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Stafford County, VA Real Estate

People watch the Stafford County real estate market in Virginia very carefully. Forbes magazine places Stafford County at Number 11 among the highest income counties in the United States. High incomes mean high property values, which make real estate in Stafford County, VA, exclusive and at the high end of markets across the Commonwealth.

Stafford County is situated directly across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. The county is considered part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area. This close proximity to the D.C. metro area means commuters can take full advantage of living in a beautiful community with easy access to a lucrative job market.

Homes for Sale in Stafford County, VA

Homes for sale in Stafford County, VA, are expensive for good reason. Stafford is home to a number of different vibrant communities, all within striking distance of our nation’s capital.

The population of Stafford County exceeds 140,000 residents. Stafford County households earn a median income of more than $94,300 per year. This is approximately 50 percent higher than the overall median income of Virginia as a whole.

History of Stafford County

In the early 17th Century, Native Americans living north of the Rappahannock River and west of the Potomac River consisted of 32 Algonquin tribes and the Powhatan Confederacy. In 1608, the European explorer and founder of the Jamestown Settlement, John Adams, experienced the first introduction to the Native Americans.

Lore of present-day Stafford County includes the story of an Indian Chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, who was captured and converted to Christianity. She was renamed “Rebecca” and married Englishmen John Rolfes, (and not the commercialized version of a wedding to John Adams) on April 5, 1614.

In the mid-1600s, the ruling English Colonial Government of Virginia created Stafford County out of Westmoreland County. Stafford County would later be divided into the counties of Arlington, Prince William, and Fairfax, as well as the City of Alexandria.

During the American Revolutionary War, the rebellious colonists made governing from the county seat unsustainable. In July 1776, Virginia’s Royal Governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, was forced into exile aboard a ship in the British fleet that was performing harassing maneuvers against the colonists in the Chesapeake.

During the American Civil War, approximately 100,000 Union Troops were stationed in Stafford County. The ensuing Battle of Aquia Creek took a heavy toll on Union and Confederate forces in an attempt to control the Potomac Creek Bridge.

The Founding Fathers of Stafford County

There were two Founding Fathers of the American Revolution who grew up in Stafford County: George Washington and George Mason IV.

George Washington grew up on the preserved Ferry Farm, property owned by his father, Augustine Washington. Augustine owned what would become the Accokeek Furnace Archeological Site, the location of the iron mine that initially brought the Washington family to Stafford County.

George Mason IV was one of the authors of the Bill of Rights. He authored the Virginia Constitution and with committee input, the Virginia Declaration of Rights. A famous excerpt from Article 1 is below:

“All men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

Historical Attractions in Stafford County, Virginia

There are a number of historical attractions in Stafford County that interest both residents and tourists. Some of the more famous points of interest include:

  • Ferry Farm: George Washington’s boyhood home.
  • Belmont: Home and studio of American artist Gari Melcher.
  • Aquia Church: Historic active church, founded under the Church of England.
  • Chatham Manor: Plantation, Slave rebellion, Union headquarters, and Civil War hospital.
  • White Oak Church: Rural clap-sided church that became a Civil War center.
  • Government Island: The site of the masonry quarried for the White House.

Stafford County Education

Stafford County has an inherent commitment to education. The county is home to three colleges:

  • University of Mary Washington
  • Germanna Community College
  • Strayer University

The Stafford County Public School System is committed to delivering a quality and enriching education to the community. There are five high schools, eight middle schools, and 17 elementary schools. In Stafford County. There are also two private schools are also in the area:

  • Holy Cross Academy
  • Fredericksburg Christian School.

Communities in Stafford County

The county seat of Stafford is just one of the treasures of Stafford County. The 13 communities are idyllic and historic:

  • Aquia Harbour
  • Falmouth
  • Garrisonville
  • Stafford
  • Hartwood
  • Brooke
  • Mountain View
  • Windsor Forest
  • Ruby
  • White Oak
  • Hampton Oaks
  • Austin Ridge
  • Settlers Landing

Contact the Stafford County Real Estate Team at Virginia Estates Today

If you are interested in homes for sale in Stafford County, Virginia Estates can help you every step of the way. Contact Rick Walden and his team of real estate professionals today. We serve the entire Commonwealth, including Charlottesville, Richmond, the Shenandoah Valley, and Stafford County. Call (877) 646-8800 or e-mail an agent today: rick@virginiaestates.com.