Historical Markers in
Stafford County, Virginia

10th Special Basic Class 11th Corps Road 13th Special Basic Course (1952) 5th Special Basic Class 6th Corps Encampment 6th Marine Division Medal of Honor Recipients 9th Special Basic Class A Bloody Crossing A Changed Landscape A Family Memorial A Period of Firsts A Sad Duty to Perform A Working Farm A “Picture of Desolation” Accokeek Iron Furnace An Established Front Anthony Burns Aquia Church Aquia Landing Aquia Landing Aquia Landing Aquia Landing Austin Hall Austin Run Pyrite Mine Basic School Class of 2-1965 Battle of Aquia Landing Beleaguered Town Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church and Cemetery Between Battles Beyond the Big House Bombardment Bradley Clinic Brooke, Virginia Camp Pitcher Capt. John Smith Captured Iraqi T-69 Tank Caretaker Cottage Cavalry Affairs Cavalry Review Charles Adams Bryan Chatham Chatham Chatham Chatham and the Civil War Civil War Observation Balloon Site Civilian Conservation Corps Company 2363 Conway House Creek Delegation in Fredericksburg Crow's Nest Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve / Virginia’s State Natural Area Preserves Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park Early Escape Route Ebenezer Cemetery Eleventh Corps Encampment Area English Knot Garden F/A – 18A Hornet Falmouth Falmouth Railroad Station First Roman Catholic Settlement in Virginia First Special Basic Class Fleurries Flood of 1937 Frances R. Shelton Bridge Fredericksburg Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Fredericksburg Campaign Fredericksburg Campaign Freedom Began Here From Indian Path to Highway Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne Gari Melchers Home and Studio Gateway to Freedom Gen. Hooker's Headquarters George Washington Boyhood Home Site George Washington’s Childhood Home German-Americans and the Eleventh Corps Gold Mining in Stafford County Gonzalez Hall Government Island Graves Hall Graves Hall Growth of Training Haas Hall Hartwood Presbyterian Church Heywood Hall Historic Aquia Creek Historic Falmouth Historic Knight Family Cemetery History at Leeland Station History of the Patawomeck Indians Hobby School Hulls Memorial Baptist Church Hunter’s Iron Works In Honor of Those Who Served In Memory of September 11, 2001 In memory of the Oklahoma City tragedy In Memory of the Virginia Tech Tragedy In the Beginning In the Name of Christ the King Island Ownership James Hunter John Smith Explores the Chesapeake Katherine Harwood Waller Barrett Kidnapping of Pocahontas Land for God's Work Lincoln Review Lincoln Visit Lincoln's Review Little Falls Little Forest Baptist Church Lopez Hall Magistrate’s Office Manion Hall Marine Officers Basic Class 6-67 Marlborough Mary Kittamaquund Mason's Homestead McGlothlin Hall Milton Snellings Mitchell Hall Moncure Conway House Moncure Daniel Conway Mt. Hope Baptist Church Mt. Olive Baptist Church Mud March Murphy Demolition Range Native American Presence Nolan H. Gray Reservoir Oak Grove Baptist Church Olympians On this site in 1862... Original Bell of Hulls Memorial Baptist Church O'Bannon Hall Palmer Hayden Patawomeck People at Belle Plains Patawomeck Tribe Village Peyton’s Ordinary Pokorney Hall Pontoon Bridges Potomac Church Road Potomac Creek Bridge Quantico Marine Athletes of the Sixties Quarrying the Stone Quarrying the Stone Raider Hall Ramoth Memorial Gardens Ray Hall Redoubt # 2 Redoubt No. 2 / Fort No Name Repeated Surprises Sandstone Quarry Shelton Cottage Sherwood Forest Shiloh Old Site Baptist Church Site Selection / Architectural Features Sow…Tend…Harvest Stafford County Armed Services Memorial Stafford County Tri-Centennial Stafford Training School Steamships, Stages and Slave Trade Taylor Hall The Civil War at Ferry Farm The Daniel Bridge The Ferries The Forlorn Hope The Knight House The Little Red Barn The Mud March The Robertson Quarry The Robertson-Towson House The Washington Plantation Transportation and Settlement Transporting the Stone Trooper Jessica Jean Cheney Truslow Family Cemetery Union Army Double-Track Corduroy Road Union Army Ninth Corps Union Army Winter Camp Remains Union Batteries at Accokeek Creek Union Battery Union Battery Union Eleventh Corps Artillery Union Infantry Winter Camp Union Redoubt # 3 Union Redoubt No. 3 Union Soldiers View Union XIIth Corps Winter Camp War Balloons Water Supply Methods Welcome To Our Trails White Oak Church White Oak Museum William Groom Leftwich, Jr. Yeckel Hall "Lest We Forget"
In 1954, the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, originated from a lawsuit filed by parents in Virginia.
Stafford County, located in Virginia, has a rich history dating back to the early colonial period. It was settled by English colonists in the 17th century and was an important center for tobacco cultivation, contributing significantly to the economy of colonial Virginia. The county was named after the English County of Staffordshire, from where many of the early settlers hailed.

During the Revolutionary War, Stafford County played a vital role in providing troops and supplies to the Continental Army. Local militias were formed, and several key figures emerged, including George Washington, who spent time in Stafford and owned a plantation there called Ferry Farm. The county also witnessed the Battle of Aquia Creek, where American forces defended against British incursions.

In the mid-19th century, Stafford County experienced considerable growth and development. The construction of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad in the 1830s brought increased transportation options, boosting trade and allowing farmers to easily transport their goods to market. The county saw the rise of numerous industries, including millworks, ironworks, and quarries, which further spurred economic prosperity.

Stafford County also played a significant role during the American Civil War. It lay on the path of several major military campaigns, including the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. The county witnessed the devastating impact of war, with many battles fought on its soil and numerous casualties suffered. Today, Stafford County is a growing suburban community with a diverse population and a mix of historic landmarks, cultural sites, and natural beauty, making it an attractive place to live and visit.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Stafford County, Virginia.

  • 1608: Captain John Smith explores the region that would become Stafford County.
  • 1664: Stafford County is formed from Westmoreland County.
  • 1673: The county seat is established at Stafford Court House.
  • 1704: St. Paul's Church is built, becoming one of the oldest churches in the United States.
  • 1732: George Washington is born at his family's plantation in Stafford County.
  • 1862: The Battle of Aquia Creek takes place during the American Civil War.
  • 1937: Government Island, a source of Aquia sandstone used in many historic buildings, becomes a national monument.
  • 1996: Stafford Regional Airport opens to the public.