Home / Fauquier County / A Brief History of Fauqier County
Brief History of Fauquier County:
Fauquier County is known as “horse country” and is located near the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The area was once home to the Manahoac Indians, a Sioux nation tribe. In 1608 an encounter with a Manahoac hunting party in the area was reported by Captain John Smith. The Manahoacs were eventually pushed out by the Iroquois Indians in 1650 who claimed it their hunting grounds.
The original European settlements in the area were mainly of German and English ancestry. The first settlement was Brenttown in 1686, then Elk Marsh/Elk Run in 1715, and Germantown (1718). All three locations were south of what is now Warrenton. The first settlement in Northern Fauquier was in 1726 near The Plains.
What became Fauquier County was carved out of Prince William County and Chartered on May 1, 1759. Originally the land was part of the Northern Neck Proprietary, a vast land grant held by the 6th Lord Fairfax.
The county came to be named after Francis Fauquier, Lt. Governor of Virginia from 1758 to his death in 1768. Thomas Jefferson said that Fauquier was “…the ablest governor to grace the position.” Francis Fauquier was very popular among those seeking British independence.
The county’s most notable native is unquestionably Chief Justice John Marshall who became known as the “Great Chief Justice.” John Marshall was the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and raised the court to the position of power and prestige it is known for today. Several of his best known decisions include Marbury v. Madison (1803) which established the right of judicial review over congressional and state legislation, McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) established the principle that the Constitution granted certain implied powers to Congress and Cohens v. Virginia (1821) upheld the court’s right to overrule state actions that violate the U.S. Constitution.
Welcome to Fauquier County, the beautiful bridge between bustling Northern Virginia and the tranquil foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nestled in the heart of Virginia horse and wine country, Fauquier retains the charm and character of its agricultural heritage. Scenic country roads lined with stone and rail fences lead to picturesque towns and villages which have welcomed travelers for 250 years. It is where residents claim to be “a little south of Northern Virginia.”
The rich and colorful history of the county where Chief Justice John Marshall grew up and Colonel John Singleton Mosby rode to fame is preserved in markers and monuments and in twelve stops on the Virginia Civil War Trails.
Some interesting facts from the US Census and The Fauquier Citizen
10.9% - Fauquier Population Change from 2000 to 2003.
4.3% - Virginia Population Change from 2000 to 2003.
22,379 - Number of Housing Units in 2002.
18 - Number of public schools (Auburn Middle opens in August.)
The county is named for Sir Francis Fauquier (1704-1768) a colonial lieutenant governor at the time of the county's founding. Fauquier later became governor.
Other Towns in Fauquier:
The Plains
Remington
New Baltimore
Hume
Delaplane
Marshall
Bealeton
Many different events and outdoor adventures are available for the entire family:
Virginia Gold Cup, spring and fall steeplechase races,
the oldest horse shows in America, farm and stable tours,
a winery in the town of Warrenton plus other wineries,
Civil War reenactments at Sky Meadows State Park,
Flying Circus Air shows, antique shows, craft festivals,
holiday parades and celebrations,
trail rides and pick-your-own fruits and vegetables.
Article written by Laura Jevtich: Sales Through Technology, LLC with information from Town of Warrenton and Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce.
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~ Archie O. Edwards, Realtor - Long & Foster Real Estate
~ 492 Blackwell Road, Warrenton, VA 20186 ~ Direct:(540) 222-3555 or Archie@ArchieEdwards.com