Alexandria, Virginia
Seal
Location in Virginia
Coordinates: 38°48′17″N 77°2′50″W / 38.80472, -77.04722
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1749
Government
- Mayor	William D. Euille
- Senate	Patsy Ticer (D)
- Delegate	Adam Ebbin (D)
- U.S. Congress	Jim Moran (D)
Area
- Total	15. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state William D Euille is the mayor of Alexandria, Virginia. Euille a Democrat, graduated from Quinnipiac University in 1972 Senate of Virginia is the Upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. Patsy Ticer is a Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia, representing the 30th District since 1996. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Virginia House of Delegates is the Lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. Adam P Ebbin (born November 10, 1963) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Virginia's Eighth Congressional District is a US Congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. James Patrick "Jim" Moran Jr (born 16 May 1945 in Buffalo New York) has represented the of Virginia since 1991 The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 4 sq mi (39. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 9 km²)
- Land	15. To help compare sizes of different geographic regions we list here Areas between 10 km² (1000 Hectares and 100 km² (10000 hectares 2 sq mi (39. 3 km²)
- Water	0. 2 sq mi (0. 6 km²)
Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	128,283
- Density	8,452. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 0/sq mi (3,262. 9/km²)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	571, 703
FIPS code	51-01000[1]
GNIS feature ID	1492456[2]
Website: www.alexandriava.gov

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks ImageArea code 571png|right|400px|The area colored red indicates the northern region of Virginia served by overlay area code 571 and original area code 703poly 391 103 368 ImageArea code 571png|right|400px|The area colored red indicates the northern region of Virginia served by overlay area code 571 and original area code 703poly 391 103 368 Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout An independent city is a City that does not form part of another general-purpose Local government entity Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,283. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately 6 miles (9. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. 6 kilometers) south of downtown Washington, D.C.

Like the rest of Northern Virginia, as well as central Maryland, modern Alexandria has been shaped by its proximity to the nation's capital. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Northern Virginia (colloquially referred to as "NOVA" or "NoVA" consists of several It is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service, the U. S. military, or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the federal government. The latter are known locally as beltway bandits, after the Capital Beltway, an interstate highway that circles Washington, D. Beltway bandit is a term for private companies located in or near Washington D Interstate 495 (abbreviated I-495) is a Freeway -class Interstate highway which circles Washington D C. One of Alexandria's largest employers is the U. S. Department of Defense. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government Others include the Institute for Defense Analyses and the Center for Naval Analyses. The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA is a non-profit corporation that administers three Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs to assist the United States The Center for Naval Analyses is a Federally funded research and development center (FFRDC for the Department of the Navy, which includes both the Navy In 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office moved 7,100 employees from 18 separate buildings in nearby Crystal City into a new headquarters complex in the city. The United States Patent and Trademark Office ( PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues Patents to

Alexandria is home to numerous associations, charities, and non-profit organizations including the national headquarters of groups such as the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service. In 2005, Alexandria became one of the first cities of its size to offer free wireless internet access to some of its residents and visitors.

The historic center of Alexandria is known as Old Town. It is a major draw for tourists and those seeking nightlife. Like Old Town, many Alexandria neighborhoods are high-income suburbs of Washington D. C.

It is the seventh largest and highest income independent city in Virginia. A 2005 assessed-value study of homes and condominiums found that over 40 percent were in the highest bracket, worth $556,000 or more.

History

Johnny Bull and the Alexandrians (1814) by William Charles mocked Alexandria citizens (kneeling at left, with hair standing on end) for not putting up more resistance to the British. William Charles (1776-1820 was a Scottish -born Engraver who immigrated to the United States and is now known best for his Political cartoons

Map of Alexandria County (1878), including what is now Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. Map includes the names of property owners at that time. City boundaries roughly correspond with Old Town.

U. S. Geological Survey Map of Alexandria County (1894), including what is now Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. Map also shows the western portion of the District of Columbia and some portions of Montgomery County (Maryland), Prince George's County (Maryland) and Fairfax County (Virginia. )

U. S. Geological Survey Map of the "Alexandria Quadrangle" (1945), including what is now the City of Alexandria and surrouding areas. At this time, the City of Alexandria is bounded on the west by Seminary and Quaker Roads, on the north by Four Mile Run and on the south by Little River Turnpike/Duke Street and Hunting Creek.

U. S. postage stamp honoring Alexandria's bicentennial in 1949

Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the west, as seen from the observation deck of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a Masonic Lodge and memorial dedicated to the memory of George Washington, the first President of the United King Street Station is in the foreground and the Potomac River is in the background

The first settlement was established in 1695 in what was then the British Colony of Virginia. King Street is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia on the Blue and Yellow Lines It is the first transfer The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The Colony of Virginia (also known frequently as the Virginia Colony and occasionally as the Dominion and Colony of Virginia) was the English colony Around 1746, Captain Philip Alexander II (1704-1753) moved to what is south of present Duke Street in Alexandria. His estate, which consisted of 500 acres (2 km²), was bounded by Hunting Creek, Hooff’s Run, the Potomac River, and approximately the line of which would become Cameron Street. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. Since it was felt that the Potomac River was a good place for a prosperous town, there was a petition submitted to the Virginia legislature on November 1, 1748, that the "inhabitants of Fairfax (Co. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1748 ( MDCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a ) praying that a town may be established at Hunting Creek Warehouse on Potowmack River," as Hugh West was the owner of the warehouse.

Since this was amidst his estate, Philip opposed the idea and strongly favored a site at the head of Great Hunting Creek. It has been said that in order to avoid a predicament the petitioners changed the name of the new town from Belle Haven to Alexandria, in honor of Philip’s family. As a result, Philip and his cousin Captain John Alexander (1711-1763) gave land to assist in the development of Alexandria, and are thus listed as the founders. John Alexander may refer to John Alexander (painter (died c1733 Scottish historical painter and engraver John Alexander (minister This John was the son of Robert Alexander II (1688-1735). Lots were being sold for the town of Alexandria by July 1749, though it did not become incorporated until 1779.

In 1755, General Edward Braddock organized his fatal expedition against Fort Duquesne at Carlyle House in Alexandria. General Edward Braddock (January 1695 &ndash July 13, 1755) was a British soldier and commander-in-chief for North America during the actions at the start of the Fort Duquesne (originally called Fort Du Quesne) was a Fort established by the French in 1754, at the junction of the Allegheny Carlyle House is a historic Mansion in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, built by Scottish merchant John Carlyle in In April of 1755, the governors of Virginia, and the Provinces of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York met to determine upon concerted action against the French in America. The Province of Maryland was an English colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776 when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen colonies The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was a North American colony granted to William Penn on March 4, 1681 The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony chartered October 7, 1691 in North America by William and Mary, the joint The Province of New York (1664-1776 (Provincie New York resulted from the capture of the Dutch Republic colony of Provincie Nieuw-Nederland by the Early Modern France is the Early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century (or from the French Renaissance

In March 1785, commissioners from Virginia and Maryland met in Alexandria to discuss the commercial relations of the two states, finishing their business at Mount Vernon. This is about the George Washington residence For other uses see Mount Vernon (disambiguation. The Mount Vernon Conference concluded on March 28 with an agreement for freedom of trade and freedom of navigation of the Potomac River. The Mount Vernon Conference was a meeting of delegates from Virginia and Maryland at George Washington 's home at Mount Vernon, Virginia in March Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. The Maryland legislature, in ratifying this agreement on November 22, proposed a conference among representatives from all the states to consider the adoption of definite commercial regulations. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran This led to the calling of the Annapolis Convention of 1786, which in turn led to the calling of the Federal Convention of 1787.

In 1791, Alexandria was included in the area chosen by George Washington to become the District of Columbia. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the A portion of the City of Alexandria---namely known as "Old Town"--- and all of today's Arlington County share the distinction of having been originally in Virginia, ceded to the U. S. Government to form the District of Columbia, and later retroceded to Virginia by the federal government in 1846, when the District was reduced in size to exclude the portion south of the Potomac River. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The District of Columbia, the National capital of the United States, was formed in 1790 from that were ceded to the federal government by the states The City of Alexandria was re-chartered in 1852.

During the War of 1812, Alexandria surrendered to a British fleet in 1814 without a fight. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies As agreed in the terms of surrender the British looted stores and warehouses of mainly flour, tobacco, cotton, wine, and sugar. Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. ^[3]

From 1828 to 1836,^[4] Alexandria was home to the Franklin & Armfield Slave Market, one of the largest slave trading companies in the country. By the 1830s, they were sending more than 1,000 slaves annually from Alexandria to their Natchez, Mississippi, and New Orleans markets to help meet the demand for slaves in Mississippi and surrounding states. Natchez is the county seat of and the largest and only incorporated city within Adams County, Mississippi, United States. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana ^[5] Later owned by Price, Birch & Co. , the slave pen became a jail under Union occupation. During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three ^[6]

The City of Alexandria became independent of Alexandria County in 1870. Alexandria County was part of the original 100-mile square created as the District of Columbia in 1791 pursuant to Article I, Section 8 paragraph 17 of the The remaining portion of Alexandria County changed its name to Arlington County in 1920, which ended years of confusion.

Return to Virginia

Over time, a movement grew to separate Alexandria from the District of Columbia. As competition grew with the port of Georgetown and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal fostered development on the north side of the Potomac River, the city's economy stagnated. Georgetown is a Neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington D The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal, and occasionally referred to as the " Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1836 until 1924 parallel In addition, many in Alexandria hoped to benefit from land sales and increased business from the federal government, which had no need for the land south of the river at the time. Also, its residents had lost representation and the right to vote at any level of government.

Alexandria was also an important port and market in the slave trade, and there were increasing talk of the abolition of slavery in the national capital. The history of slavery uncovers many different forms of human exploitation across many cultures throughout history Alexandria's economy would suffer greatly if slavery were outlawed. At the same time, there was an active abolition movement in Virginia, and the state's General Assembly was closely divided on the question of slavery (resulting in the formation of West Virginia some years later by the most anti-slavery counties). The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Alexandria and Alexandria County would provide two new pro-slavery representatives. Alexandria County was part of the original 100-mile square created as the District of Columbia in 1791 pursuant to Article I, Section 8 paragraph 17 of the

After a referendum, voters petitioned Congress and Virginia to return the area to Virginia. The area was retroceded to Virginia on July 9, 1846. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display ^[7]

American Civil War

At the opening of the American Civil War, the city was occupied by Federal troops until the end of the war, making it the longest held city during the war. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Fort Ward, built for the defense of Washington, DC, was located within the boundaries of modern Alexandria. This article deals with Fort Ward Virginia in the United States Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D ^[8]

Great excitement throughout the North was caused by the killing of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth on May 24, 1861, by Captain James W. Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth ( April 11 1837 &ndash May 24 1861) was a lawyer and soldier best known as the first conspicuous casualty of the Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Jackson, a hotel proprietor, from whose building Ellsworth had removed a Confederate flag. The Confederate States of America used several Flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865 After the establishment of the state of West Virginia in 1863 and until the close of the war, Alexandria was the seat of the Restored Government of Virginia also known as the "Alexandria Government. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by The Restored government of Virginia was the Unionist government of Virginia during the Civil War " Also, buildings at Virginia Theological Seminary and at Episcopal High School served as hospitals for union troops. HPIM0364JPG|right|thumbnail|Aspinwall Hall dedicated 1859|200px]] Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia Episcopal High School is a common name for high schools affiliated with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America including Episcopal High School (Alexandria Bullets, belt clips, and other artifacts from the civil war have been found in the area well into the 20th century.

20th century

In 1930, Alexandria annexed the Town of Potomac. Potomac Virginia is an extinct Incorporated town formerly located in Arlington County. That town, adjacent to Potomac Yard, had been laid out beginning in the late 19th century and incorporated in 1908. Potomac Yard was one of the busiest railroad yards on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Pope John Paul II visited Alexandria when he was known as Karol Cardinal Wojtyła. He was guided by a Polish Catholic priest from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria. This was in 1969 and 1976. In 1999 the city celebrated its 250th anniversary.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 4 square miles (39. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 9 km²), of which, 15. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 2 square miles (39. 3 km²) of it is land and 0. 2 square miles (0. 6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1. 49% water. Alexandria is bounded on the east by the Potomac River, on the north and northwest by Arlington County, and on the south by Fairfax County. Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia, in the United States. The western portions of the city were annexed from those two entities beginning in the 1930s.

The addressing system in Alexandria is not uniform and reflects the consolidation of several originally separate communities into a single city. An address is a Code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home business or other building on the earth's surface In Old Town Alexandria, building numbers are assigned north and south from King Street and west (only) from the Potomac River. King Street is a major road in Alexandria Virginia, USA and the heart of historic Old Town Alexandria In the areas formerly in the Town of Potomac, such as Del Ray and St. Potomac Virginia is an extinct Incorporated town formerly located in Arlington County. Elmo, building numbers are assigned east and west from Commonwealth Avenue and north (only) from King Street. In the western parts of the city, building numbers are assigned north and south from Duke Street. State Route 236, also known for part of its length as Little River Turnpike, is a primary State highway in the U

The ZIP code prefix 223 uniquely identifies the Alexandria postal area. The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS However, the Alexandria postal area extends well into Fairfax County and includes more addresses outside of the city than inside of it. Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia, in the United States. Delivery areas have ZIP codes 22301 through 22312, 22314, and 22315, with other ZIP codes in use for post office boxes and large mailers. A post office box (often abbreviated PO Box or PO Box) is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a Post office station ZIP codes are not assigned in any particular geographic order.

Neighborhoods

Old Town

Old Town, in the eastern and southeastern areas of Alexandria and on the Potomac River, is the oldest section of the city, originally laid out in 1749, and is a historic district. Old Town is chiefly known for its historic town houses, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants. On the northern limits of Old Town is the remnants of a historic, predominantly African American community known by its inhabitants as "The Berg". Today the Berg’s most prominent landmarks are the James Bland Homes (built in 1954) named after an African American musician and songwriter and Samuel Madden Homes, named after the first African-American pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. Built in 1945, the 260-unit public housing complex covers several blocks in what is now Old Town Alexandria. Over the years the historic roots of the Berg’s name were lost, and many assumed it referred to the monolithic, iceberg-like buildings of this apartment complex. The Berg was mentioned in the movie "Remember the Titans" which dramatizes the integration of city public schools in the 1970s through the creation of T. C. Williams High School. Some remnants of the Berg remain today. Old Town is laid out on a grid plan of substantially square blocks. The grid plan or gridiron plan is a type of City plan in which Streets run at right angles to each other forming a grid. A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of Urban planning and Urban design.

Market Square in Old Town is the oldest continuously operating marketplace in the United States and was once the site of the second-largest slave market in the U. Market Square may refer to any Market square. Market Square may also refer to;Specific market squares In Canada Market Square A marketplace is the space actual or metaphorical in which a Market operates The United States of America —commonly referred to as the As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another S. Today it contains a large fountain and extensive landscaping, as well as a farmers' market each Saturday morning.

Arlandria

Also known as Little El Salvador or Chirilagua, this area is well known bustling enclave of Salvadoran, Honduran, and Guatemalan immigrants. El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Many Latinos moved to this area after the destruction of a nearby old apartment complex that has now turned into all brand new condos and townhomes. Arlandria consists of a couple of apartment complexes concentrated on the border between Arlington and Alexandria on W. Glebe Road. Centered around Mount Vernon Avenue and West Glebe Road, it is home to nearly twenty Hispanic owned bakeries, restaurants, salons, and bookstores.

Del Ray

The area to the northwest of Old Town, formerly in the separate town of Potomac, is popularly known as Del Ray, although that name properly belongs to one of many communities (including Hume, Mount Ida, and Saint Elmo) in that area. Potomac Virginia is an extinct Incorporated town formerly located in Arlington County. The communities of Del Ray and St. Elmo originated in early 1894, when developer Charles Wood organized them on a grid pattern of streets running north-south and east-west. Del Ray originally contained six east-west streets and five north-south. All were identical in width, except Mt. Vernon Avenue, which was approximately twenty feet wider. St. Elmo, a smaller tract, was laid out in a similar pattern, but with only four east-west streets and one running north-south.

By 1900, Del Ray contained approximately 130 persons, and St. Elmo 55. In 1908, the tracts of Del Ray, St. Elmo, Mt. Ida, and Hume were incorporated into the town of Potomac, which by 1910 had a population of 599; by 1920 it contained 1,000; and by 1928 it had 2,355 residents.

The 254 acres (1 km²) comprising Del Ray were sold to Charles Wood in 1894 for the sum of $38,900, while St. Elmo, made up of 39 acres, was purchased for $15,314.

The community, while diverse, has experienced substantial gentrification since redevelopment began in Potomac Yard in the mid-1990s. Gentrification, or urban gentrification, is the change in an Urban area associated with the movement of more affluent individuals into a lower-class Potomac Yard was one of the busiest railroad yards on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. The area has future development plans for condominiums, parks, and a fire station with affordable housing on upper floors. A condominium, or condo, is a form of Housing tenure and other Real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate (usually of an apartment Del Ray now boasts many new restaurants and shops.

West End

Alexandria's West End includes areas annexed from Fairfax County in the 1950s. It is the most typically suburban part of Alexandria, with a street hierarchy of winding roads and culs-de-sac. The street hierarchy is an Urban design technique for separating automobile through-traffic from developed areas "Dead End Street" redirects here For the song by The Kinks see Dead End Street (song. The section of Duke Street in the West End is known for a high-density residential area known to locals as "Landmark" and for its concentration of both strip and enclosed shopping malls. State Route 236, also known for part of its length as Little River Turnpike, is a primary State highway in the U A shopping mall or shopping centre is a building or set of buildings that contain Retail units with interconnecting Walkways enabling visitors In more recent years, parts of Alexandria's West End have seen an influx of immigrants from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Pakistan, who have settled in the areas surrounding Seminary Road west of I-395. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Eritrea () ( Ge'ez: ኤርትራ ʾErtrā, Arabic: إرتريا Iritriya) officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Interstate 395 (abbreviated I-395) in Virginia is a 13 mile (21 km long spur route that begins at a junction with Interstate 95 in Springfield Virginia

The West End is composed of four main areas. All are west of Quaker Lane, the main north-south artery through Alexandria.

First is Seminary Hill a mostly residential, single-family dwelling area near the Virginia Theological Seminary and the Episcopal and St. Stephen's-St. Agnes High Schools off Seminary Road, ending in the area just west of the Inova Alexandria Hospital.

West of Quaker, down the Duke Street corridor are communities of small homes, row houses, town homes along with commercial and retail real estate including the Foxchase Shopping Center. There are also areas of industrial businesses south of Duke Street primarily off Wheeler Ave, South Pickett St and South Van Dorn St. The Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Alexandria Library, the city's main library, is located here. In the very southern part of this area is the Eisenhower Ave corridor running parallel to the Capital Beltway (I-95/I-495) which is industrial and commercial in nature. The Van Dorn Metro Station here provides access to Washington, DC.

The Landmark area, which includes Seminary Valley a large single family area developed in the 1950s, is largely garden style apartments and condo-converted apartment hi-rises as well as a number of townhome developments from the 1970s is west of North Pickett St bordered by I-395/Van Dorn Street on the west and Seminary Road on the north. The Landmark Mall, which presently includes Sears and Macy's was first developed in the mid-1960s (redeveloped in the 1980s) was Alexandria's primary retail area for decades.

The Seminary West neighborhoods are the communities west of I-395 but within the city limits of Alexandria. Beauregard Street is the primary artery running north & south to a mix of development from town home communities, single family neighborhoods, three large senior citizen living centers, garden and hi-rise apartments and condominiums. The Mark Center office development is a large commercial area in this community. The Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus and its Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center is located in Seminary West.

North Ridge

North Ridge, in northern Alexandria City, borders Arlington County and includes the very busy Braddock Road/King Street corridors. North Ridge takes its name from the high ground west of Russell Road and south of West Glebe Road. It is a residential area with homes of numerous styles (mostly single family houses) that were largely developed in the period of the 1930s through the early 1960s. This neighborhood includes many houses of worship as well as one of Virginia's eight Scottish Rite temples, a Masonic order. The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States often omits the and) commonly known as simply the North Ridge students attend George Mason and Charles Barrett Elementary Schools and feed into George Washington Middle School and T. C. Williams High School. T C Williams High School is a public High school in Alexandria Virginia, USA. The Lower School of private St. Stephens & St. Agnes school is located in the Jefferson Park neighbohood of North Ridge.

It is a neighborhood of walkers, joggers, and bicyclists, known for its friendliness and its profusion of crepe myrtles. Parks there include Monticello Park, Beverly Park and Robert Leider Park. All of the North Ridge community lies within the original 10 mile square of the District of Columbia, ceded back to Virginia in 1846.

Nearby Alexandria Neighborhoods

Many neighborhoods outside of the city limits including Franconia, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Huntington, Belle Haven, Mount Vernon, Engleside, Burgundy Village, Waynewood, Wilton Woods, Virginia Hills, Hayfield, and Kingstowne use an Alexandria address. Franconia is a Census-designated place (CDP in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Groveton is a Census-designated place (CDP in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Hybla Valley is a Census-designated place (CDP in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Belle Haven is a Census-designated place (CDP in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Mount Vernon is a Census-designated place (CDP in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Kingstowne is an Unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Despite the Alexandria address, these areas are actually part of Fairfax County, not Alexandria City. Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia, in the United States.

The Fort Hunt Neighborhood, adjacent to Fort Hunt Park a National Park Service picnic facility, runs next to the George Washington Parkway on the way to the Mount Vernon Estate. Here, cherry blossom trees are planted on the opposite side of the river but are still on the parkway.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 128,283 people, 61,889 households, and 27,726 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 8,452. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 0 people per square mile (3,262. 9/km²). There were 64,251 housing units at an average density of 4,233. 2/sq mi (1,634. 2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59. 79% White, 22. 54% African American, 0. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa 28% Native American, 5. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States 65% Asian, 0. Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. They include sub-ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Indian 09% Pacific Islander, 7. Pacific Islander Americans are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. 38% from other races, and 4. 27% from two or more races. 14. 72% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans of Hispanic or Latino descent, which comprises ancestry or origins in Hispanic America

By 2005 58. 3% of Alexandria's population was non-Hispanic whites. 21. 7% were African-Americans, 0. 4% Native Americans, 5. 3% Asian and 13. 7% Latino.

In 2000 there were 61,889 households out of which 18. 6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32. 2% were married couples living together, 9. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55. 2% were non-families. 43. 4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6. 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 04 and the average family size was 2. 87.

The age distribution was 16. 8% under the age of 18, 9. 2% from 18 to 24, 43. 5% from 25 to 44, 21. 5% from 45 to 64, and 9. 0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93. 5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91. 7 males.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $80,449, and the median income for a family was $102,388. [1] Males had a median income of $47,514 versus $41,254 for females. The per capita income for the city was $37,645. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country 8. 9% of the population and 6. 8% of families were below the poverty line. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 13. 9% of those under the age of 18 and 9. 0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The city is served by the Alexandria City Public Schools system and by the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Alexandria City Public Schools ( ACPS) is a School division which is funded by the government of Alexandria Virginia. The largest seminary in the Episcopal Church, Virginia Theological Seminary, is located on Seminary Road. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. HPIM0364JPG|right|thumbnail|Aspinwall Hall dedicated 1859|200px]] Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia Virginia Tech's Alexandria Architecture Center, also known as WAAC, is located on Prince Street in Old Town, offering graduate programs in Urban Affairs and Planning, Public and International Affairs, and Architecture. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech, is a public land grant polytechnic University in Virginia Commonwealth University operates a Northern Virginia branch of its School of Social Work in Alexandria. Virginia Commonwealth University, or VCU, is a large public American research University with its main campuses located in downtown Richmond, George Washington University (Washington DC) also has an Alexandria campus near the King Street metro. The George Washington University ( GW or GWU) is a private coeducational university located in Washington D This campus mainly offers professional and vocational programs, such as an executive MBA program, urban planning and security studies.

Alexandria is home to several of the Washington D. C. area's top private schools, such as St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, Episcopal High School, and Bishop Ireton High School. St Stephen's & St Agnes School is an independent Episcopal coed Private school in Alexandria Virginia. Episcopal High School, founded in 1839 is a private Boarding school located in Alexandria Virginia. Bishop Ireton High School is a Roman Catholic High School located in Alexandria, Virginia. Also in the city are Alexandria Country Day School, Commonwealth Academy, St. Mary's Catholic School, St. Rita's Catholic School and Blessed Sacrament Learning Center. Students and faculty from the Thornton Friends School of Maryland, which closed its Virginia Campus in June 2006, have formed the new Alexandria Friends School to maintain Alexandria's tradition of Quaker education. Alexandria Friends School (AFS is a private non-profit Quaker high school (grades 9-12 located at 3830 Seminary Road in Alexandria Virginia, USA.

Alexandria's public school system consists of thirteen elementary schools for grades 5-year-old Kindergarten through Grade 5. Middle Schools, George Washington and Francis C. Hammond, serve 6th through 8th graders. Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center and T.C. Williams High School serve grades 9th and 10 through 12, respectively, for the entire city. T C Williams High School is a public High school in Alexandria Virginia, USA.

T.C. Williams, and its legendary former head football coach, Herman Boone, former assistant coach Bill Yoast and the Virginia State Champion 1971 Titan football squad were featured in the 2000 Disney motion picture Remember the Titans starring Denzel Washington and Will Patton. T C Williams High School is a public High school in Alexandria Virginia, USA. Herman Boone (born October 28, 1935 in Rocky Mount North Carolina) is a former Football coach at T William "Bill" Yoast (born 1924 is an American High school football coach best known for being featured in the 2000 Film Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports drama directed by Boaz Yakin, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Denzel Hayes Washington Jr (born December 28 1954) is an American Actor and director. William Curtis "Will" Patton (born June 14, 1954) is an American Actor.

Recreation and sites of interest

Alexandria has a distributed park system with approximately 950 acres (3. 8 km²) spread across 70 major parks and 30 recreation centers, of which Chinquapin is one of the largest. Chinquapin offers facilities for swimming, tennis, racquetball, and other sports. The city also organizes several sports leagues throughout the year including volleyball, softball and basketball.

The city is unusual in that Cameron Run Regional Park includes a water park with a wave pool and water slides, as well as a miniature golf course and batting cages — facilities usually operated by private companies. A wave pool is a Swimming pool in which are artificially generated reasonably large Waves similar to the Ocean 's A water slide is a type of slide or tube designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use typically with water pumped to its top and allowed Minigolf, or miniature golf, is a miniature version of the Sport of Golf. A portion of the Mount Vernon Trail, a popular bike and jogging path, runs through Old Town near the Potomac River on its way from the Mount Vernon Estate to Roosevelt Island in Washington, DC. The Mount Vernon Trail is a popular running and bike path in Northern Virginia that runs from near Theodore Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon There is also a largely unbroken line of parks stretching along the Alexandria waterfront from end to end.

Landmarks within the city include the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (also known as the Masonic Temple) and Observation Deck, Christ Church, Gadsby's Tavern, John Carlyle House, Little Theatre of Alexandria, Lee-Fendall House, City Hall, Market Square, the Jones Point Lighthouse, the south cornerstone of the original District of Columbia, Robert E. Lee's boyhood home, the Torpedo Factory art studio complex, and the Virginia Theological Seminary. George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a Masonic Lodge and memorial dedicated to the memory of George Washington, the first President of the United Christ Church in Alexandria Virginia, is an Episcopal Church built from 1767 to 1773 by John Carlyle. Gadsby's Tavern is a building in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, and is a U Carlyle House is a historic Mansion in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, built by Scottish merchant John Carlyle in The Lee-Fendall House is a historic house located at 614 Oronoco St The Boundary Markers of the Original District of Columbia are the 40 Milestones that a survey team led by Major Andrew Ellicott placed in 1791 Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated HPIM0364JPG|right|thumbnail|Aspinwall Hall dedicated 1859|200px]] Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia Other sites of historical interest in the city include Alexandria Black History Resource Center, Fort Ward Park and Museum, and the Alexandria Canal lock re-creation at Canal Office Center. Interesting sites with Alexandria addresses but outside of the city limits include River Farm, Collingwood Library & Museum, Green Spring Gardens Park, Huntley Meadows Park, Pope-Leighey House (a Frank Lloyd Wright design), Woodlawn Plantation, Washington's Grist Mill and Mount Vernon Estate. River Farm (25 acres is an historic landscape with gardens located at 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria Virginia. Green Spring Gardens Park (26 acres is a public park located at 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria Virginia. The Pope-Leighey House, formerly known as the Loren Pope Residence, is a suburban house designed by American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Woodlawn Plantation is located in historic Fairfax County Virginia, near Mount Vernon, George Washington 's historic home This is about the George Washington residence For other uses see Mount Vernon (disambiguation.

In 1830, John Hollensbury's home in Alexandria was one of two homes directly boarding an alleyway that received a large amount of horse-drawn wagon traffic and loiterers. is a Video game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo as a global Launch title for the Game Boy. Horse -drawn vehicles were once common worldwide but they have mostly been replaced by Automobiles and other forms of self-propelled transport ^[9] In order to prevent people from using the alleyway, Hollensbury constructed a 7 feet wide, 25 feet deep, 325 square foot, two story home using the existing brick walls of the adjacent homes for the sides of the new home. ^[9] The brick walls of the Hollensbury Spite House living room have gouges from wagon-wheel hubs and the house still is standing and occupied. A spite house is a Building generally found in an urban environment that is constructed or modified because someone that the builder feels has wronged him does not want ^[9]

Transportation

Alexandria is bisected north and south by State Route 7, known in most of the city as the major thoroughfare of King Street. State Route 7 is a major primary State highway and busy commuter route in Northern Virginia, United States. King Street is a major road in Alexandria Virginia, USA and the heart of historic Old Town Alexandria Interstate 95/495 (the Capital Beltway), including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River, approximately parallels the city's southern boundary with Fairfax County. Interstate 495 (abbreviated I-495) is a Freeway -class Interstate highway which circles Washington D Interstate 395 crosses through the western part of the city. Interstate 395 (abbreviated I-395) in Virginia is a 13 mile (21 km long spur route that begins at a junction with Interstate 95 in Springfield Virginia Other major routes include U.S. Route 1 (named Jefferson Davis Highway, and Patrick and Henry Streets after Patrick Henry and Richmond Highway), the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and Duke Street (State Route 236). US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. The Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway was a transcontinental highway in the United States from Washington D Patrick Henry ( May 29, 1736 June 6, 1799) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered for his " The George Washington Memorial Parkway known to local motorists simply as the "G State Route 236, also known for part of its length as Little River Turnpike, is a primary State highway in the U

Alexandria is located just south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington County. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) south of the Central business district of Washington As with other Washington suburbs, Alexandria is also served by Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly and by Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport near Baltimore, Maryland. Washington Dulles International Airport is a public Airport located 25 miles (40 km) west of the Central business district of Washington D Chantilly is an Unincorporated community located in western Fairfax County and southeastern Loudoun County of Northern Virginia. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport serves the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area ( U

Alexandria Union Station, the city's historic train station, is served by both Amtrak intercity and Virginia Railway Express regional rail service. Alexandria Union Station is a historic Train station in Alexandria, Virginia south of Washington D The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 The Virginia Railway Express (VRE is a commuter rail service that connects the Northern Virginia area with Washington DC. The station is directly adjacent to the King Street Metrorail station, at the convergence of the Blue and Yellow Lines. King Street is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia on the Blue and Yellow Lines It is the first transfer The Blue Line of the Washington Metro consists of 27 Rapid transit stations from Franconia-Springfield to Largo Town Center. The Yellow Line of the Washington Metro consists of twelve Rapid transit stations from Huntington to Mt Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Three other Metrorail stations that lie within the city limits are Braddock Road, Van Dorn Street, and Eisenhower Avenue. Braddock Road is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia on the Blue and Yellow Lines The station is Van Dorn Street is a Washington Metro station on the border between Alexandria and Fairfax County, Virginia on the Blue Eisenhower Avenue is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia on the Yellow Line.

The traditional boundary between Old Town and the latterly annexed sections of the city followed the railway now owned by CSX Transportation.

The city government operates its own mass transit system, the DASH bus, connecting points of interest with local transit hubs. Driving Alexandrians Safely Home (DASH is the public bus system for the city of Alexandria Virginia, operated by the Alexandria Transit Company Metrobus, Metrorail, and the Virginia Railway Express better known as the VRE also serves Alexandria. Metrobus is a bus service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA The Virginia Railway Express (VRE is a commuter rail service that connects the Northern Virginia area with Washington DC. The City also offers a free trolley service on King Street from the King Street Metro Station to the Waterfront and a water taxi to and from the National Harbor development in Prince George's County, Maryland. National Harbor is a 300-acre new urbanist mixed use waterfront development being built by the Peterson Companies on the shores of the Potomac River in Prince

Sister cities

Alexandria has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

• Gyumri, Armenia. Sister Cities International is a Non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and fostering Town twinning, especially between cities in the United States Gyumri ( Armenian: Գյումրի is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani
• Helsingborg, Sweden. Helsingborg (between 1912 and 1971 spelled Hälsingborg) is a city in Scania in the southernmost part of Sweden, which has a population "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation.
• Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. Dundee (Dùn Dèagh is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and fully named as Dundee City, one of Scotland's 32 local government council Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located ^[10]
• Caen, France. Caen (kɑ̃ is a commune in northwestern France. It is the Prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Alexandria was twinned with Gyumri as a means of showing goodwill in the wake of the 1988 earthquake. Some Armenian architects were invited to study in Virginia and an Alexandria-Gyumri Armenian festival is held around City Hall every year in June, the date of which is declared Armenia Day in Alexandria by the mayor.

Alexandria has been twinned with Caen, France since 1991. The sister city relationship sees delegations visiting between the two cities on a regular basis. Exchanges of students have been common. Musicians and choirs from the two cities have also made very successful visits. In most years, members of the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee travel to Caen for the foire de Caen, a large international trade fair held in mid-September. Along with Caen's other sister cities, the Alexandria delegation has the chance to introduce its city to the people of Normandy, while getting the chance to learn more about this historic region of France.

See also

• List of famous people from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area

References

External links

• City of Alexandria
• Alexandria, Virginia, Guide
• The Alexandria Times newspaper
• AVB, How to Volunteer
• Del Ray Community Neighborhood News
• Alexandria's Best Wine Values by the Glass

• Alexandria, Virginia is at coordinates 38°48′59″N 77°04′17″W / 38.816242, -77.071282 (Alexandria, Virginia)Coordinates: 38°48′59″N 77°04′17″W / 38.816242, -77.071282 (Alexandria, Virginia)