Prince William County, Virginia

PRINCE_WILLIAM_COUNTY_COURTHOUSE

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Prince William County, Virginia

Prince William County, Virginia is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 482,204, making it the second-most populous county in Virginia. The county seat is the independent city of Manassas.

History

Prince William County was created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1731 from portions of Stafford County and King George County. It was named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, the third son of King George II.

Geography

Prince William County is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 348 square miles (900 km²), of which 336 square miles (870 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (3.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties and independent cities

• Fairfax County (northeast)
• Loudoun County (north)
• Fauquier County (west)
• Stafford County (south)
• Manassas (independent city, surrounded by Prince William County)
• Manassas Park (independent city, surrounded by Prince William County)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was:

• 42.7% White
• 21.5% African American
• 9.2% Asian
• 0.6% Native American
• 0.1% Pacific Islander
• 19.6% from other races
• 6.3% from two or more races

Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.5% of the population.

Government and politics

Prince William County is governed by an eight-member Board of County Supervisors, which includes a chairperson elected at-large and seven supervisors elected from single-member districts. The county operates under the County Executive form of government.

Education

The county is served by Prince William County Public Schools, which is the second-largest school division in Virginia. The county is also home to several private schools and higher education institutions, including the Northern Virginia Community College and the George Mason University Science and Technology Campus.

Economy

Prince William County has a diverse economy with major sectors including government, education, healthcare, and retail. The county is also home to several data centers and technology companies.

Transportation

Major highways in Prince William County include Interstate 66, Interstate 95, and U.S. Route 1. The county is also served by the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail service.

Communities

Cities

• Manassas
• Manassas Park

Towns

• Dumfries
• Haymarket
• Quantico

Census-designated places

• Dale City
• Gainesville
• Lake Ridge
• Montclair
• Woodbridge

Notable people

• George Mason, Founding Father and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights
• John Pope, Union general during the American Civil War

See also

• List of counties in Virginia
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Prince William County, Virginia