Town of Warrenton

Brief History of the Town of Warrenton:

Warrenton:
During the Revolutionary War Warrenton was known as Fauquier Courthouse. In 1790 Richard Henry Lee donated 71 acres for a new courthouse and for the first town plots. The first permanent jail was built in 1808, rebuilt in 1823 and used until 1966. The name Warrenton was adopted in 1810 and became chartered in 1816. The name originally came from Joseph Warren, a heroic General in the U.S. Army who died at Bunker Hill in 1775. Many know Joseph Warren as the General who sent Paul Revere on his famous ride.

During the Civil War, Warrenton was a hospital town with many churches and homes being used to care for the wounded. The town changed hands 67 times during the war. Col. John S. Mosby (the Gray Ghost) and his band of partisan rangers were very active in the area. Col Mosby is well known for his daring escapes and brazen military tactics. General Robert E. Lee said of Mosby, “If I had ten more like him we’d win this war.” Mosby attempted a law practice in the area after the war but was unsuccessful due to his “Northern affiliations.” Warrenton soon became known for its abundance of brilliant lawyers and as a place for horse lovers. The Warrenton Hunt was established in 1883 and still meets today.

The Town of Warrenton, is the county seat and is an architectural and historic treasure. The majestic columns and graceful spire of the "old" County Court House, still in use, beckon visitors to streets lined with well-preserved homes and appealing shops and restaurants. The Old Jail, built in 1808, houses a museum of local history. Modern accommodations, traveler services, shopping centers and a variety of restaurants border the tree-lined "old bypass" west of Old Town.

Article written by Laura Jevtich: Sales Through Technology, LLC with information from Town of Warrenton and Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce.

Town of Warrenton

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