Welcome to NorthernVirginians.com
Northern Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia boasts 120 miles of sparkling coastline, a wealth of important historic sites, and many famous schools and colleges. It was founded at Jamestown in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in America.
About Northern Virginia
The Northern Virginia area includes Arlington County, Alexandria City, Falls Church, and Fairfax City and County, and is home to 1.3 million people. Northern Virginia has thousands of homes to choose from, including fast-paced, high-rise sophistication, community-oriented townhouse developments, or for single-family planned communities.
Fairfax County
Founded in 1742, Fairfax County is rich in colonial and Civil War historic sites, including George Washington's home at Mount Vernon. Fairfax County is the most affluent county in the US and is home to thousands of businesses, trade associations, and corporations.
Arlington County
As you look across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., you first see Arlington County. Arlington is home to many attractions such as the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, and Arlington National Cemetery.
Falls Church
In 1743, the Church of England named its house of worship here "Falls Church" after the falls in the Potomac River. Falls Church became a city in 1948. This quiet, residential municipality now boasts a business district and shopping centers.
Alexandria City
The city of Alexandria, settled in the early days of our nation, is extremely rich in history. George Washington helped lay out the town lots and it was the boyhood home of General Robert E. Lee. Bounded by the Potomac River, Alexandria was a port until the late 1880s.
Fairfax City
Fairfax City was incorporated in 1961 and is one of Virginia's most populous areas. The city remains suburban in character, however, and is home to George Mason University with its Patriot Center and Center for the Arts facilities.
Economy
The suburbs of Washington, D.C., are not just appendages of the Federal Government. The larger part of our economy is in the private sector. The services industries lead the area in employment including Legal, Health and Engineering, followed by the Retail Trade and then the Government sector including local, state, and federal, which make up only 13 percent of the job market.
Transportation
A large factor to consider if you are relocating to Northern Virginia is transportation. A recent survey shows, 71 percent of workers drive to work alone, and 29 percent use public transportation or organized van/car pools.
One form of public transportation is the Metro Rail system which travels through Alexandria (Blue and Yellow Lines), Arlington, and Fairfax (Orange Line), with its outermost point at the Vienna Metro stop. Metro Buses are available from numerous areas further west ease your commute. In addition, Commuter Rails, which stops throughout south Fairfax and Alexandria, take commuters straight into Union Station in Downtown Washington, D.C.
Fairfax County's Dulles International Airport and Arlington's Reagan National Airport, accessible by Metro Rail on the Blue/Yellow lines, are convenient ways to travel domestically and internationally.
Education
Northern Virginia boosts a premiere amenity which is its educational system. The colleges and universities located in our region include satellite campuses of major state facilities such as the University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Schools with full academic programs include George Mason University in Fairfax, Marymount University in Arlington, and the Northern Virginia Community College with five campuses throughout the area.
Leisure Activities
Northern Virginia has a variety of activities that will please all ages. Northern Virginians are just a few minutes drive from the nation's capital's The Kennedy Center, Ford's Theater, the Smithsonian Institution's 13 museums including historical, natural, and cultural exhibits.
