Annandale, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annandale, Virginia
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Suburban Annandale in 2015
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Location of Annandale in Fairfax County, Virginia
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 Annandale, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Annandale, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Annandale, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| County | Fairfax | |
| Settled | 1685 | |
| Named for | Annandale, United Kingdom | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.86 sq mi (20.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 7.86 sq mi (20.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) | |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,363 | |
| • Density | 5,516.9/sq mi (2,130.1/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
22003
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| Area codes | 703, 571 | |
| FIPS code | 51-01912 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492474 | |
| Website | www.annandale.va.us | |
Annandale is a community in Fairfax County, Virginia. It's called a census-designated place (CDP) because it's a special area defined for counting people. In 2020, about 43,363 people lived here. Annandale is home to the largest campus of Northern Virginia Community College and is known for its Koreatown area.
Contents
History
When Europeans first arrived in the 1600s, the land around Annandale was home to the Taux people. They spoke an Algonquian language.
Early Days
In 1685, an Englishman named Col. William H. Fitzhugh bought a huge piece of land. It was over 24,000 acres, which is about 37.5 square miles. He turned it into one of the biggest tobacco farms in Northern Virginia. His family later called this large farm "Ravensworth." Over many years, the Fitzhugh family farmed the land and slowly sold parts of it.
In 1830, a Scottish settler named the community "Annandale." He named it after his hometown, Annan, in Scotland. Annandale became the second place in Virginia named after a town in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
Important roads were built through Annandale. The Little River Turnpike (now Virginia State Route 236) was finished in 1806. It connected Annandale with Alexandria and Fairfax. In 1808, the Columbia Pike (now Virginia State Route 244) was built. It linked the District of Columbia to the Little River Turnpike in Annandale.
The first business in Annandale was a blacksmith shop and stable. William Garges built it where Columbia Pike, Little River Turnpike, and Backlick Road meet. This spot became the center of town. Garges also became the first postmaster when the Annandale Post Office opened in 1837. Small farms and businesses grew around the town. The first church, Annandale Methodist Chapel, was built in 1846.
Civil War Times
The American Civil War affected Annandale between 1861 and 1865. Union soldiers often stayed in the area to protect Washington, D.C. Confederate soldiers sometimes fought with them nearby. The Methodist Chapel was even taken apart by Union troops in 1863 for building materials.
After the war, people returned to farming and business. Dairy farming became very popular in Fairfax County. More small communities grew near railroad stations and dairy farms. Residents built stores, churches, and schools.
Modern Growth
By 1925, Fairfax County had more dairy farms than any other county in Virginia. In the 1930s and 1940s, more people worked for the federal government. This happened because President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the New Deal. Also, the United States entered World War II.
After World War II, Annandale grew even more. New homes, businesses, schools, and roads were built for the many new residents. These areas became "bedroom communities." Many people lived in Annandale but traveled to work in Washington or nearby cities. This trend continues today. Many residents now work in Northern Virginia, as well as in and around Washington, D.C.
Where is Annandale?
Annandale is located at 38°50′3″N 77°12′41″W / 38.83417°N 77.21139°W. The main roads through Annandale are the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) and Little River Turnpike (Virginia State Route 236). The center of town is where Little River Turnpike, Columbia Pike, and Backlick Road meet. This is about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Interstate 495 on Little River Turnpike.
Annandale shares borders with several other communities. To the north is West Falls Church. To the east are Lake Barcroft and Lincolnia. To the south is North Springfield. To the west are Wakefield and Woodburn.
Natural Features
Annandale is part of the coastal plain. This area has rolling hills, stream valleys, and red clay soils.
Accotink Creek flows through Annandale. Long ago, ships used this creek to carry tobacco and other goods. The Little River Turnpike, Annandale's oldest road, crosses this creek. In 1918, the Springfield Dam was built, creating Lake Accotink. This lake provided water for an Army camp during World War I.
Today, Lake Accotink is a popular place for fun. People enjoy walking, hiking, and biking trails there. They can also go fishing and rent boats.
The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail also runs along Accotink Creek. This trail is 20 miles (32 km) long. It's great for hiking, biking, running, and cross-country skiing. The trail goes through parks and forests. You might see deer, foxes, geese, and many kinds of birds. In spring, trout are put into Accotink Creek for fishing.
Who Lives in Annandale?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 27,405 | — | |
| 1980 | 49,524 | 80.7% | |
| 1990 | 50,975 | 2.9% | |
| 2000 | 54,994 | 7.9% | |
| 2010 | 41,008 | −25.4% | |
| 2020 | 43,363 | 5.7% | |
| * U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Annandale had 43,363 people. There were about 13,882 households and 9,455 families. The population decreased from 2000 because parts of Annandale became new communities.
A Diverse Community
Annandale is a very diverse place. In 2020, the population was made up of:
- 44.7% White
- 21.9% Asian
- 9.0% Black
- 0.8% American Indian
- 0.3% Pacific Islander
- 18.8% from other races
- 4.5% from two or more races
About 32.1% of the people were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Annandale has a large working-class White community. It is one of the few places in Fairfax County where this group is still common.
The average household had about 3 people. The average family had about 3.5 people. About 31.2% of households had children under 18. The median age in Annandale was 37.3 years old.
The median income for a household was $96,533. For a family, it was $108,079. About 9.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 14.6% of those under 18.
Many different groups of people live in Annandale. As of 2018, some of the largest ancestry groups included:
What Annandale Does
Annandale is home to the headquarters of a few companies. These include DynCorp and Noblis.
Annandale's Koreatown
Downtown Annandale is often called Koreatown. This is because many Korean-owned businesses and restaurants are located here. These businesses started growing in the 1990s. Korean immigrants moved to the area because it was easy to get to Washington, D.C. The schools were also very good.
Fairfax County even opened an office in Seoul, South Korea, to encourage business. At first, many businesses served mostly Koreans. But now, they attract all kinds of customers. Fairfax County has almost 40,000 Koreans. Many people from the Washington area visit Annandale for its karaoke, BBQ, and bingsu (a Korean shaved ice dessert).
Learning in Annandale
Schools for Everyone
Annandale has many schools run by the Fairfax County Public Schools. Annandale High School, founded in 1954, is the main public high school. Other high schools like Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Falls Church High School also serve parts of Annandale.
Middle schools include Edgar Allan Poe Middle School and Glasgow Middle School. There are many elementary schools, such as Annandale Terrace, Braddock, Belvedere, Woodburn, Camelot, Columbia, Canterbury Woods, and Wakefield Forest Elementary Schools.
Annandale High School offers a special International Baccalaureate program. The school's singing groups have performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and in Europe.
Annandale also has private Catholic schools. These include Holy Spirit Catholic School, St. Ambrose Catholic School, and St. Michael's Catholic School. Other private schools are Grasshopper Green, Kenwood School, Hope Montessori School, Montessori School of Northern Virginia, Oakwood School, Pinecrest School, and Westminster School.
College Life
The oldest and largest campus of the Northern Virginia Community College system is in Annandale. It was founded in 1965. This college is often called "NOVA."
A special part of NOVA is the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center. It's a 66,000 square foot (6,132 m2) building. It has a large theater with 525 seats, a gym, an art gallery, and a bright entrance area. The college started with 761 students. Today, it has over 75,000 students and 2,600 teachers and staff. Students come from more than 180 countries.
Community Services
Keeping Annandale Safe
The Fairfax County Fire & Rescue department has two stations in Annandale. Station 8 is downtown, and Station 23 is in West Annandale. These stations help Annandale and nearby areas. The Annandale Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) owns these stations. They are staffed by both paid county workers and volunteers.
Fun and Learning
The Fairfax County Public Library runs the George Mason Regional Library in Annandale. This is a great place to find books and learn.
The Audrey Moore RECenter is a fun place to visit. It has a large indoor pool, 76,000 square feet (7,060 m2) in size. The center offers many fitness classes each week. It's located in Wakefield Park.
Parks and Green Spaces
Annandale has many parks. The Fairfax County Park Authority takes care of most of them. Some of these parks include Mason District Park, The Wakefield Chapel Park, and Accotink Stream Valley Park.
The Wakefield Skate Park is also in Wakefield Park. It offers classes and camps for skateboarding and BMX for kids of all ages and skill levels.
Famous Faces from Annandale
Many notable people have lived in Annandale. These include actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Country music singer Kelly Willis is also from here. Actor Dylan Walsh and soccer goalkeeper Bill Hamid also lived in Annandale. Christopher McCandless, who was the subject of the book Into the Wild, lived here. CNN news anchor Jim Acosta went to Annandale High School.
Images for kids
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Suburban Annandale in 2015
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Annandale Flag
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Location of Annandale in Fairfax County, Virginia
See also
In Spanish: Annandale (Virginia) para niños
