Manassas, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manassas, Virginia
Independent city
City of Manassas
View of Old Town Manassas from Center Street.
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "Historic Heart, Modern Beat"
Location of Manassas in Virginia
Manassas highlighted in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Manassas, Virginia Location in Northern Virginia Show map of Northern Virginia Manassas, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Manassas, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Pre-incorporation County	Prince William County (None after Incorporation - Independent city)
Named for	Manassas Gap
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	9.90 sq mi (25.64 km2)
• Land	9.84 sq mi (25.49 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation	305 ft (93 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	42,772
• Density	4,320.4/sq mi (1,668.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	20108 (PO Box Only), and 20110
Area codes	703, 571
FIPS code	51-48952
GNIS feature ID	1498512
Website	[1]

Manassas is an independent city in Virginia, United States. It used to be called Manassas Junction. In 2020, about 42,772 people lived there.

Manassas is the main city of Prince William County. However, Manassas and the county are separate areas for government. Manassas is close to the city of Manassas Park, Virginia. Both Manassas and Manassas Park are part of the larger Washington, D.C. area.

The city has several important historic places from the mid-1800s. It also surrounds the county courthouse, which is on county land.

History of Manassas

Civil War Battles

In July 1861, a big battle of the American Civil War happened near Manassas. It was called the First Battle of Bull Run, or the Battle of First Manassas. This was the first major land battle of the war. Manassas celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2011.

Another important battle, the Second Battle of Bull Run, took place near Manassas in August 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was mainly a railroad crossing. But it was a very important one! Railroads from here led to Richmond, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the Shenandoah Valley. Even though the Confederate side won both battles, the Union controlled Manassas Junction for most of the war.

Town Growth and Independence

After the Civil War, the railroad crossing grew into the town of Manassas. It officially became a town in 1873. In 1894, Manassas became the county seat for Prince William County. This meant it was the main city where the county government was located.

Later, in 1975, Manassas became an independent city. In Virginia, this means it is no longer part of Prince William County, even though it's still surrounded by it.

Historic Buildings and Sites

Manassas is home to many historic places. One is Annaburg, a large house built in 1892. It was a summer home for Robert Portner. People believe it was one of the first homes in the U.S. to have air conditioning! The city bought Annaburg in 2019 to make it a public park.

Other historic sites in Manassas include:

• The Manassas Historic District
• Liberia, an old plantation house
• The Manassas Water Tower
• The Cannon Branch Fort
• The Mayfield Fortification
• The Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth

These places are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography and Climate

Location and Roads

Manassas is mainly reached by major roads like I-66, U.S. 29, Virginia State Route 234 Business, and Virginia State Route 28. While I-66 and U.S. 29 serve the city, they don't go directly through it.

Area and Water

The city covers about 9.9 square miles (25.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount (0.1 square miles or 0.15 square kilometers) being water.

Local Climate

Manassas has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. For example, the average temperature in January is about 33.3°F (0.7°C), and in July, it's about 76.7°F (24.8°C).

Population and People

Population Growth

The population of Manassas has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, the city had 42,772 people. This was a 13.1% increase since 2010. The biggest period of growth was between 1980 and 1989.

Diversity in Manassas

Manassas is a diverse city. According to the 2020 census:

• About 51.1% of residents are White.
• About 14.2% are Black or African American.
• About 7.8% are Asian.
• About 3.2% are Native American or Pacific Islander.
• About 24% are from other backgrounds.

A large part of the population, about 42.9%, is of Hispanic or Latino background. Many of these residents come from countries like El Salvador and Guatemala.

Work and Commuting

The average household income in Manassas in 2020 was about $86,227. Many people who live in Manassas work in jobs related to science, technology, and healthcare.

About 36% of the people in Manassas have a college degree. Most people drive alone to work (73%). About 12% carpool, and 4% use public transportation. About 8% of people work from home. The average travel time to work is about 34.7 minutes.

Economy

Major Employers

Manassas has several large companies that provide many jobs. The biggest employer is Micron Technology, which makes computer chips. They employ 1,650 people directly and many more through other companies. Micron is expanding its facility, which will create even more jobs by 2030.

Other major employers include:

• Lockheed Martin (about 1,500 employees)
• Novant Prince William Health System (about 1,400 employees)

High Purity Systems, a local tech company, is also investing a lot to grow its business in Manassas.

Manassas Regional Airport

The Manassas Regional Airport is located within the city. It's the busiest airport in Virginia for general aviation (smaller planes, not big passenger jets). More than 415 aircraft are based there, and 26 businesses operate from the airport. These businesses include flight schools and aircraft services.

Commuting for Work

Most people who work in Manassas actually live outside the city (89%). Many commute from Prince William County and Fairfax County. Also, many Manassas residents commute to jobs in nearby areas.

Arts and Culture

Manassas has fun events like First Friday festivals. These happen on the first Friday of every month. They showcase local art and have different themed activities. The city museum opened in 1973 and was updated in 2023.

Parks and Recreation

Manassas offers several parks and recreation spots for residents to enjoy:

• Stonewall Park & Pool
• Annaburg Historic Site
• Liberia House Historic Site
• Central Park Aquatic Center
• Cannon Branch Fort
• Baldwin Park
• Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness Center
• Dean Park

Education

Public Schools

The Manassas City Public Schools system serves the city. It includes:

• Five elementary schools
• Two intermediate schools (for 5th and 6th graders)
• One middle school
• One high school, Osbourn High School

Some schools in the Prince William County Public Schools district have Manassas addresses, but they are outside the city limits.

Private Schools

Manassas also has private schools. Seton School is a private Roman Catholic junior and senior high school. All Saints Catholic School provides Catholic education from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. All Saints Catholic School won a special award in 2009.

Colleges and Universities

Several colleges and universities have campuses near Manassas. These include:

• American Public University System
• George Mason University
• Northern Virginia Community College
• ECPI College of Technology
• Strayer University

Infrastructure

Transportation in Manassas

Major Roads

The main roads that help people get into and out of Manassas are Virginia State Route 28, Virginia State Route 234, and Virginia State Route 234 Business. While I-66 and US-29 are important for the area, they do not go directly through the city itself.

Route 234 in Manassas

Air Travel

Manassas Regional Airport is located within the city. It is the busiest airport in Virginia for general aviation, which means it handles many private and smaller planes. Over 415 aircraft are based there, and 26 businesses operate at the airport. These businesses offer services like flight training and aircraft maintenance.

Train Services

Manassas was originally called Manassas Junction because it was a key spot where two railroads met: the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Manassas Gap Railroad. This made it a very important location, especially during the Civil War. It was also one of the first places where trains were used on a large scale for military transport.

Today, these original train routes are owned by the Norfolk Southern railroad. Both Amtrak (for longer trips) and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE, for daily commuters) use these tracks. The Manassas station serves both VRE and three Amtrak routes: the Cardinal (from New York City to Chicago), the Northeast Regional (from Boston to Roanoke), and the Crescent (from New York to New Orleans).

Amtrak 50, the Cardinal, arriving at Manassas station, which is also used by Virginia Railway Express and has the city's visitors center.

The Manassas train station was also featured on the cover of Stephen Stills' album Manassas.

Notable People

Many interesting people have connections to Manassas:

• Wilmer McLean (1814–1882), a wholesale grocer who owned the McLean House.
• Jim Bucher (1911–2004), a baseball player.
• Ryan Burroughs, a professional rugby league player.
• Mason Diaz, a NASCAR driver.
• Danny Doyle, an Irish folk singer.
• Wilmer Fields, a baseball pitcher and third baseman in the Negro leagues.
• Brandon Hogan, an American football player.
• Elizabeth Friench Johnson (1890–1979), a college professor.
• Chaney Kley (1972–2007), an American film and television actor.
• Jon Knott, a Major League Baseball outfielder.
• Jeremy Linn, a 1996 Summer Olympics swimmer and coach.
• Mike O'Meara, a radio personality.
• Harry J. Parrish (1922–2006), a longtime member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
• Leven Powell (1737–1810), a U.S. Representative from Virginia.
• Jason Richardson, an American guitarist.
• David Robinson, an American basketball player.
• Danica Roem, the first openly transgender woman elected to a U.S. state legislature.
• Ravi Shankar, an American poet.
• Joanna Mary Berry Shields, a teacher and founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• C. J. Sapong, an American soccer player.
• Leeann Tweeden, a model.
• Lucky Whitehead, a former National Football League wide receiver.
• Ryan Williams, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Tyleik Williams, a college football defensive tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

See also

In Spanish: Manassas (Virginia) para niños