ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The City of Alexandria: from trading post to thriving urban center
Did you know that Alexandria, Virginia was once part of the District of Columbia? Or that it existed before the City of Washington.
The development of what we now know as Alexandria starts in 1669 when Englishman Robert Howsing started a small tobacco trading post after receiving a land grant from Virginia’s colonial government. Over time, the area dealt in agriculture and trade, and grew to become a busy seaport. In 1749, the Virginia General Assembly established Alexandria as a town, and commissioned surveyor John West to create a street grid plan.
During the American Revolutionary War, Alexandria played a pivotal role in supporting the Patriot cause, supplying goods to the Continental Army. Its waterfront location made it a strategic military center. On July 20, 1775, the citizens of Alexandria ratified the Fairfax Resolves, a statement committed to American independence.
It was George Washington's Hometown, who as a young man surveyed its streets. His Mount Vernon estate was just south of Alexandria.
In 1791, Alexandria was ceded to the federal government to become a part of the newly formed District of Columbia, alongside Georgetown. In 1847, after much controversy, the town and the county of Alexandria, D.C. was returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1852, the Virginia legislature voted to incorporate a portion of Alexandria County into an independent City of Alexandria. The remainder of Alexandria County would be renamed Arlington to avoid confusion between city and county.
During the Civil War, Alexandria was located in the Confederate state of Virginia, but from 1861, was occupied by Union forces until the war’s end. Afterward, Alexandria underwent a period of reconstruction and growth, its economy diversified, incorporating manufacturing, retail, and transportation.
In the 20th century, the city expanded its transportation infrastructure, with the construction of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Metrorail system. Well-preserved Old Town Alexandria attracts tourists from around the world.
From its early colonial roots, to its decisive role in the founding of the United States to its modern-day status as a thriving urban center, there is much to relish about this city of many landmarks and memories.
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