The passage of time has brought with it vast alterations to the landscape of Northern Virginia and Fairfax County. Once a sleepy rural area dotted with a few small villages, it has changed into a bustling suburb that is now home to thousands of people. Throughout its history, Fairfax County has hosted presidents, been home to slave traders and been a strategic component in multiple campaigns during the Civil War. Remembering Fairfax County, Virginia by longtime local historian Karl Reiner is a collection of historical vignettes that captures not only the essence of the events and people who have shaped the history of Fairfax County, but also their impact on the Old Dominion. Reiner calls upon a breadth of materials, exploring much of the forgotten heritage in the county, to provide an accessible and balanced work that is both informative and entertaining. From the influence of presidents such as George Washington to forgotten battles during the Civil War, this collection chronicles the history of Fairfax County during some of the most influential periods in American history.

History is nurtured and treasured in the City of Alexandria and in neighboring South Fairfax County. A History Lover's Guide to Alexandria & South Fairfax County focuses on this special area along the Potomac River. Travel through history from Old Town to Mason's Neck and witness the practice of preservation as it continues to evolve today. Alexandria cares for the places essential to understanding our shared past, from cobblestone streets to the always active waterfront. Visit the numerous museums and historic houses, many of which are iconic in American history, in Old Town. Learn the stories of Alexandria's African American community, from slavery to freedom. Discover neighborhoods like Del Ray and Seminary Hill. South of the city, travel the George Washington Memorial Parkway and walk in the footsteps of Washington himself. Historian and preservationist Laura Macaluso draws connections between city and county, and between past and present.

Majestic monuments and memorials. Renowned museums. Top-notch restaurants and hotels. A truly world-class town. • A personal, practical perspective for travelers and residents alike • Comprehensive listings of attractions, restaurants, and accommodations • How to live & thrive in the area—from recreation to relocation • Countless details on shopping, arts & entertainment, and children’s activities

The story of Ravensworth starts with William Fitzhugh's purchase of the Ravensworth landgrant in 1685, the largest colonial landgrant in Fairfax County, Virginia - 24,112 acres (37.7 square miles), about one-half the area of nearby Washington, DC. From a population of zero, not counting Native Americans who may have had encampments there, the 2000 Census recorded about 138,355 people living within Ravensworth's original borders. The land was repeatedly carved into smaller and smaller parcels through inheritance, sale and subdivision. The once uncharted expanse of forest became first a plantation, then a succession of smaller plantations, then farms - both large and small - served by crossroads villages, and finally today's thousands of homes and businesses as well as commercial and government centers. The story of Ravensworth is a story of colonial settlement, early government, tobacco plantations, slavery, civil war, economic expansion, the rise and decline of family farms, and suburban development - next door to the nation's capital - involving people, places and events both famous and obscure. It explores... The people who owned Ravensworth land and disposed of its parts; others who leased, worked, visited and helped shape it How the land was acquired, partitioned, leased and used Ravensworth's enduring landmarks Events that occurred there Tracing the step-by-step partitioning of Ravensworth through the generations of changing ownership involved studying land deeds and mapping their metes and bounds (compass direction and distance of boundary lines). The parcels then were georeferenced to place them in their correct geographic location on a contemporary map. The resulting maps enable visualizing the land where people lived and worked and where events occurred in Ravensworth in the context of today's communities, roads and streets.