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Franconia, VA

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Franconia, VA

Franconia is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 18,943 at the 2020 census.

Located just southwest of Alexandria, Franconia has existed as a community since the 1870s, when a station by that name opened on the RF&P Railroad; however, like most of the surrounding area, it only began to develop into its present, suburban form in the 1950s. The CDP extends south to just north of the border of Fort Belvoir, encompassing neighborhoods such as Manchester Lakes and Windsor Estates. Street addresses have Alexandria ZIP Codes 22310 and 22315. It is near the Springfield Mall shopping area and the Franconia–Springfield Washington Metro station.

Franconia is located in southeastern Fairfax County at 38°45′48″N 77°09′01″W (38.763351, −77.150328). It is bordered to the west by Springfield, to the north by Lincolnia, to the northeast by Rose Hill, to the east by Kingstowne, and the south by Newington. It is 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Washington, D.C.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Franconia CDP has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km²), or 0.18%, is water.

Franconia Road once served as a rolling road to bring tobacco hogsheads to the port at Alexandria. The surrounding community derives its name from the "Frankhonia Farm", which sat on a portion of a tract of 191 acres purchased from Joseph Broders of Oak Grove Farm in 1859 by William Fowle, a merchant from Alexandria. Fowle's son, Robert Rollins Fowle, sold 18 acres of the property to the Alexandria & Fredericksburg Railway Company in 1871 for the erection of a railway station, which took its name from the farm. The station was the site of the Garfield Post Office from 1881 until 1890, and again from 1898 until 1907. In 1903 it was relocated after a fire from its original site, near Fleet Drive, to the north side of Franconia Road. The railway station remained in regular service until around 1953. Today it is memorialized with a historic marker erected by the Fairfax County History Commission in 2000, located in front of the Franconia Governmental Center. For many years the center of the community was Wards Corner, at the intersection of Franconia Road and Old Rolling Road. Over twenty-five years the complex grew to include a gas station, grocery store, bar, movie theater, and dance hall; a 1959 fire destroyed everything at the site.

The Franconia area was the site of a skirmish in January 1862, during the American Civil War. Colonel Wade Hampton III, having led a group of cavalrymen across the Occoquan River past Pohick Church, encountered a group of Union cavalry in the area and gave chase. Being warned by a Texas scout that he was soon to enter an ambush, Hampton stopped short and formed a squadron on top of Potter's Hill. The trap having failed, both sides began firing at each other; several soldiers were wounded, including one of Hampton's men who was shot in the face. The Confederates then retreated across the Occoquan. In later years Potter's Hill was the site of three schoolhouses, the last of them burning in 1932; more recently it was the site of a chicken farm and, later, a gravel quarry which provided material for the construction of the first Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Today the location is the site of the Hilltop Village Center. Members of the Potter family are buried at the Millan family cemetery, located nearby on the former grounds of the Millan family home, Dairy Lodge.

Additionally, Franconia is served by top-notch medical facilities, including the Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare services. The city actively promotes healthy living through organized health and wellness events and initiatives, fostering a community where individuals and families can pursue a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Discover the benefits of therapeutic massage at LaVida Massage of Fredericksburg. Experience customized treatments to improve mobility, reduce pain, and promote overall well-being. Advanced Family Chiropractic offers personalized chiropractic care for individuals of all ages. Their services include spinal adjustments, corrective exercises, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle advice to promote overall wellness and pain relief. Virginia Family Chiropractic focuses on providing non-invasive and drug-free solutions for musculoskeletal issues. Their services include chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, massage therapy, and rehabilitation exercises to improve mobility and reduce pain. Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center is dedicated to restoring and maintaining optimal health through chiropractic care. Their treatments include spinal adjustments, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle coaching for holistic well-being. Northern Virginia Chiropractic Center offers comprehensive chiropractic care to address a wide range of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, headaches, and sports injuries. Their services include chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, physical therapy, and ergonomic evaluations.

Top sites in Franconia, VA: LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon Trail, Lake Accotink Park.

Population: Approximately 25,000 (2021). Area: 3.48 sq mi (9.01 km²). Elevation: 132 ft (40 m). ZIP Code: 22310. Area code: 703.

FAQs

Is Franconia, VA a good place to live?

Franconia is a suburb of Washington, D.C. with a population of 17,906. Franconia is in Fairfax County and is one of the best places to live in Virginia. Living in Franconia offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Franconia, there are a lot of parks.

What are the demographics of Franconia, VA?

Franconia is a city located in Fairfax County Virginia. Franconia has a 2024 population of 17,098. Franconia is currently declining at a rate of -2.31% annually and its population has decreased by -12.22% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 19,478 in 2020. White: 47.15% Black or African American: 23.29% Asian: 20.04% Two or more races: 6.91%.

What is the history of Franconia, VA?

Franconia Road once served as a rolling road to bring tobacco hogsheads to the port at Alexandria. The surrounding community derives its name from the "Frankhonia Farm", which sat on a portion of a tract of 191 acres purchased from Joseph Broders of Oak Grove Farm in 1859 by William Fowle, a merchant from Alexandria. Fowle's son, Robert Rollins Fowle, sold 18 acres of the property to the Alexandria & Fredericksburg Railway Company in 1871 for the erection of a railway station, which took its name from the farm. 

Sources

Fairfax County

Wikipedia

World Population Review

Niche

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital

LaVida Massage of Fredericksburg

Advanced Family Chiropractic

Virginia Family Chiropractic

Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center

Northern Virginia Chiropractic Center

LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C.

Mount Vernon Trail

Lake Accotink Park

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