Seventeenth Century

1650

Virginia government of Jamestown awarded land grants

1685

William Fitzhugh received claim of 21,996 acres from John Matthews, an original grantee. Fitzhugh established tobacco plantation near Back Lick Run. Overseer and slaves tended to plantation

1694

Tract named Ravensworth listed in the Northern Neck grant book as being granted to William Fitzhugh

Eighteenth Century

1701

William Fitzhugh died and two eldest sons inherited the property. Henry inherited Northern section, which includes present-day Annandale. William Jr. inherited Southern section, which includes present-day Ravensworth Farm subdivision.

1742

General Assembly of Virginia authorized formation of Fairfax County from Prince William County in June

1742

In December, first court convened in Fairfax County near what is today Tysons Corner

1752

County Court moved from Tysons area to Alexandria.

“Braddock” Road constructed

1755

On April 12, General Braddock left Alexandria for Fort Duquesne

1783

North section of Ravensworth tract divided among five grandsons of William Fitzhugh I

c. 1783

Ossian Hall built

c. 1790

Oak Hill built.

Fairfax County population: 12,320

c. 1797

Ravensworth built

Nineteenth Century

1800

Fairfax County population: 13,317

1805

Town of Providence (later named Fairfax) established by Virginia General Assembly in January

1806

First stretch of Little River Turnpike opened

1810

Fairfax County population: declined to 13,111

c. 1822

Brimstone Hill constructed

c. 1824

Silas Burke mansion completed

1830

Fairfax County population: 9,204

1840

Fairfax County population: 9,370

Jerusalem Baptist Church congregation organized and met at Payne’s Church

1846

Annandale United Methodist Church built

1850

Fairfax County population: 10,862

1852

Burke Station Post Office established

1854

Construction of Orange and Alexandria Railroad completed through Burke

1858

St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church established

c. 1859

Ashford House built

1860

Fairfax County population: 11,834

1861

On May 23, Fairfax County voted to secede from Union. Annandale toll house used as a voting location

On December 2, Confederate cavalry attacked in Annandale, killed one and captured 14

1862

On August 31, Clara Barton cared for wounded at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fairfax Station after Second Battle of Manassas

On December 28, J.E.B. Stuart and men raided Burke Station. Some of Stuart’s men burned railroad trestle bridge at Accotink Crossing

1863

On August 11, Mosby and his cavalry men captured Union wagon train in Annandale

1864

On February 7, Confederate raider John Arundel killed and buried on his home property at Brimstone Hill

1865

On April 10, Cavalry skirmish occurred at Brimstone Hill, which is thought to be the last Civil War action in Fairfax County

1870

Fairfax County population: 12,952

First meeting of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 25

1880

Fairfax County population: 16,025

1885

Greenfield Farm house built

Church of Good Shepherd built

1888

Oliver Besley operated a sawmill at Wakefield Chapel Road and Tollhouse Road

1890

Fairfax County population: 16,655

1891

Little Zion Baptist Church started

1896

Boxhill Farm constructed

1897

Besley donated land for Wakefield Chapel

1899

Wakefield Chapel built