Prince William County, Virginia - information, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Prince William County, Virginia

Government:

Prince William County website
1 County Complex Court
Prince William, Virginia 22192
Phone: 703-792-4660

Clerk of the Circuit Court
9311 Lee Ave
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703-792-6015

Prince William County has a County Executive form of Government. It was put in place in 1972. There is a Board of County Supervisors with eight members. This board creates policy. The Board also appoints a County Executive to carry out the policies and run the county on a day-to-day basis. The board also appoints a number of other positions.

Board of Supervisors
County Sheriff's Office
Prince William County Police Department

Prince William County Flag with a description of the flag

Population:

1950 - 22,612
1960 - 50,164
1970 - 111,102
1980 - 144,703
1990 - 215,686
2000 - 280,813
2005 - 339,900 (estimate)

note: The population of Prince William County does not include the independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Housing Units
1990 - 74,759
2000 - 98,052

Families:
2000 - 72,724

Population Density:
2000 - 831

Median age:
2000 - 32 years

Location:

Prince William County is about 35 miles southwest of Washington, DC.
Neighboring counties include:
North - Fairfax County and Loudoun County
East - The Potomac River and the state of Maryland
South - Stafford County
West - Fauquier County

Here is a map page for the county

Climate:

mild climate

Average annual temperature: 56 degrees Fahrenheit

Annual precipitation: 40.5 inches
Growing season: about six months

Current weather page

Other Facts & Figures:

Income:
Median Household Income:
2000 - $65,960
2002 - $70,334

Median Family Income:
2000 - $71,622
2002 - $75,545

Per Capita income
2000 - $25,641
2002 - $27,153

There are four incorporated towns in the county. There are also fourteen unincorporated places designated by the US Census.

Average House Value:
2000 - $137,700

History:

A history page for Prince William County
This page tells more about the naming of the county and the history of its namesake.

The first white men to arrive in the county area was Captain John Smith and his group who came along the Potomac River in 1608. It wasn't until 1731 that the county was officially formed. It was named for William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, second son of King George II. The area was reduced in 1759 to the current size. The original area included what would later become Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Fauquier and Loudoun Counties.

The county has a large role in the Civil War. The area called Manassas Junction was a little community of only four structures. It was also known as Tudor Hall, the name of the post office. This area was the site of a great battle in July, 1861. The Manassas National Battlefield Park tells the story. Other important events in the Civil War also occurred in other areas of the county.

When the county courthouse was built in 1822, the County Seat became Brentsville. The town has always been a major crossroads from the Potomac River to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The seat was moved to Manassas in 1892.

Prince William County Historic Sites

Geography:

Elevation:
Range - 25 to 1,280 feet above sea level
Highest point - 1,280 feet above sea level on Bull Run Mountain near Fauquier County
Lowest point - Sea Level along the Potomac River.

Geographic Center of County:
38.55 Latitude and 77.40 Longitude near Brentsville

Size:
Total land area: 338 square miles
Total water area: 11 square miles
Total area: 348 square miles
Total area including independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park: 360 square miles

Federal land area within county: 41,671 acres
This land includes Quantico Marine Corps Base, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Prince William Forest Park

Genealogy:

Prince William County US GenWEb project page
Cemeteries in the county

Libraries:

Prince William Public Library System
Bull Run Regional Library
8051 Ashton Avenue
Manassas, VA 20109-2892
Phone: 703-792-4500

Schools:

Prince William County Public Schools
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, Virginia 20108
Phone: 703-791-7200

Economy:

Prince William County Department of Economic Development
10530 Linden Lake Plaza, Suite 105
Manassas, Virginia 20109
Phone: 703-792-5500
Fax: 703-792-5502
Toll-free: 800-334-9876

Because of its location near Washington, DC and the Interstate 66 and 95 corridors, the economy of the area has thrived. Major industries include electronics, telecommunications, engineering, computers and commercial ventures. Of course, travel and tourism and related industries benefit with the nation's capital and other historic areas nearby. There are many shopping malls including the Potomac Mills, one of the world's largest with over 220 businesses.

Organizations & Groups:

Prince William County Convention and Visitors Bureau
8609 Sudley Road, Suite 105
Manassas, VA 20110
Toll-free: 800 432 1792
Phone: 703-396 7130
Fax: 703-396.7160
Email: information@visitpwc.com

Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce
8963 Center St.
PO Box 495
Manassas, VA 20108
Phone: 703-368-6600
Fax: 703-368-4733

Youth Orchestras of Prince William County
P.O. Box 2127
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Phone: (703) 590-7083
three string orchestras, two symphony orchestras, a wind symphony, and a variety of chamber music ensembles.

Prince William Model Railroad Club
P.O. Box 4801
Woodbridge, VA 22194
e-mail: info@pwmrc.org

Attractions & Other Information:

The President's Cup
This biennial event is played in non-Ryder Cup years. It began in 1994.

Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum
2014 Anderson Ave
Quantico, VA 22134
Phone: 703-784-2606
Fax: 703-784-5856
See the history of the Marine Corp at this unusual museum. The museum is located in airplane hangers from the 1920s
open Tuesday through Sunday from April through November only
Free admission

Manassas Museum
9101 Prince William St
Manassas, Virginia
Phone: 703-368-1873

Mill House Museum
412 Mill St.
Occoquan, VA 22125
Phone: 703-491-7525
This museum is housed in the office of the first automated grist mill in the country. See artifacts and memorabilia.
Free admission

Attractions in the county
Sports in the county

Roadside historical markers in the county

Prince William County Fairgrounds

Manassas National Battlefield Park & Museum
Phone: 703- 361- 1339

Take a photo tour of the county

Prince William Forest Park
18100 Park Headquarters Road
Triangle, VA 22172
Headquarters: 703-221-4706
Visitor Information: 703-221-7181
Fax: 703-221-4322
Established in 1936, this park has over 15,000 acres and is the largest park in the area.

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This page was last updated on 11 May 2009 at 4:18 pm

This page was created 6 July 1999