Aquia, Virginia facts for kids

Aquia is a small, historic community located in Stafford County, in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is named after Aquia Creek, a waterway that flows into the famous Potomac River. Aquia is especially well-known for its unique stone, which helped build some of America's most important landmarks.

Aquia: A Historic Virginia Community

Aquia is an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of a larger county, but not an official town or city on their own. It sits in Stafford County, Virginia.

The Famous Aquia Stone

One of the most interesting things about Aquia is its special stone, called Aquia Creek sandstone. For a long time, cliffs of this stone were easy to see from the Potomac River. People started quarrying, or digging up, this stone many years ago.

Buildings Made with Aquia Stone

The strong and beautiful Aquia stone was used to construct many important buildings. Some of these include:

• Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia
• Mount Vernon, George Washington's historic home
• The White House in Washington, D.C.
• Parts of the National Capitol Columns
• The Washington Monument (though other stones were used to finish it later)

The original Aquia quarry eventually ran out of stone. This meant that other types of stone had to be used for later construction projects.

Aquia's Transportation History

Aquia also played a role in early transportation. It was once a stop on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. This railroad was very important for moving people and goods. Today, the railroad has been replaced by CSXT, a modern freight rail company.