Page Contents for Quantico, Virginia

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Virginia state capital is Richmond.
The population of Quantico is approximately 670 (1990), 480 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 381 (1990), 248 (2010).
The amount of land area in Quantico is 0.185 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Quantico is 0.1 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Quantico to Washington DC is 30 miles.
The distance to the Virginia state capital is 69 miles. (as the crow flies)
Quantico is positioned 38.52 degrees north of the equator and 77.28 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Quantico elevation is 35 feet above sea level.
Quantico median income is $ 26,250 (2000).
The Quantico median home price is $ 74,800 (2000).
The average winter temperature is 34.6 degrees F.
The average spring temperature is 55.7 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 77.7 degrees F.
The average fall temperature is 69.5 degrees F.

Location

across the Potomac River from Maryland and about 33 miles from Washington, DC. It is the only community in the country that is completely surrounded by a military base. Other nearby communities include Quantico Station, Triangle, Dumfries, Montclair, Squia Harbour, Woodbridge, Dale City, all in Virginia and Indian Head in Maryland.
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History & History Related Items

The Marine Base located on the banks of the Potomac River in Quantico, Virginia is rich in history. The land was explored by Captain John Smith in 1608. Quantico, which in one Indian dialect means "By the large stream" became a welcome home to many of America's Revolutionary war heroes. The British as well as the American troops used nearby roads to move from one battlefield to another. In the civil war the postion of the town proved vital in river control.
The land was sold to the Marine Corps in 1917. The first Marines arrived at Quantico on May 14, 1917. It was at this time that the Commandant established Marine Barracks. Four days later the first Marines began arriving for training. Quantico was intially to hold 3,500 men with a headquarters, hospital, kitchen, mess hall and utilites. During World War I the Marine Corps base at Quantico served as a training camp for thousands. It was in 1920 that the Marine Corps Schools were founded. When the need arose to prepare for a Pacific war, new tactics for training were introduced. It was at Quantico that amphibious warfare was concieved and perfected. Equiptment and tactics were designed here which revolutionized the Marine Corps.

The tactical units carrying out these new operations became the Fleet Marine Force in 1935. It was the Fleet Marine Force which really perfected the new warfare tactics. When the FMF left in 1941, the role of Quantico became as an individual Marine training facility as opposed to a Unit training facility. The techniques developed here made victory in the Pacific theater of World War II a possibility. In 1947 the first helicopter troop carrying force was introduced. It was called Marine Helicopter Squadron One(HMX-1). The techniques developed at Quantico once again became valuable in war. The helicopter force played an important role in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
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Attractions

Quantico is one of the country's largest Marine Corps installations. One of the prominent features of the base is a replica of the Marine Corps War Memorial which depicts the flag raising for Iwo Jima. The original statue is at Arlington National Cemetery.

Quantico is referred to as the Crossroads of the Marine Corps.

Quantico houses the Marine Corps Combat Development Command and the Marine Corps University.

The Marine Corps Air-ground Museum
Phone: (703) 784-2606
See restored military aircraft and equipment from WW I & II and the Korean War. Please phone for hours and details.
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Quantico Schools

Quantico houses the Marine Corps University.
It is comprised of the Marine Corps War College, Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Warfighting, Amphibious Warfare Shool, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Command and Control SystemsSchool, The Basic School and the Officer Candidates School. Quantico

Miscellany

The population of Quantico was:
1990 - 670
2000 - 561

The base at Quantico encompasses 60,000 acres of land
The base is home to approximately 6,500 people.