County seat of Fairfax County with a historic downtown
Fairfax is a small northern Virginia city located conveniently between several major commuter roads yet has its own heartbeat. Fairfax began as the town of Providence in 1805 and would be the site of the Civil War's first skirmishes and casualties, but it wouldn't become an incorporated city until 1961. It is now the seat of Fairfax County, Virginia's most populous county, with over 1.4 million residents. The mid-twentieth century brought significant growth to the area; according to the U.S. Census, Fairfax's population rose to 13,585 in 1960 but slowed around the 1970s and reached 24,146 in 2020. That same year, city officials set forth the 2035 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Fairfax to meet locals' needs and best interests while preparing for a future with projected population growth through the next 15 years. The plan encourages adding mixed-income and affordable housing units in upcoming developments, and the Bike Fairfax City part of the plan aims to connect current cycling infrastructure with new paths, lanes and facilities for neighbors to bike safely between neighborhoods.
Ox Hill Battlefield Park has a lot of history in Fairfax.
Residents love to ride the W&OD trail that runs through Fair Oaks and beyond.
City Hall is a great resource for residents living in Fairfax.
Fairfax is located conveniently between several major commuter roads.
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A comprehensive plan for city parks
Fairfax has many pocket parks for residents seeking the great outdoors. Old Town Square Park is a small green space surrounded by eateries and local shops to browse. It's also where Fairfax Town Hall sits, and many of Fairfax's annual events revolve around this staple of Fairfax's historic district. Kay Kaelin, the Administrative Services Coordinator for the City of Fairfax Parks and Rec Department, says that "Van Dyck Park has the most amenities and walking trails. With 1.23 miles of paved trails, three volleyball courts, 30 benches and 22 picnic tables, four playgrounds, four tennis courts, and more, it's easy to see why Van Dyck Park is one of our most popular parks." Daniel Runs Park also has several hiking trails and a large playground, making it a popular spot for families. Many children also like to roll up their pants to splash around in the stream. For a summer cookout, Kutner Park has shady pavilions available to rent with charcoal grills. The park also has volleyball courts and soccer fields for pick-up games.
Community needs are at the core of city plans for parks and public spaces. Fairfax’s 2035 comprehensive plan outlines a vision to keep the city's parks inviting and well-maintained. Officials plan to continue building out park spaces while developing programs and services that engage residents of all ages and abilities. Investing in high-quality programs, facilities, and services is hoped to contribute to the overall well-being of Fairfax residents while increasing property values and attracting more businesses to the area.
Fairfax Old Town Square Park is an ideal spot for locals to unwind.
Pickleball is a local favorite at Van Dyck Park in Fairfax.
Head to Rutherford Park in Fairfax to bike or walk the trails.
Enjoy a nice scenic walk with your companion at Daniels Run Park.
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Chocolate Lovers Festival and the popular Fall Festival
The city is well known for hosting numerous special events year-round, building community spirit. Sheila Carney, a Realtor with Keller Williams Metro Center who has lived in Fairfax for over 30 years, says, "People come from all over to go to our Independence Day Parade. It's in the Old Town area, it makes a circle covering downtown. Later that night there's also a fireworks celebration at Fairfax High School." The Independence Day Parade has been an annual Fairfax event since 1967 and continues to draw visitors from around northern Virginia. A more recent event is the Asian Festival on Main in the spring, celebrating Asian cuisine, culture and heritage; as Carney notes, "it's relatively new but very well-received." Rock the Block is a free concert series every fourth Friday from May through October, hosted in Old Town Square Park. Beyond these, there's the Chocolate Lovers Festival in February, and Kaelin mentions that "Our most popular event is the Fall Festival, which happens on the second Saturday of October. We have hundreds of craft and food vendors and three performance stages."
Asian Festival on Main celebrates culture, food, and arts in Fairfax.
Enjoy a fun-filled day of festivities with the family at Rock the Block in Fairfax.
Your kids will have a blast at Tpk Fall Festival.
Hilton Fairfax knows how to celebrate the 4th of July.
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Midcentury homes and luxury townhouses
The neighborhood centers around a walkable downtown called Old Town Fairfax and grid-patterned suburban streets that allow for space for a yard and a spot for the occasional curbside basketball hoop. The neighborhood blocks of Fairfax are diverse in size, price and architectural style. The neighborhoods never feel too similar, and there's a variety of lifestyles within Fairfax. 1950s-era colonial homes with three to four bedrooms and attached garages usually cost $600,000 and are found just a few blocks from new construction. Traditional-style mansions sell for $1.2 million at the high end of the range. Alternatively, most townhouses line Chain Bridge Road or sit to the west of it. Some have luxury features like rooftop terraces that overlook the Army Navy Country Club. Depending on square footage, these homes cost roughly $900,000 and can go for as much as $1.2 million.
Many different home styles decorate the streets of the Fairfax neighborhood.
Many residents of Fairfax enjoy large homes with spacious yards.
New constructions are sprinkled throughout Fairfax, offering new residents a modern feel.
Modern townhomes welcome those looking to move to Fairfax.
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Locals can dine at home or head to the Mosaic District
Residents can head to the Safeway at Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center or the H Mart further west on Fairfax Boulevard for groceries. Old Town hosts the Auld Shebeen, the city's only authentic Irish pub and a hangout spot for Mason students. Residents can order fish and chips and a pint in the dining area or head to the basement to catch live music and the occasional guest DJ. Three miles west of the city are two retail hubs on either side of I-66, Fairfax Corner and Fair Oaks Mall. Fairfax Corner hosts a Cinemark movie theater and several restaurants, while Fair Oaks Mall is heavier on big-box retailers.
On the weekends, residents often drive to the Mosaic District, a popular mixed-use development in the neighboring town of Merrifield. Mosaic is filled with shops, eateries and activities to explore. Folks frequent Ted's Bulletin for brunch, catch a movie at the upscale Angelika Film Center, or do group yoga in Strawberry Park, where the street is closed for the occasional concert or holiday market.
The Auld Shebeen in downtown Fairfax is an authentic Irish pub with plenty of Guiness on tap.
Check out the Fair Oaks Mall for great restaurants and retail shops in Fair Oaks.
Spend a day shopping and dining at Mosiac District, a short drive from Long Branch.
Safeway has you covered in Fairfax for all of your daily essentials.
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Fairfax County Public Schools, with George Mason University at home
Fairfax County Public Schools serves the city for education and is ranked as the No. 6 best school district in the state on Niche. For private options, in the city is Saint Leo the Great School, a Catholic K-8 institution with an A-minus Niche score. "[Fairfax is] right next to George Mason University, so you get a lot of students, but [the city itself is] not students. You have a wide variety of people who live here with many different backgrounds, lifestyles, and interests," says Megan Fass, a local Realtor with Fass Results. George Mason University is a public research university, and in 2025, it's ranked as the No. 1 school in Virginia for value and upward mobility, according to U.S. News & World Report. Students often grab food or drinks in Old Town Fairfax, but it's known as a commuter school, as only about 22% of students live on campus.
St. Leo the Great Catholic School welcomes students near Fairfax, VA in grades K-8.
Katherine Johnson Middle School offers an education for students in grades 6-8 in Fairfax, VA.
Fairfax High offers education and athletics for teenage students in Fairfax county.
George Mason University campus is over 800 acres in downtown Fairfax.
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Life in Fairfax
Folks here can work in several industries, like jobs in the Federal Government in D.C. At the same time, the Washington Business Journal in 2023 ranked George Mason University as the No. 26 largest employer in the greater D.C. area, with over 8,000 employees. Fairfax County's main jobs come from Inova Health System, Amazon, whose second corporate headquarters was recently established in neighboring Arlington, banks like Capital One and Navy Federal Credit Union, and SAIC; this tech company provides IT and engineering services to the government.
According to Fairfax County Police data, violent crime in the county occurred at roughly the same rate from 2022 through 2023, though property crimes have lowered in that same time, with burglaries dropping by nearly half over one year. It should be noted that overall, Fairfax County's violent and property crime rates are lower than the national average. The City of Fairfax has implemented a Community Response Team to send mental health first responders to deal with behavioral health emergencies, and they work in collaboration with the city police, fire and human service departments. The city experiences four distinct seasons and has a generally temperate climate. Like most of Virginia, Fairfax has muggy, humid summers and cold winters, and snow doesn't usually fall until mid-January.
Fairfax main jobs come from Inova Health System that help to employ people in Fairfax.
Amazon is a major employer in Fairfax.
Capital One Bank is a financial establishment that employs residents of Fairfax.
SAIC, tech company IT and engineering services employs people in the greater Fairfax area.
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Getting around in Fairfax
Interstate 66 runs along the city's north side, leading to the nation's capital after a 19-mile commute. Along the highway is the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metro station, the final stop on the Orange Line that runs through D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Fairfax residents can get around the city free of charge thanks to the City-University-Energysaver (CUE) bus system. The system connects George Mason University to the city but is free and available to the broader public. For travel to other areas in Fairfax County, the Fairfax Connector bus system operates 85 routes throughout the county and connects to regional Metro lines. The Metrobus also operates routes throughout greater Fairfax County. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 20 miles from Fairfax and offers a wide range of domestic and international flights.
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