Dale City, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dale City, Virginia
Census-designated place (CDP)
Motto(s):  The Friendliest Little City Around
Location in Prince William County and the state of Virginia.
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Prince William
Area
• Total	14.25 sq mi (39.0 km2)
• Land	14.23 sq mi (39.0 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	230 ft (70 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	72,088
• Density	5,156.9/sq mi (1,881.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	22193
Area codes	571, 703
FIPS code	51-21088
GNIS feature ID	1496866

Dale City is a vibrant community in Prince William County, Virginia. It is located about 25 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.. In 2020, the total population of Dale City was 72,088 people. This area is considered a census-designated place (CDP) and is connected to Woodbridge.

The community's borders are generally defined by Hoadly Road to the northwest, Prince William Parkway to the north, Smoketown Road to the northeast, Gideon Drive to the east, and Cardinal Drive to the south.

The Story of Dale City

Dale City was the vision of a real estate developer named Cecil Don Hylton. He chose the name because it perfectly described the "hills and dales" of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont landscape.

How Dale City Got Its Start

Mr. Hylton began his career selling farm goods at a market in Washington, D.C. Later, he started a successful business providing sod for lawns. After World War II, when many new homes were needed, he began building houses. Throughout his career, Hylton built many apartments, shopping centers, and over 22,000 homes. He even started his own sewer company, Dale Service Company, and the first cable television companies in Prince William County.

Hylton's company, Hylton Enterprises, began building Dale City in 1960. They started near Interstate 95 and continued to expand westward. By 1969, the first six communities were finished, and many more were added in the 1970s and 1980s.

Several places in Dale City are named after Cecil Don Hylton, including C.D. Hylton High School and the Hylton Memorial Chapel. The Hylton Foundation has also supported important projects, like a major addition to Potomac Hospital in nearby Woodbridge. Today, Hylton Realty helps people buy and sell homes in the area. Hylton Enterprises still manages commercial properties and some undeveloped land, like Andrew Leitch Park, which was given to the local Park Authority.

Dale City was developed before much of eastern Prince William County. Because of this, it has its own water and sewer systems. These systems are separate from those in other nearby towns. Virginia-American Water Company provides water service. Since 2013, Virginia-American also provides sewer service after buying the Dale Service Corporation.

The Russell House and Store is a historic building from the early 1800s. It is located on Minnieville Road and is an important part of Dale City's past.

Exploring Dale City's Neighborhoods

Dale City is made up of many communities, often called neighborhoods. A fun fact is that all of these neighborhoods have names that end in 'dale'.

If you travel along Dale Boulevard, you'll notice that the neighborhoods generally appear in alphabetical order from east to west. Some of these include Ashdale, Barksdale, Birchdale, Cherrydale, Cloverdale, Darbydale, Emberdale, Evansdale, Forestdale, Glendale, Hillendale, Kerrydale, Kirkdale, Lindendale, Mapledale, Nottingdale, Orangedale, Princedale, Queensdale, Ridgedale, Silverdale, and Trentdale. In most neighborhoods, the street names also begin with the same first letter as the neighborhood itself!

Fun Things to Do in Dale City

Dale City offers some exciting attractions for residents and visitors.

One popular spot is Potomac Mills Mall. This is the second largest shopping mall in Northern Virginia. It's also known as one of the biggest outlet malls in the United States, with many stores to explore.

Another great place is Andrew Leitch Park, located near the Nottingdale and Mapledale communities. This park is a fantastic place to visit, especially because it includes a fun water park!

Where is Dale City?

Dale City is located at 38°38′54″N 77°20′32″W / 38.64833°N 77.34222°W / 38.64833; -77.34222.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Dale City covers a total area of about 15 square miles (39.0 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Who Lives in Dale City?

Population Snapshot

As of the 2020 census, Dale City had a population of 72,088 people. The average age of residents was about 35.1 years. About 26.9% of the residents were under 18 years old, and 9.8% were 65 years or older.

There were 20,958 households in Dale City. Many families live here, with 45.0% of households having children under 18. About 57.8% of households were married couples.

A Diverse Community

Dale City is a very diverse community, with people from many different backgrounds. According to the 2020 census:

• About 27.0% of residents identified as White.
• About 24.2% identified as Black or African American.
• About 11.3% identified as Asian.
• A significant portion, 36.4%, identified as Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
• Many residents also identified as two or more races, adding to the community's rich cultural mix.

In 2006, the U.S. census American Community Survey showed that 31.3% of Dale City's population was born outside the United States. This highlights the community's diverse and welcoming nature.

The median income for a household in Dale City was $71,179 in 2006. This figure had increased to $79,075 by 2007.

How Dale City is Governed

Dale City is part of Virginia's 31st House of Delegates district.

Working and Living in Dale City

The Consulate-General of El Salvador in Woodbridge is located at 14572 Potomac Mills Road in Dale City. This office provides important services for people from El Salvador.

Famous Faces from Dale City

• Eugene Vindman – a U.S. representative, is a notable person from Dale City.

See also

In Spanish: Dale City (Virginia) para niños