History of prince william county
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History of the Villages and Towns of Prince William County
by Eugene M. Scheel - published in the May, 1993 newsletter of Historic Prince William.
1993 Editor's Note: Eugene Scheel is a cartographer and collector of tales. His talent produced the Historic Map of Prince William which Historic Prince William commissioned in 1990. During his research, Mr. Scheel heard the lore and legends of many of the town and post offices of the area and has started to write us these stories as a companion to the Historic Map. He recently delivered the first installment of this new book Historic Prince William has commissioned which included the introduction we present to you here.
1996 Editors Note: Eugene Scheel's Crossroads and Corners is now one of the publications available from Historic Prince William. The first settlements were a warehouse or two hovering about a wharf of landing. Here colonists loaded tobacco and produce, repaired ships and fishermen set out. These landings, their names
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Prince William County, Virginia
County in Virginia, United States
Not to be confused with King William County, Virginia.
County in Virginia, United States
Prince William County | |
|---|---|
| County of Prince William | |
Flag Seal | |
Interactive map of Prince William County | |
Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| Founded | 1731 |
| Named for | Prince William, Duke of Cumberland |
| County seat | Manassas |
| Largest community | Dale City |
| • Body | Board of Supervisors |
| • Chair | Deshundra Jefferson (D) |
| • County Executive | Christopher Shorter |
• Total | 348 sq mi (900 km2) |
| • Land | 336 sq mi (870 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 3.5% |
• Total | 482,204 |
| • Density | 1,400/sq mi (500/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (D • Prince William County, Virginia (population 325,324), encompasses 348 square miles and includes the independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. In 1608, Captain John Smith and his band of frontiersmen rode a barge along the Potomac River, the first white men to touch the unnamed wilderness that is now known as Prince William County. The county was formed in 1731 and named for William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, second son of King George II. Dumfries is the oldest town in the Commonwealth of Virginia, having received its charter in 1749. The territory, which included Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudon, and Fauquier Counties, was reduced to its present size in 1759. During the Civil War, this area took on crucial importance. Both Union General McDowell and Confederate General Beauregard recognized the town's strategic location at the junction of the Alexandria and Orange and Manassas Gap Railroads. By capturing the Manassas railroad junction, the Union would take possess | |