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History of Fredericksburg VA. Historic Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg VA in Spotsylvania County is steeped in history from colonial times, Revolutionary War, Civil War and present. Discover Historic Fredericksburg VA, relive its' rich vibrant past to celebrate the present day marvel!
Fredericksburg, VA
Fredericksburg VA is a historic city located on the
Rappahannock River. Located 58 miles north of
Richmond and 50 miles south of Washington, D.C. In the early days it was
developed as the frontier when colonial Virginia started to move beyond the
coastal plain. The land on which Fredericksburg VA city was founded was part of
a tract patented in 1671. In 1676 The Virginia General Assembly established a
fort on the Rappahannock, just below the present-day city. In 1714 a German
settlement called Germanna on the Rapidan River was sponsored by Lt. Gov.
Alexander Spotswood on a tributary of the Rappahannock upstream from the future
site of the city. This development eventually led an expedition westward over
the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1716.
As interest in the frontier grew, the colonial assembly formed a new county
named Spotsylvania in 1720 and establishing Fredericksburg in 1728 as a port for
the county. The county court was moved to Fredericksburg in 1732 and the town
served as county seat until 1780 when the courthouse was moved closer to the
county center. Fredericksburg was incorporated as a town, with its own court,
council, and mayor, in 1781. Fredericksburg received its charter as an
independent city in 1879, and the city adopted its present city manager/council
form of government in 1911.
George Washington's estate was seated across the river at Ferry Farm in Stafford County. Some other famous figures of Fredericksburg were John Paul Jones and James Monroe. During the Revolutionary War, the town played a vital role as a munitions manufacturer, and much of the rich local gentry funded the revolutionaries cause.
Fredericksburg was the site of two Civil War battles, where it sustained massive damage from bombardment and looting. It saw a slow but quickening pace of growth antebellum, expanding much past its previous borders. The State Normal and Industrial School for Women was built in 1908, later being renamed to the University of Mary Washington in 1938 and remained a part of the University of Virginia women's programs until 1970, when it became independent and co-ed.
Today, Fredericksburg is still seeing expansion and is still a major commercial hub in the current northern Virginia economic growth. It remains steeped in history. The historic battlefields, reenactments, museums, and monuments are a major draw for summer tourism for the area.
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