

• Density

112.09/sq mi (43.28/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional districts

1st, 5th

Website

www.fauquiercounty.gov

Fauquier is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 72,972. The county seat is Warrenton.

Fauquier County is in Northern Virginia and is a part of the Washington metropolitan area. The county is one of the fastest-growing and highest-income counties in the United States.

History
Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Major highways
Demographics
- 2020 census
Communities
Education
Notable people
Images for kids
See also

History

Portrait of Francis Fauquier, for whom Fauquier County was named

In 1608, the first European to explore in the vicinity, Captain John Smith, reported that the Whonkentia (a subgroup of the Siouan-speaking Manahoac tribe) inhabited the area. The Manahoac were forced out around 1670 by the Iroquois (Seneca), who did not resettle the area. The Conoy camped briefly near The Plains, from 1697 to 1699. The Six Nations ceded the entire region including modern Fauquier to Virginia Colony at the Treaty of Albany, in 1722.

Fauquier County was established on May 1, 1759, from Prince William County. It is named for Francis Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia at the time, who won the land in a poker game, according to legend.

American Civil War battles in Fauquier County included (in order) the First Battle of Rappahannock Station, the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap, the Battle of Kelly's Ford, the Battle of Aldie, the Battle of Middleburg, the Battle of Upperville, the First and Second Battle of Auburn, the Battle of Buckland Mills, and the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station.

Fauquier County celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2009 with year-long events. The festivities began with the African-American Historical Association's celebration of Black History Month in February. The grand events took place on May 1 when Main Street was filled with guests and residents who enjoyed entertainment by historians, demonstrations, performances, contests, activities, lectures, Kid’s Corner, and live music. Birthday cakes were assembled and shared with the Fauquier Food Distribution Coalition. Historical site visits included some of the confederate battlefields, and many local churches hosted homecoming celebrations. Festivities concluded on December 31 with First Night Warrenton, a family-oriented event with musical performances, puppet shows and a magician.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 651 square miles (1,690 km²), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km²) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) (0.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Clarke County (north)
Loudoun County (north)
Prince William County (east)
Stafford County (southeast)
Culpeper County (southwest)
Rappahannock County (west)
Warren County (northwest)

Major highways

I-66
US 15
US 17
US 29
US 50
US 211
SR 28
SR 55
SR 245

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	17,892	—
1800	21,329	19.2%
1810	22,689	6.4%
1820	23,103	1.8%
1830	26,086	12.9%
1840	21,897	−16.1%
1850	20,868	−4.7%
1860	21,706	4.0%
1870	19,690	−9.3%
1880	22,993	16.8%
1890	22,590	−1.8%
1900	23,374	3.5%
1910	22,526	−3.6%
1920	21,869	−2.9%
1930	21,071	−3.6%
1940	21,039	−0.2%
1950	21,248	1.0%
1960	24,066	13.3%
1970	26,375	9.6%
1980	35,889	36.1%
1990	48,741	35.8%
2000	55,139	13.1%
2010	65,203	18.3%
2020	72,972	11.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–20002010 2020

2020 census

**Fauquier County, Virginia - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	53,410	54,969	81.91%	75.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,232	4,999	8.02%	6.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	186	128	0.29%	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	826	1,204	1.27%	1.65%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	27	49	0.04%	0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	103	339	0.16%	0.46%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	1,241	3,491	1.90%	4.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,178	7,793	6.41%	10.68%
Total	65,203	72,972	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

Main page: Fauquier County Public Schools

Elementary schools

C. M. Bradley Elementary School
James G. Brumfield Elementary School
W. G. Coleman Elementary School
Grace Miller Elementary School
H. M. Pearson Elementary School
C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School
P. B. Smith Elementary School
Claude Thompson Elementary School
Mary Walter Elementary School
Greenville Elementary School
M. M. Pierce Elementary School

Middle schools

Auburn Middle School
Cedar Lee Middle School
W. C. Taylor Middle School
Marshall Middle School
Warrenton Middle School

High schools

Fauquier High School
Liberty High School
Southeastern Alternative School
Kettle Run High School
Mountain Vista Governor's School

Private schools

Fresta Valley Christian School
Highland School
St. John The Evangelist Catholic School
Wakefield School

Higher education

Lord Fairfax Community College
Thorpe House Adult Learning Center

Notable people

Turner Ashby, born in Fauquier County, Confederate Army colonel in the American Civil War.
Martin Berkofsky, classical pianist and philanthropist.
Irv Cross, American footballer and sportscaster.
Robert Duvall, American-born actor who maintains a farm in The Plains.
Bertram and Diana Firestone, owners of Newstead Farm.
George B. Fitch, American businessman, Mayor of Warrenton, founder of Jamaican Bobsled Team.
Rear Admiral Cary Travers Grayson, owner of historic Blue Ridge Farm.
Eppa Hunton, U.S. Representative and Senator from Virginia, born and lived in Warrenton.
Charles Marshall, born in Warrenton, assistant adjutant general, aide de camp and military secretary to Gen. Robert E. Lee. Grandnephew of Chief Justice John Marshall.
James K. Marshall, Colonel in the Confederate States Army, killed in action during Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg while leading the brigade of J. Johnston Pettigrew, grandson of Chief Justice John Marshall.
John Marshall, born in Fauquier County, Chief Justice of the United States.
Paul Mellon, philanthropist, an Exemplar of Racing and owner of Rokeby Farm.
John S. Mosby, lived in Warrenton, was a Confederate partisan ranger and cavalryman during the American Civil War. Buried in Warrenton cemetery.
Albert Rust, 19th-century American politician who served as a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865).
Michaele Salahi and Tareq Salahi, the White House Gate Crashers.
Willard Scott, an American media personality best known for his work on NBC's The Today Show who lived in Paris, Virginia.
Scott Shipp, born in Warrenton, Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute from 1890 to 1907.
Isabel Dodge Sloane, owner of Brookmeade Stud.
William "Extra Billy" Smith, died in Warrenton, was a lawyer, congressman, two time Governor of Virginia and one of the oldest Confederate generals in the American Civil War.
Liz Whitney Tippett, owner of the Llangollen estate.
Karen O'Connor and David O'Connor, Olympic eventing riders

Images for kids

View west along I-66/SR 55 and north along US 17 in northwestern Fauquier County

Fauquier County, Virginia facts for kids

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