Franconia
Route 1 / PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER
Proximity to major interstates.
Fairfax County was incorporated in 1742 when it broke off from the northern part of Prince William County. The county was named for Thomas Fairfax, the 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who was born in the late 1600s and owned millions of acres in what is now Northern Virginia. He was fabulously wealthy. The “Alexandria area” of Fairfax County is in the southeastern part of the county. There are big changes coming to Southeastern Fairfax County. The Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to improve Richmond Highway, the area’s main thoroughfare, adding dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lanes, new shopping centers, major improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists and more. The changes in the next decade are expected to make Richmond Highway better for commuters and everyone who lives in the area. 60
Resident’s Guide
NEIGHBORHOODS
NEIGHBORHOODS
FAVORITE THINGS The Alexandria area of Fairfax County represents just a small part of the whole. PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON
On the following pages, we present overviews of Franconia, Rose Hill and Kingstowne, in the western part of what’s considered Southeastern Fairfax County, and the Richmond Highway corridor communities of Huntington, Belle Haven, Hybla Valley, Groveton, Fort Hunt and Mount Vernon.
Fun Fact 26.1% of Fairfax County residents are under the age of 20.
A lot of shopping and dining options.
Franconia consists of a variety of housing developments, apartment complexes and townhome communities.
metro station Variety of housing and the options. “mixing bowl” intersection of Interstates 95, 395 and 495.
There are a variety of shopping centers
Many people who work at Fort Belvoir, a U.S. Army base, and the local U.S. Coast Guard installation and other military entities live in Franconia.
throughout the area and nearby is the Springfield Town Center which boasts a movie theater, a Target and many other popular chain stores and restaurants. Commuters enjoy the area’s close proximity to the Franconia-Springfield
Fun Fact
Franconia includes ZIP codes 22310 and 22315 and the latest data puts the population at 18,245.
The Laurel Grove School located at 6840 Beulah Street was established in 1886 by former slaves as a school for the first generation of black children born to freedom. The school closed in 1932 but is now a museum and is the last remaining African American schoolhouse in Northern Virginia. Alexandria Living Magazine
61
