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Fairfax
is located in Northern Virginia, approximately twelve miles west of Washington D.C. It has two separate jurisdictions: The City of Fairfax and Fairfax County. The City of Fairfax is six square miles in size, and Fairfax County spans hundreds of square miles with nearly a million residents. The U.S. Postal Service has designated both areas as “Fairfax,” but this postal designation has no bearing on jurisdictional boundaries. The City of Fairfax and Fairfax County are completely independent of each other with different tax rates, different elected officials and government services. Fairfax is a charming area with the perfect mix of small town friendliness and big city amenities. The region is filled with quaint villages and bustling city life, art galleries, antique shops, summer concerts and major league sporting events. Fairfax is also a magnet for history buffs, with attractions such as George Washington's Mount Vernon, the Manassas National Battlefield Park and Gunston Hall (the home of George Mason, the “father of the Bill of Rights.” In addition, Fairfax is an easy day trip to the monuments and museums of Washington D.C., Annapolis, historic Jamestown and Williamsburg, Harper's Ferry and Charlottesville.
The City of Fairfax offers a wide variety of housing styles and prices. New home construction averages more than $408,600. In 1999, the median resale price for single-family detached houses was $191,250. For townhouses, the median price was $165,000, and for condominium garden apartments, the median price was $61,000. Apartments are readily available, also in a wide range of styles and prices. The average cost for an apartment is between $450-$1,300, depending on location, size and amenities. Fairfax enjoys a prime location, and a great diversity in its economy and communities, Fairfax also boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates and highest household incomes of any place in the nation. Fairfax has excellent schools, a competitive tax structure and a highly educated workforce. A vibrant economy, world-class business environment, rich heritage, and small town friendliness all combine to offer an exceptional quality of life for Fairfax residents.
The major highways that run through Fairfax County include the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495,) Interstate 66, Interstate 95 and Interstate 395. The American Legion Bridge connects Fairfax to Montgomery County, Maryland. Other major arteries include the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Dulles Toll Road and Fairfax County Parkway. Washington Dulles International Airport lies partly in Fairfax County and Fairfax is also served by Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. In addition, Fairfax County operates its own bus service and is also served by the Washington Metro trains.
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