Fauquier County, Virginia facts for kids

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Fauquier County

County

Fauquier County Courthouse in Warrenton

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Virginia

Founded

1759

Largest community

Area

• Total

651 sq mi (1,690 km²)

• Land

647 sq mi (1,680 km²)

• Water

3.8 sq mi (10 km²) 0.6%

Population

(2020)

• Total

72,972

• Density

112.09/sq mi (43.28/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

10th

Website

www.fauquiercounty.gov

Fauquier County (say "faw-KEER") is a county in the state of Virginia. In 2020, about 72,972 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Warrenton.

Fauquier County is located in Northern Virginia. It is also part of the larger Washington metropolitan area, which includes Washington, D.C., and its surrounding communities.

History of Fauquier County

Portrait of Francis Fauquier, who the county is named after

In 1608, Captain John Smith was the first European to explore this area. He reported that the Whonkentia tribe lived here. They were a group of the Manahoac people. Around 1670, the Iroquois tribe, especially the Seneca, forced the Manahoac out. The Iroquois did not settle the land themselves.

The Conoy tribe camped near The Plains for a short time from 1697 to 1699. In 1722, the Six Nations (a group of Iroquois tribes) gave all this land, including what is now Fauquier County, to the Virginia Colony.

Fauquier County was officially created on May 1, 1759. It was formed from parts of Prince William County. The county is named after Francis Fauquier. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia at that time. A popular story says he won the land in a poker game!

Many battles of the American Civil War took place in Fauquier County. These included the First Battle of Rappahannock Station, the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap, and the Battle of Kelly's Ford. Other battles were the Battle of Aldie, Battle of Middleburg, and Battle of Upperville. Also, the First and Second Battle of Auburn, the Battle of Buckland Mills, and the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station happened here.

Geography and Nature

View west along I-66/SR 55 and north along US 17 in northwestern Fauquier County

Fauquier County covers about 651 square miles (1,686 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 647 square miles (1,676 square kilometers), is land. The rest is water.

The county is not very crowded. However, new housing areas have grown in some parts. These are often for people who work in Washington, D.C. Even in the countryside, you can see houses along the main roads. The highest point in the county is Blue Mountain. It is 2,205 feet (672 meters) tall. This mountain is on the border with Warren County.

Neighboring Counties

Fauquier County shares borders with these other counties:

Clarke County (north)
Loudoun County (north)
Prince William County (east)
Stafford County (southeast)
Culpeper County (southwest)
Rappahannock County (west)
Warren County (northwest)

Main Roads

Several major highways run through Fauquier County. These roads help people travel easily within the county and to other areas.

I-66
US 15
US 17
US 29
US 50
US 211
SR 28
SR 55
SR 215
SR 245
SR 355

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	17,892	—
1800	21,329	19.2%
1810	22,689	6.4%
1820	23,103	1.8%
1830	26,086	12.9%
1840	21,897	−16.1%
1850	20,868	−4.7%
1860	21,706	4.0%
1870	19,690	−9.3%
1880	22,993	16.8%
1890	22,590	−1.8%
1900	23,374	3.5%
1910	22,526	−3.6%
1920	21,869	−2.9%
1930	21,071	−3.6%
1940	21,039	−0.2%
1950	21,248	1.0%
1960	24,066	13.3%
1970	26,375	9.6%
1980	35,889	36.1%
1990	48,741	35.8%
2000	55,139	13.1%
2010	65,203	18.3%
2020	72,972	11.9%
2023 (est.)	75,165	15.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

The population of Fauquier County has grown a lot over the years. In 1790, there were about 17,892 people. By 2020, the population had reached 72,972.

2020 Census Information

The 2020 census looked at the different groups of people living in Fauquier County. Here's a quick look at the racial and ethnic makeup:

**Fauquier County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	53,410	54,969	81.91%	75.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,232	4,999	8.02%	6.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	186	128	0.29%	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	826	1,204	1.27%	1.65%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	27	49	0.04%	0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	103	339	0.16%	0.46%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	1,241	3,491	1.90%	4.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,178	7,793	6.41%	10.68%
Total	65,203	72,972	100.00%	100.00%

Education in Fauquier County

Fauquier County has many schools for students of all ages.

Elementary Schools

C. M. Bradley Elementary School
James G. Brumfield Elementary School
W. G. Coleman Elementary School
Grace Miller Elementary School
H. M. Pearson Elementary School
C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School
P. B. Smith Elementary School
Claude Thompson Elementary School
Mary Walter Elementary School
Greenville Elementary School
M. M. Pierce Elementary School

Middle Schools

Auburn Middle School
Cedar Lee Middle School
W. C. Taylor Middle School
Marshall Middle School
Warrenton Middle School

High Schools

Fauquier High School
Liberty High School
Southeastern Alternative School
Kettle Run High School
Mountain Vista Governor's School

Private Schools

Fresta Valley Christian School
Highland School
St. John The Evangelist Catholic School
Wakefield School

Higher Education

Laurel Ridge Community College
Thorpe House Adult Learning Center

Economy and Jobs

The economy of Fauquier County is supported by many different businesses and organizations. The county's largest employers provide many jobs for local residents.

Top Employers

Here are the largest employers in Fauquier County as of 2023:

Rank	Employer	Number of Employees
1	Fauquier County School Board	1,000 and over
2	County of Fauquier	500 to 999
3	Fauquier Health System	500 to 999
4	United States Department of Transportation	500 to 999
5	Walmart	250 to 499
6	Town of Warrenton	100 to 249
7	Food Lion	100 to 249
8	White Horse OPCO LLC	100 to 249
9	The Home Depot	100 to 249
10	Blue Ridge Orthopedic Associates	100 to 249

Towns and Communities

Fauquier County has several towns and many smaller communities.

Towns

Remington
The Plains
Warrenton (This is the county seat, where the main county government offices are.)

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as towns.

Other Communities

These are smaller, unincorporated communities within the county.

Famous People from Fauquier County

Many notable people have connections to Fauquier County.

James Markham Ambler – An American naval surgeon.
Turner Ashby – A Confederate Army colonel during the American Civil War, born in Fauquier County.
Martin Berkofsky – A classical pianist and generous supporter of good causes.
Matt Carson – An entrepreneur and author.
Irv Cross – An American football player and sportscaster.
Robert Duvall – A famous American actor who owns a farm in The Plains.
Bertram and Diana Firestone – Owners of Newstead Farm, known in horse racing.
George B. Fitch – An American businessman and former Mayor of Warrenton. He also founded the Jamaican Bobsled Team.
Cary Travers Grayson – A Rear Admiral and owner of the historic Blue Ridge Farm.
Eppa Hunton – A U.S. Representative and Senator from Virginia, born and lived in Warrenton.
Charles Marshall – Born in Warrenton, he was a military secretary to General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War.
James K. Marshall – A Colonel in the Confederate States Army who died in battle. He was the grandson of Chief Justice John Marshall.
John Marshall – Born in Fauquier County, he became the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Paul Mellon – A generous supporter of good causes and owner of Rokeby Farm, known for horse racing.
John S. Mosby – A Confederate cavalryman during the American Civil War, buried in Warrenton.
Karen O'Connor and David O'Connor – Olympic eventing riders.
Dorothy B. Porter – A bibliographer and curator who helped build the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University.
Albert Rust – A 19th-century American politician and officer in the Confederate States Army.
Willard Scott – An American media personality famous for his work on NBC's The Today Show. He lived in Paris, Virginia.
Scott Shipp – Born in Warrenton, he was the Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute.
Isabel Dodge Sloane – Owner of Brookmeade Stud, known in horse racing.
William "Extra Billy" Smith – A lawyer, congressman, and two-time Governor of Virginia. He was also a Confederate general.
Liz Whitney Tippett – Owner of the Llangollen estate.
William B. Waddell (Pony Express founder) – One of the founders of the Pony Express.