Moving Your Car to Alexandria

Route 1 / PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER

The Alexandria area of Fairfax County represents just a small part of the whole.

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. 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.

Franconia

PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

Franconia consists of a variety of housing developments, apartment complexes and townhome communities.

There are a variety of shopping centers 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

FAVORITE THINGS

Proximity to major interstates.

A lot of shopping and dining options.

metro station and the Variety of housing options. “mixing bowl” intersection of Interstates 95, 395 and 495. 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. Franconia includes ZIP codes 22310 and 22315 and the latest data puts the population at 18,245.

Fun Fact

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.

Rose Hill Kingstowne

Greendale Golf Course | PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

Rose Hill is a quiet and peaceful neighborhood with many singlefamily homes on generously sized lots.

Many of Alexandria’s large churches can be found in this area.

Don’t miss Loftridge park, a 48-acre park with hiking and biking trails. Greendale golf course is a beautiful Fairfax Countyowned golf course located in the Rose Hill area.

Rose Hill is located in the 22310 ZIP code and has a population of a little more than 20,000 residents.

FAVORITE THINGS

Accessibility to interstate.

Quiet and scenic neighborhood.

Greendale golf course.

Fun Fact

Rose Hill is named after a nearby 18th century plantation that was established by Daniel French, the builder of the Pohick Church which was associated with founding fathers like George Washington and George Mason.

Townhouses in Kingstowne | PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

Kingstowne is a master planned community of apartments, townhomes and single-family homes.

Kingstowne Towne Center is a sprawling shopping complex with a movie theater, Top Golf and a large number of chain stores and restaurants. Wegmans is also located a few miles down the road.

Nearby is the picturesque Kingstowne Lake which is surrounded by a 0.75 mile trail and is a popular spot with joggers and dog owners. Nalls Produce is a family-owned store that sells seasonal produce and plants and is a well-known for its pumpkin patch in the fall and tree farm during the holidays. Visitors to the store can also see the pigs and chickens kept by the owners.

Kingstowne is located in the 22315 ZIP code and has a population of more than 15,000 people.

FAVORITE THINGS

Kingstowne Lake.

Nalls Produce farm store. Plenty of restaurants and entertainment options.

Fun Fact

The Top Golf in Kingstowne was the first Top Golf in the United States. Top Golf now operates in dozens of countries.