STAFFORD & SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTIES

Spotsylvania County Offices
9104 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania 540-582-7000
https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/

Stafford County Offices
130 Courthouse Road
Stafford 540-658-8600
https://staffordcountyva.gov

Chamber of Commerce
2300 Fall Hill Avenue
Fredericksburg 540-373-9400
https://www.fredericksburgchamber.org/Home

Located along Interstate 95 about midway between Washington, DC and Richmond, Virginia are the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania. Founded more than three centuries ago, this area is rich in scenic beauty and historic significance. It was in Stafford County that George Washington spent much of his childhood at the 600-acre Ferry Farms Estate. Marlborough Point in the eastern part of the county marks the place where the Native American Princess Pocahontas was kidnapped and taken to Jamestown. Spotsylvania County was named for former Governor Alexander Spotswood and is most famous as the location of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Reverence for the past in this region strikes a fine balance with a progressive attitude toward growth and development. As an aggressive business location, the region hosts world-renowned defense research centers, mid-Atlantic distribution complexes and regional corporate headquarters. The Marine Corps base of Quantico, known as the “Crossroads of the Marine Corps,” occupies more than 30,000 acres in the northern end of Stafford County. Serving as the area’s center of business and commerce, the independent City of Fredericksburg maintains two distinct personalities. Its charming colonial atmosphere and historic sites contrast with bustling economic activity. In fact, the regional chamber of commerce located in Fredericksburg covers a multi-county region.

Services
Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge and Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg anchor the state-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities available throughout the county. Mary Washington Hospital is a regional, 318-bed acute-care facility that offers three centers of excellence including the Cancer Center of Virginia. In addition to providing a wide spectrum of medical and surgical specialties, the hospitals offer community education and well programs, health screenings, and community outreach.

Public schools are able to offer outstanding special programs by integrating community resources for gifted and talented students at every level. A regional special education program is designed to meet the needs of physically or mentally handicapped children. Adult continuing education and vocational education courses are also available to serve the needs of students of all ages. Germanna Community College in Locust Grove provides an affordable start to a degree program by offering both day and evening courses in a two-year format. Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg offers a state-supported, liberal arts four-year institution just around the corner from home. Several other national institutions are available within a 90-minute drive, including George Mason University, the University of Virginia, and the highly acclaimed College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Quality of Life
Residents of this scenic area enjoy outstanding opportunities for entertainment, cultural enrichment, and outdoor adventure. Recreational opportunities abound in more than 1,000 acres of county, regional, state and national parks. Among the first-rate amenities are private marinas, public fishing lakes, acres of athletic fields and championship golf courses. The Rappahannock River, once a popular shipping route to the historic port of Falmouth, flows along the southern boundary of the Stafford County. Designated as a State Scenic River, the Rappahannock adds abundant wildlife habitat and scenic backdrop for shoreline activities.

Throughout this region, historic sites and famous battlefields draw visitors to the peaceful countryside, gracious southern hospitality, and quaint shopping districts. Visitors tour attractions like Ferry Farm and other compelling historical sites such as Chatham Manor, the Union Headquarters during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Belmont is the 18th-century home of American artist Gari Melchers, and Aquia Church stands as one of the oldest colonial churches in the nation. The Fredericksburg area was the scene of four major Civil War battles and the death of Stonewall Jackson. In Spotsylvania County, the Civil War Life Museum brings this turbulent period to life with extensive displays of original artifacts and life-size displays.

The diverse selection of housing in this area appeals to a wide spectrum of budgets and tastes. Beautifully restored historic homes, handsome new construction, charming rural farms, and vibrant master-planned communities are among the choices that newcomers will discover. Heavily wooded areas, lakefront property, golf-course homes, and panoramic communities build around natural features like Aquia Creek are popular for their natural beauty and premier recreational amenities. Without a doubt, the Greater Fredericksburg area — encompassing both Stafford and Spotsylvania counties — is one of the most appealing and comfortable corners of the metropolitan Washington, DC area in which to live, work, and play.