Fauquier County, Virginia

Fauquier County, Virginia
County
Fauquier County Courthouse in Warrenton
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Coordinates: 38°44′N 77°49′W / 38.74°N 77.81°W / 38.74; -77.81
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1759
Named afterFrancis Fauquier
SeatWarrenton
Largest communityNew Baltimore
Area
 • Total
651 sq mi (1,690 km2)
 • Land647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
 • Water3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
72,972
 • Density113/sq mi (43.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.fauquiercounty.gov

Fauquier County /fɔːˈkɪər/ is a United States county located on the Piedmont plateau of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Part of the Northern Virginia region, Fauquier is included in the Washington metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 72,972.[1] The county seat is the large historic town of Warrenton.[2]

The county was created in 1759 from part of Prince William County and was named in honor of Francis Fauquier, the administrative head of Virginia Colony at the time. Fauquier hosts the Virginia Gold Cup, which, having started in 1922, is one of the longest running steeplechase horse race events in the United States.[3]

History

In 1608, the first European to explore in the vicinity, Captain John Smith, reported that the Whonkentia (a subgroup of the Siouan-speaking Manahoac tribe) inhabited the area. The Manahoac were forced out around 1670 by the Iroquois (Seneca), who did not resettle the area.[4] The Conoy camped briefly near The Plains, from 1697 to 1699.[5] The Six Nations ceded the entire region including modern Fauquier to Virginia Colony at the Treaty of Albany, in 1722.

Fauquier County was established on May 1, 1759, from Prince William County. It is named for Francis Fauquier,[6] Lieutenant Governor of Virginia at the time, who won the land in a poker game, according to legend.

American Civil War battles in Fauquier County included (in order) the First Battle of Rappahannock Station, the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap, the Battle of Kelly's Ford, the Battle of Aldie, the Battle of Middleburg, the Battle of Upperville, the First and Second Battle of Auburn, the Battle of Buckland Mills, and the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station.

Geography

Fauquier and adjacent counties

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 651 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7]

Fauquier County is not densely populated, but exurban development from Washington, DC has sprung up in some parts. Even in rural areas, housing complexes can be seen along highways. The highest point by elevation is Blue Mountain at 2,208 ft (673 meters) on the county's northwestern border with Warren County.[8]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179017,892—
180021,32919.2%
181022,6896.4%
182023,1031.8%
183026,08612.9%
184021,897−16.1%
185020,868−4.7%
186021,7064.0%
187019,690−9.3%
188022,99316.8%
189022,590−1.8%
190023,3743.5%
191022,526−3.6%
192021,869−2.9%
193021,071−3.6%
194021,039−0.2%
195021,2481.0%
196024,06613.3%
197026,3759.6%
198035,88936.1%
199048,74135.8%
200055,13913.1%
201065,20318.3%
202072,97211.9%
2023 (est.)75,1653.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]

Racial and ethnic composition

Fauquier County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 53,410 54,969 81.91% 75.33%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,232 4,999 8.02% 6.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 186 128 0.29% 0.18%
Asian alone (NH) 826 1,204 1.27% 1.65%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 27 49 0.04% 0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 103 339 0.16% 0.46%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 1,241 3,491 1.90% 4.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,178 7,793 6.41% 10.68%
Total 65,203 72,972 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 72,972. The median age was 41.9 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.[15][16]

The racial makeup of the county was 77.6% White, 7.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.3% from some other race, and 8.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.7% of the population.[16]

42.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 57.5% lived in rural areas.[17]

There were 26,400 households in the county, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 28,249 housing units, of which 6.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.7% were owner-occupied and 20.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.[15]

2000 Census

In 2000, there were 19,842 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 18.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.

In 2013, 24.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.40% was from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $93,762.[18] The per capita income for the county was $39,600. About 3.70% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

The county is exurban. There has been increased growth in Warrenton and New Baltimore in recent years. The subdivisions of Brookside and Vint Hill have facilitated the growth in the eastern part of the county. There is some industry in Fauquier County, however the largest employer in the county is the county government and the hospital. As of the 2000 census, 47% of county residents that work have jobs that are outside the county.[19] The average travel time to work is 39.2 minutes.

Government

Board of Supervisors

  • Cedar Run District: Richard Gerhardt (R) – Chairman
  • Center District: Kevin T. Carter (R) - Vice Chairman
  • Lee District: Daron Culbertson (R)
  • Marshall District: Regan Washer (R)
  • Scott District: Edwin W. "Ike" Broaddus (I) [20]

Constitutional officers

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Gail H. Barb (R)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Eric Maybach (R)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Scott C. Hook (R)
  • Sheriff: Jeremy A. Falls (R)
  • Treasurer: Tanya Remson Wilcox (R)[21]

Legislators

The Virginia Senate:

The Virginia House of Delegates:

The U.S. House of Representatives:

[22]

Law enforcement

The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Fauquier County, Virginia. Its headquarters are in Warrenton.[23] It supports the Warrenton Training Center, a CIA site in Warrenton.

Warrenton and Remington have their own police departments.[24][25]

Politics

Since 1952, Fauquier County has voted for the Republican Party in all but one presidential election.

United States presidential election results for Fauquier County, Virginia[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 182 12.46% 1,187 81.25% 92 6.30%
1916 367 23.32% 1,204 76.49% 3 0.19%
1920 568 29.26% 1,365 70.32% 8 0.41%
1924 345 20.14% 1,277 74.55% 91 5.31%
1928 972 38.83% 1,531 61.17% 0 0.00%
1932 379 15.82% 1,999 83.43% 18 0.75%
1936 629 23.54% 2,037 76.24% 6 0.22%
1940 756 28.67% 1,874 71.07% 7 0.27%
1944 1,089 33.99% 2,110 65.86% 5 0.16%
1948 1,102 41.32% 1,291 48.41% 274 10.27%
1952 2,068 56.27% 1,597 43.46% 10 0.27%
1956 2,112 55.55% 1,567 41.22% 123 3.24%
1960 2,123 51.86% 1,958 47.83% 13 0.32%
1964 2,101 37.43% 3,506 62.46% 6 0.11%
1968 2,845 43.76% 2,099 32.29% 1,557 23.95%
1972 4,654 67.71% 2,039 29.67% 180 2.62%
1976 4,715 51.75% 4,002 43.92% 394 4.32%
1980 6,782 58.11% 4,119 35.30% 769 6.59%
1984 10,319 71.41% 4,056 28.07% 76 0.53%
1988 11,733 69.86% 4,837 28.80% 226 1.35%
1992 10,497 50.57% 6,600 31.79% 3,662 17.64%
1996 11,063 57.45% 6,759 35.10% 1,436 7.46%
2000 14,456 61.56% 8,296 35.33% 729 3.10%
2004 19,011 63.55% 10,712 35.81% 192 0.64%
2008 19,227 56.19% 14,616 42.71% 376 1.10%
2012 21,034 59.16% 13,965 39.28% 556 1.56%
2016 22,127 59.07% 12,971 34.63% 2,362 6.31%
2020 25,106 57.50% 17,565 40.23% 990 2.27%
2024 26,825 59.92% 17,180 38.38% 763 1.70%

Education

K-12 schools

Main article: Fauquier County Public Schools

Most of the county is in the Fauquier County Public Schools school division. The portion on Marine Corps Base Quantico is within the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school district.[27]

Fauquier County Public Schools facilities include:

Elementary schools
  • C. M. Bradley Elementary School
  • James G. Brumfield Elementary School
  • W. G. Coleman Elementary School
  • Grace Miller Elementary School
  • H. M. Pearson Elementary School
  • C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School
  • P. B. Smith Elementary School
  • Claude Thompson Elementary School
  • Mary Walter Elementary School
  • Greenville Elementary School
  • M. M. Pierce Elementary School
Middle schools
  • Auburn Middle School
  • Cedar Lee Middle School
  • W. C. Taylor Middle School
  • Marshall Middle School
High schools

The zoned schools for areas on-post at MCB Quantico are Crossroads Elementary School and Quantico Middle/High School.[28]

Private schools

Higher education

Economy

Top Employers

According to the county's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[30] the county's largest employers are:

Rank Employer Number of Employees
1 Fauquier County School Board 1,000 and over
2 County of Fauquier 500 to 999
3 Fauquier Health System 500 to 999
4 United States Department of Transportation 500 to 999
5 Walmart 250 to 499
6 Town of Warrenton 100 to 249
7 Food Lion 100 to 249
8 White Horse OPCO LLC 100 to 249
9 The Home Depot 100 to 249
10 Blue Ridge Orthopedic Associates 100 to 249

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places


Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Hill, Kaitlin (May 30, 2025). "Virginia Gold Cup's 100th Running". Middleburg Life & Hunt Country. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  4. ^ Swanton, John R. (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. Smithsonian Institution. pp. 61–62. hdl:2027/mdp.39015015025854. ISBN 0-8063-1730-2. OCLC 52230544. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  5. ^ Harrison Williams, Legends of Loudoun, pp. 20-21.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 124.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 1, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Virginia County/Ind. City High Points". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fauquier County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fauquier County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  18. ^ "American FactFinder – Community Facts". factfinder.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ^ "Get A Life, Lose The Commute". Fauquier Times-Democrat. August 30, 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. ^ "Board of Supervisors". Fauquier County. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  21. ^ "Constitutional Officers". Fauquier County. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  22. ^ "Welcome to the Virginia General Assembly Website".
  23. ^ "Sheriff's Office | Fauquier County, VA". www.fauquiercounty.gov. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  24. ^ "Police Department | Warrenton, VA". www.warrentonva.gov. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  25. ^ "Welcome To Town Of Remington, VA". www.remington-va.gov. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  27. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fauquier County, VA" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 8, 2025. – Text list – "Quantico Marine Corps Center School District" refers to DoDEA schools.
  28. ^ "Quantico Schools". Department of Defense Education Activity. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  29. ^ "Home | Saint John the Evangelist School". www.sjesva.org. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  30. ^ "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Year ending June 30, 2023". Fauquier County, Virginia Government Website. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  31. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
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