Fredericksburg is an independent city located at the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 24,286, up from 19,279 at the 2000 census. The city's population is estimated at 28,360 by 2017. The United States Department of Commerce's Economic Analysis Bureau combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County for statistical purposes.
Located 45 miles (72 km) south of Washington, DC and 58 miles (93 km) north of Richmond, Fredericksburg is part of the Northern Virginia region and is included in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Area Statistics.
Located near where the Rappahannock River crosses the Atlantic Coastline, Fredericksburg was the leading port in Virginia during the colonial era. During the Civil War, the city, located midway between the opposing enemy's capital, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, partially preserved as Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. More than 10,000 African Americans in the region abandoned slavery for freedom in 1862 alone, behind the Union line. Tourism is a major part of the economy, with approximately 1.5 million people visiting the Fredericksburg area each year, including battlefield parks, visitor centers in downtown, events, museums and historic sites.
Fredericksburg is home to several major retail and commercial centers including Central Park (in 2004, the second largest mall on the East Coast) and Spotsylvania Towne Center, located in Spotsylvania County adjacent to the city line. Major employers include Mary Washington University, Mary Washington Healthcare, and GEICO. Many residents of the Fredericksburg area go to work with cars, buses, and trains to Washington and Richmond, as well as Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington counties.
Video Fredericksburg, Virginia
Histori
At the time of the European meeting, the indigenous population of Fredericksburg was a Siouan-speaking tribe called Manahoac. British colonists recorded the name of the Manahoac village there as Mahaskahod . The Siouan tribe occupied much of Piedmont. The Tidewater area on the coastal plain mainly has Algonquian-speaking tribes that make up the Powhatan Confederation.
Colonial
Located on the River Rappahannock near the head of navigation on the fall path, Fredericksburg flourished as the Virginia colonial border shifted westward from the coastal plains to Piedmont. The land on which the city was founded was part of a patented channel in 1671. The Virginia General Assembly founded a fort at Rappahannock in 1676, right downstream from today's city. In 1714, Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood sponsored a German settlement called Germanna on the Rapidan River, a tributary of Rappahannock upstream from the city's future location. In 1716, he led an exploratory expedition westward across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
As interest in the borders increased, the colonial assembly responded by forming a new area called Spotsylvania (after Alexander Spotswood, then governor) in 1720 and establishing Fredericksburg in 1728 as a port for the area, which later became part of it.. Named Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King George II, the colonial city named his streets after members of the royal family. The county court was transferred to Fredericksburg in 1732, and the city served as a county seat until 1780. The trial was then moved closer to the county center in Spotsylvania County. In 1781, Fredericksburg was founded as a city, with its own courts, councils, and mayors. It received its charter as an independent city in 1879, and under Virginia law separated from Spotsylvania County. The city adopted the current government/city council form of government in 1911.
The city has close ties with George Washington, whose family in 1738 moved to Ferry Farm in Stafford County near the River Rappahannock across from Fredericksburg. Mother Washington, Mary, then moved to town, and her sister Betty lives in Kenmore, a plantation house just outside the city. Other important early residents include Revolutionary War Generals, Hugh Mercer and George Weedon, naval war hero John Paul Jones, and US president James Monroe in the future. Thomas Jefferson writes the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in Fredericksburg.
19th century
During the 19th century, the plant continued to be developed along the Rapahannock River, which provided hydro power. There are factories for grinding flour, cotton processing and weaving, and other manufactures. Fredericksburg attempted to maintain the scope of its trade, but with limited success. It promotes the development of canals at Rappahannock and the construction of toll roads and board roads to tie upland countries to market towns. In 1837, the north-south rail, which became Richmond, Fredericksburg, and the Potomac Railroad, connects the city to Richmond, the state capital. The much-needed railroad to join the city to the agricultural area in the west has not been completed until after the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Fredericksburg was strategically important because of its central harbor location between Washington and Richmond, the opposite capital of the Union and Confederates. During the Battle of Fredericksburg, 11-15 December 1862, the city suffered significant damage from bombing and looting by Union forces.
During the engagement, nearly 10,000 slaves left plantations and city homes to gain freedom by crossing the Rappahannock River to Stafford County and joining the Union line, part of the movement by slaves throughout the South during the war. John Washington, an educated slave who immediately crossed into freedom, wrote later about those who observed the approach of Union forces across the river from Fredericksburg: "Nothing to see on the street but colored people, and everyone seems to be in the best humor. "
The Second Battle of Fredericksburg fought in and around the city on May 3, 1863, in connection with the Chancellorsville campaign (April 27, 1863 - May 6, 1863). Battles in the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House occurred nearby in May 1864. Washington Woolen Mill, a large three-story building, was changed for use as a hospital during the war.
After the war, Fredericksburg restored its original position as a local trading center and gradually grew beyond pre-war boundaries. Both the city of Fredericksburg, as well as one of the surrounding districts, reached the 1860 population level again into the 20th century. After the war, many people were free to move to Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, where there was a black community that was free before the war, and there was more work.
20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, when the Jim Crow era continued in the South, there was widespread population movement as many African-Americans left rural areas in the South for work and other opportunities in industrial cities in the North and Mid West in the Great Migration. Some settled in Washington, D.C., where there were more opportunities, or further north.
The buildup associated with war at a defense facility for World War II was added to the region's population in the 1940s. The 1960s brought new growth and development, driven by the construction of Interstate 95, which facilitated access to commuting and commerce. In the 1970s, the city and the area had become a bedroom community for jobs in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., the capital. Headquarters, lobbyists, consultants, and other businesses are part of the regional economy that is affected by the federal government. The city has also benefited from its location close to four military installations: Quantico Marine Corps Base, Fortress of Belvoir Army, Dahlgren Naval Surface Rifle, and A.P. Hill.
The University of Mary Washington was founded in Fredericksburg in 1908 as the State and Women's School for Women, to train white women to teach K-12 and industrial skills. Adopting the name Mary Washington College in 1938, the college for many years associated with the University of Virginia (later limited to whites) as a women's liberal arts college. Colleges became independent from UVA and began accepting men in 1970. Recently, colleges were renamed from Mary Washington College to the University of Mary Washington. Two additional campuses for graduate and professional studies as well as education and research are located in the suburbs of Stafford County and in the rural area of ​​King George County near the Dahlgren naval base.
Musician Link Wray of Fredericksburg developed a modern rock guitar power chord in 1958 during his first improvisation of the instrumental song "Rumble", a single released by Wray & amp; Ray Men's him. This innovation became widely used by rock guitarists. At the beginning of the 21st century, the local music scene covers a wide range of genres.
The commuter train line - Virginia Railway ExpressÃ, - founded in the 1980s, provides a pathway to Washington, D.C. and other cities in northern Fredericksburg.
The city has become a regional health center for the area. Retail, real estate, and other commercial growth exploded in the early 21st century, eventually slowing down during the "Great Recession" started in 2007.
Maps Fredericksburg, Virginia
Geography and climate
According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ​​10.5 square miles (27.2 km 2 ), which is 10.4 square miles (27.0 km 2 ) is ground and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km 2 ), or 0.67%, is water. The city is part of the boundary between the Piedmont and Tidewater regions, and therefore lies on the autumn lane, as seen on the River Rappahannock. US 1, US 17, and I-95 all pass through the city, located 53 miles (85 km) south of downtown Washington, D.C.
The city is bordered on the north and east by the River Rappahannock; across the river is Stafford County. The city is bordered on south and west by Spotsylvania County.
Fredericksburg has a four-season moist subtropical climate (KÃÆ'¶ppen Cfa ), with its cool winters and hot and humid summers. Daytime temperatures for most of the year average slightly higher than in Washington, D.C. because of the southern aspect, although the inland location and distance from the urban hot islands that exist in the nation's capital makes the lower temperatures significantly cooler.
Demographics
In the 2000 census, there were 19,279 people, 8,102 households, and 3,925 families living in the city. Population density is 1,833.0 people per square mile (707.6/km ²). There are 8,888 housing units with an average density of 845.0 per square mile (326.2/km²). City's racial makeup is 73.18% White, 20.41% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Island, 2.56% of other races, and 1 , 95% of two or more races. 4.90% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,102 households where 21.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.8% are married couples living together, 13.1% have female households without husband's presence, and 51.6% are not family. 39.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.8% have someone living alone 65 or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city, the population is spread by 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% years or more. The average age is 30 years. For every 100 females, there are 81.8 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 78.4 men.
The average income for households in the city is $ 34,585, and the average income for families is $ 47,148. Men have an average income of $ 33,641 compared to $ 25,037 for women. The per capita income for the city is $ 21,527. 15.5% of the population and 10.4% of families are below the poverty line. Of the total population, 19.9% ​​of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those aged 65 and older live below the poverty line.
Crime
The Fredericksburg Police Department tracked crime information under the state-level system of the Uniform Crime Reporting program. Per the state code, the central repository for crime statistics lies with the State Police Department, which collects data from all participating institutions into annual publications.
Politics
With the old tradition (dating back to the Federal Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government officials from participating in partisan politics), the local election in Fredericksburg is officially impartial. Both mayoral and council elections or local constitutional positions (eg sheriffs, Income Commissioners, Commonwealth Lawyers) register candidates with party labels.
Like other parts of Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg has tended to be strong at the beginning of the 21st century. In the 2008 presidential election, voters in Fredericksburg gave Barack Obama a total of 64.33% of the vote. Only Arlington County, Alexandria, and Falls Church in Northern Virginia have a higher percentage of votes for Obama. According to Dave Leip, there is no Republican presidential candidate who has brought Fredericksburg since 1988. In addition, in the 2016 presidential election, candidate Donald Trump won the lowest percentage of Republican Candidate election since 1936.
Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw won the election in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016.
Culture and recreation
Architecture and historical sites
Despite the past few decades of suburban growth, past reminders of the area were abundant. The 40-block Fredericksburg Historic District , listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes downtown and contains over 350 buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Crowds of tourists are attracted to the historic district of Fredericksburg for months - summer months.
Inside the historic district, four historic sites of the 18th century have been managed by the "Washington Heritage Museum": Mary Washington House, where George Washington's mother lived in her final years; Rising Sun Tavern in the late 18th century, and Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop (the fourth, St. James House (built 1768), is open to the public only during the Historic Garden Week). Important public buildings include the 1852 courthouse designed by James Renwick, whose works include the buildings of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and St. Joseph's Cathedral. Patrick in New York City; and the town hall and the 1816 market house, now operated as the Fredericksburg Museum and Cultural Center Center. Another interesting site is St. George. James Monroe Memorial Museum and Library is located on the site where Monroe practiced law from 1786 to 1788. The museum is housed in a building consisting of three individual structures, built at different times, beginning in 1816.
Nearby the historic district is Lewis Plantation, later named Kenmore, the home of George Washington sister, Betty and her husband, Fielding Lewis patriot.
Civil War battles in the region are celebrated in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Formed by the actions of Congress in 1927, the national military park retained parts of the battlefields of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. Fredericksburg National Cemetery, also part of the park, was developed by the federal government after the war at Marye's Heights on the battlefield of Fredericksburg. It contains more than 15,000 United cemeteries from the battlefields in the area. Many unidentified soldiers are buried in mass graves.
Among the 10,000 slaves who crossed Rappahannock for freedom with the Union in 1862 was John Washington. A learned slave from Fredericksburg, he settled in New York and wrote stories about wartime events several years later. The manuscript was found in the 1990s. It was published as the basis of two books, David W. Blight's A Slave No More (2007), and John Washington Civil War: A Slave Narrative (2008), edited by Crandall Shifflett. In 2010, the National Park Service, which manages the battlefield, Stafford County, and Fredericksburg City work together to post new historical markers on both sides of the Rappahannock River as part of the "Freedom Trail" to mark the exodus.
The famous 20th-century sites and structures include the Mary Washington University campus (beginning in 1908), and Carl's Ice Cream, the Art Moderne roadside ice cream stand, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and located on US Route 1.
Nearby attractions include the historic Ferry Farm site opposite Rapahannock in Stafford County where Washington spends his childhood, and George Washington Birthplace National Monument, located 38 miles east in Westmoreland County in Northern Neck. Falmouth's historic community is located opposite Rappahannock in the north and includes Belmont's historic home, home of American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers.
Garden
Public parks run by the city include:
- Old Mill Park
- Spring Park Alum
- Hurkamp Park
- Dixon Park
Public Library
Central Rappahannock Regional Library
Education
Primary and secondary schools
The Fredericksburg City Public Schools are run independently of the surrounding districts. Public primary and secondary schools include:
- James Monroe High School
- Walker-Grant Secondary School
- Hugh Mercer
- Lafayette Elementary School
Private schools include:
- Fredericksburg Academy
- Fredericksburg Christian School
- Saint Michael the Archangel High School
- Lighthouse Academy
Higher education
The University of Mary Washington, founded in 1908 and opened in 1911, is a four-year public university within the city.
Media
Fredericksburg's daily newspaper is The Free Lance-Star . The Free Lance was first published in 1885, and competed with two papers twice a week in town during the late 19th century, Fredericksburg News and The Virginia Star Temporarily folded in 1884, Star moved to a daily publication in 1893. In 1900, the two companies merged, with the two newspapers continuing the publication until 1926, when they joined as a daily newspaper under the current title. Until June 19, 2014, Free Lance-Star is owned and operated by Rowe family members from Fredericksburg. At that time, Sandton Capital Partners bought the newspaper. As of December 31, 2015, the relevant newspapers and websites were purchased by BH Media Group of Berkshire Hathaway. Fredericksburg.Today , an online hyperlocal news site began operations after the 2014 bankruptcy The Free Lance-Star .
Fredericksburg and nearby areas have several radio stations, including (on FM call) WLJV (89.5, Contemporary Christian), WPER (90.5, Christian), WFLS (93.3, country), WGRQ (95.9, " SuperHits ", licensed to Fairview Beach), WWUZ (96.9, classic rock, licensed to nearby Bowling Green), WVBX (99.3," The Vibe ", contemporary rhythmic, 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 locally owned by Telemedia Broadcasting. WFLS, WWUZ, WVBX, and WYSK are owned by Alpha Media.
In 2001, Arbitron's media service began registering the Fredericksburg area as a nationally rated radio market. In autumn 2014, this area is ranked 146 out of 272 markets surveyed, with a total market population of over 325,000. Large broadcast companies like Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Broadcasting are not active in the local market; almost all stations remain locally or regionally.
On television, Fredericksburg is part of the Washington market. One local television station, NBC WHFV affiliate, was broadcast in the 1970s.
Sports
There are no professional sports teams in Fredericksburg. In October 2013, the Hagerstown Suns minor league baseball team is officially applied to move there for the 2015 season, but plans fall apart in November 2014.
Sports at the secondary education level run through the Virginia High School League. At the college level is the University of Mary Washington Eagles. Other amateur athletes include Fredericksburg FC from the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL); and Rappahannock Rugby Club, a senior male rugby club competing in the Third Division Potomac Rugby Union.
Transportation
Fredericksburg is traversed by a series of four lane rural and suburban roads and many small, two-lane roads. Among the main arterial roads is Route 1 of the US, providing north-south transport from the region to Stafford County, Washington, D.C., and places outside. Route 3 (Plank Road) is the main east-west route connecting downtown Fredericksburg (via Blue and Gray Parkway bypass), south of Stafford and King George, and Route 301 to the east with large shopping centers, Spotsylvania Town Center and Central Park. To the west, Route 3 reaches Culpeper, where it meets Route 29 and Route 15.
Much of Fredericksburg's traffic flow is to or from the north (Washington, D.C. metropolitan area) during peak hours, mainly through Interstate 95 and US-1. The US-1 bridge over the Rappahannock River is often a barrier to traffic, and Route 3 has become increasingly bogged down as housing construction has grown to the west, along with large regional shopping centers.
Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) is a newly started bus service in Fredericksburg that serves most of the regional communities, retail shopping centers, two VRE stations, and downtown Fredericksburg.
Travel
Sameride Commute is an on-demand carpool service, similar to slugging (casual carpooling), which enables cost-free commuters along the HOV/HOT line using the Sameride mobile app. Sameride serves travel routes through I-95 and I-395 between residential areas in Stafford/Fredericksburg, Virginia and work centers in Washington, D.C.
As an alternative to I-95, some commuters use the Virginia Rail Railway service to Washington. Long distance rail services are available at Amtrak, which serves Fredericksburg via the Northeast Regional and Carolinian / Piedmont routes.
Famous people
the 18th century and before
of the 19th century to present
Twin Cities
Footnote
References
External links
- Official website
- General Interest Information about Fredericksburg Virginia
- Local history resources from Rappahannock Central Regional Library
- Fredericksburg.com, newspaper website Lance-Star Free
- The Daily Star, Google news archive. - PDF for 7,659 issues, from 1893 to 1926.
- US. National Slavery Museum
- Rappahannock Central Relics Center, a nonprofit historic archive of all volunteers in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
- US. Geological Survey Information Systems Geographic Name: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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