Fairfax
The City of Fairfax is the independent city at the heart of Fairfax County, Virginia, and the county seat. Chartered as the Town of Providence in 1805, it incorporated as a town in 1874 and became an independent city in 1961. Its walkable Old Town, historic courthouse and roughly 24,000 residents anchor the region's civic life just 15 miles west of Washington, D.C.
What Fairfax is known for
- The county seat of Fairfax County — an independent city with its own council-manager government.
- Historic Old Town Fairfax, anchored by the 1800 courthouse where George and Martha Washington's wills are kept.
- Home to George Mason University, Virginia's largest public research university.
Fairfax in the news
Plan for more walkable, mixed-use Lorton core adopted after seven years of study
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 14 adopted a roadmap to guide future development of Lorton’s core area over the next 20 to 50 years. Adoption of the [ ]…
FCPD releases images from pursuit of man shot by police in Annandale
The Fairfax County Police Department has released two still images from the body camera of an officer who fired his gun on Tuesday (July 28) at a suspect he was [ ]…
Police ID suspect who was shot after grabbing an officer’s firearm
The Fairfax County Police Department has identified the suspect in a police-involved shooting in Annandale on July 28. Officers responded to a residence in the 7000 block…
Townhouse option for Reston office site advances, as some seek more, some less, density
The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval earlier this month of a development option for 70 townhomes on a 3.5-acre site on the western fringe of the Wi…
Annual Fairfax County Carnival and 4-H Fair return to Frying Pan Farm Park tomorrow
The annual Fairfax County Carnival and Fair will return to Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon tomorrow (Thursday) for four days of food, rides and animals. Now in its 76th […
County’s planning staff propose rule despite inability to track ALUs
Buried on page four of Fairfax County’s own June 30 white paper on Accessory Living Units is a sentence that should stop this proposal in its tracks. Staff acknowledges t…
FFXnow Daily Debrief for Jul 30, 2026
Good Thursday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar. 🕗 News recap The following articles wer…
Fairfax City Council allows detached accessory dwelling units by right
Homeowners in the City of Fairfax who want to allow elderly parents to move in, obtain rental income or perhaps even install a luxury “She Shed” can now add another [ ]…
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