Fredericksburg, Virginia is a city of about 23,000 people located 49 miles south of Washington, D.C. It has four distinct seasons, with hot and humid summers and fairly mild winters. The annual snowfall is only about 16 inches. Those moving to Fredericksburg will discover a beautiful city that is close to Lake Anna, one of Virginia's largest lakes. Most of the residents of Fredericksburg live there, but work in Washington, D.C. Fredericksburg has many tree-lined residential neighborhoods. The city borders the Rappahannock River and has worked hard to remain an unspoiled region. Anyone moving to Fredericksburg will be charmed by its historic beauty.
Economy:
Fredericksburg has a slightly lower median household income than the rest of the state. The cost of living is substantially higher than the national average. Unemployment is at 9.2 percent. Major employers are CVS with a distribution center, GEICO with a regional office, Intuit with a customer service center and General Products Center. General Motors has a powertrain plant in Fredericksburg. Many of the residents of Fredericksburg work in Washington, D.C.
History:
Fredericksburg began as a tract of land in 1671. The town was established in 1728. It was incorporated in 1781. Fredericksburg was home to George Washington and his family, John Paul Jones and James Monroe, future President. Slaves were an important part of the growth of Fredericksburg, not only from working on plantations, but being used as blacksmiths, in construction and on the docks. The city was devastated by the Civil War and was the site of several battles. After the war, the city slowly grew and became a center for trade.
Tourism:
Fredericksburg and the surrounding area are filled with history. George Washington's Ferry Farm, where he lived as a child, has tours. The Fredericksburg Museum and Cultural Center has exhibits about all of the rich history of the area. Ellwood is a building used by Union soldiers during the Civil War. Chatham is the only house known to have been visited by both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It was built in the 1700s. There are actually too many museums and historical sites than can be included here. The Aquia Landing Park is a historical site where you can enjoy the beach, swimming and fishing. Some popular festivals include the art festival in May, a Welsh festival in September, RiverFest also in September and the Shakespeare festival in November. There are virtually unlimited opportunities for fishing, camping, boatingand bird watching. In an hour's drive, you can be in the Shenandoah Mountains. Even closer is everything Washington, D.C. has to offer.