Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia | |||
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Independent city | |||
City of Manassas | |||
View of downtown Manassas looking east on Center Street. | |||
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Location in relation to Prince William County and the state of Virginia. | |||
Coordinates: 38°45′5″N 77°28′35″W / 38.75139°N 77.47639°W | |||
Country | United States of America | ||
State | Virginia | ||
County | None (Independent city) | ||
Government | |||
• Type | Council-Manager | ||
• Mayor | Harry J. (Hal) Parrish II | ||
• City Manager | W. Patrick Pate | ||
• Vice Mayor | Jonathan Way | ||
• City Council |
Council Members
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Area | |||
• Total | 26 km2 (9.9 sq mi) | ||
• Land | 26 km2 (9.9 sq mi) | ||
• Water | 0.3 km2 (0.1 sq mi) | ||
Elevation | 93 m (305 ft) | ||
Population (2013) | |||
• Total | 41,705 | ||
• Density | 1,478/km2 (3,828/sq mi) | ||
Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
ZIP codes | 20108 (PO Box Only), and 20110[1] | ||
Area code(s) | 703, 571 | ||
FIPS code | 51-48952[2] | ||
GNIS feature ID | 1498512[3] | ||
Website | www.manassascity.org |
Manassas (formerly Manassas Junction)[4] is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 37,821.[5] The city is surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Manassas (along with Manassas Park) with Prince William County for statistical purposes.
Manassas also serves as the seat of Prince William County. It surrounds the 38-acre (150,000 m2) county courthouse, but that county property is not part of the city. The City of Manassas has several important historic sites from the period 1850–1870.
The City of Manassas is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area and it is situated in the Northern Virginia region.
History
In July 1861, the First Battle of Manassas – also known as the First Battle of Bull Run – the first major land battle of the American Civil War, was fought nearby. Manassas commemorated the 150th anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas during July 21–24, 2011.[6]
The Second Battle of Manassas (or the Second Battle of Bull Run) was fought near Manassas during August 28–30, 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with rails leading to Richmond, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the Shenandoah Valley. Despite these two Confederate victories, Manassas Junction was in Union hands for most of the war.
Following the war, the crossroads grew into the town of Manassas, which was incorporated in 1873. In 1892, Manassas became the county seat of Prince William County, replacing Brentsville. In 1975, Manassas was incorporated as a city, and as per Virginia law was separated from Prince William County.
The Manassas Historic District, Cannon Branch Fort, Liberia, and Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
Geography
Manassas is located at 38°45′5″N 77°28′35″W / 38.75139°N 77.47639°W (38.751415, -77.476396). The city is mainly served by I-66, U.S. 29, Virginia State Route 234 Business and Virginia State Route 28.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2), of which 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.[8]
Manassas uses a council-manager system of government. The current city manager is William Patrick Pate. The current mayor is Harry J. Parrish II. The current vice mayor is Jonathan Way.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Manassas has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]
Adjacent counties and independent cities
- Prince William County, Virginia – northwest, west, south, east
- Manassas Park, Virginia – northeast
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1880 | 361 | — | |
1890 | 530 | 46.8% | |
1900 | 817 | 54.2% | |
1910 | 1,217 | 49.0% | |
1920 | 1,305 | 7.2% | |
1930 | 1,215 | −6.9% | |
1940 | 1,302 | 7.2% | |
1950 | 1,804 | 38.6% | |
1960 | 3,555 | 97.1% | |
1970 | 9,164 | 157.8% | |
1980 | 15,438 | 68.5% | |
1990 | 27,957 | 81.1% | |
2000 | 35,135 | 25.7% | |
2010 | 37,821 | 7.6% | |
Est. 2015 | 41,764 | [10] | 10.4% |
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[5] |
According to the census[15] of 2010, the population of the City of Manassas was 37,821 which represented a 7.6% growth in population since the last census in 2000. As of July, 2011, the City’s population is estimated at 39,060.[16] The City is culturally diverse with the 2010 Census reporting that 21.4% of the population is Hispanic. The racial breakdown per the 2010 Census for the City is as follows:
- 61.7% White
- 15.7% Black
- 4.9% Asian
- 14.6% Other
The population density for the city is 3,782.1 people per square mile and there are an estimated 13,103 housing units in the city with an average housing density of 1,310.3 per square mile.[17] The greatest percentage of housing values of owner-occupied homes (34.8%) is $300,000 to $499,999 with a median owner-occupied housing value of $259,100. The City’s highest period of growth was from 1980 to 1989 when 35% of the City’s housing stock was constructed.[18]
The ACS estimated median household income for the City in 2010 was $70,211. 36% of the population has a college degree.[17] Almost as many people commute into the City of Manassas for work (13,316) as out (13,666) with the majority of out commuters traveling to Fairfax County and Prince William County for their jobs. Unemployment as of July, 2010 in the City is 6.3% which is well below that of the United States at 7.9%. City residents are primarily employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and Health Care and Social Assistance.[19]
Crime
Crime in Manassas has been rated by Neighborhood Scout to be more dangerous than 63% of all American neighborhoods and 37 % safer than all American neighborhoods. That shows that Manassas has a moderately higher crime rate than average. [20]
During the second quarter of 2014, crime in the City of Manassas has decreased by 9 percent.[21] Calls for service from residents have decreased 27 percent from 2013 to 2014. Overall crime in the City of Manassas has steadily decreased over the years. About 1 in 5 reports taken during the 2nd quarter of 2014 was for a part 1 crime. The number of aggravated assaults reported in 2014 year-to-date and during the second quarter has increased by about half when compared to 2013 cases (+46%, +64%, respectively). Part 1 property crimes decreased by 19 cases during the 2nd quarter of 2014 (burglary, larceny, and auto theft). Overall, year-to-date totals indicate decreases in part 1 crimes (-14%) and all other offenses reported to police (-9%).[21]
Economy
The Manassas Regional Airport has 26 businesses operating out of the airport property with 415 based airplanes and two fixed based operators, APP Jet Center and Dulles Aviation. The Manassas Regional Airport has developable land ready for businesses in the market.[22]
The city's third largest employer is Micron Technology. Headquartered in Boise, ID, this manufacturer of semiconductors operates its wafer factory in Manassas where it employs 1650 people directly, and several hundred others through vendor contracts. Other major employers include Lockheed Martin (1500 employees) and the Novant Prince William Health System (1400 employees).
Transportation
Major highways
The major roads into and out of Manassas are VA-28 and VA-234 Business. I-66 and US-29 service Manassas, but neither passes through the city itself.
Airports
Manassas Regional Airport is located within the city limits. The Manassas Regional Airport is the busiest general aviation airport in the Commonwealth of Virginia with more than 415 based aircraft and 26 businesses based onsite ranging from charter companies, avionics, maintenance, flight schools and aircraft services.
Rail transportation
Manassas began life as Manassas Junction, so named for the railroad junction between the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Manassas Gap Railroad. The O&A owned the railway from Alexandria through Manassas to points south, ending in Orange, Virginia, while the MGRR was an independent line constructed from Manassas Junction through the Manassas Gap westward. In addition Manassas was the site of the first large scale military use of railroad transportation.
These original routes are now owned by the Norfolk Southern railroad. Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provide both regular and commuter service to the city and surrounding area on the tracks owned by NS. Three Amtrak routes, the Cardinal, the Northeast Regional and Crescent, provide service. The Cardinal terminates in Chicago, the Northeast Regional in Boston, while the Crescent ends at New Orleans. VRE is a very popular commuting option to Alexandria and Washington, D.C.. VRE has two stops located in the City of Manassas, one in downtown Manassas and one at the Manassas Regional Airport.
Education
The City of Manassas is served by the Manassas City Public Schools. There are five elementary schools in Manassas, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high schools. In 2006, Mayfield Intermediate School opened, serving students in fifth and sixth grade.
Some schools in the Prince William County Public Schools district have Manassas addresses; they serve areas outside of the Manassas city limits and are located outside of the Manassas city limits.
Also in the vicinity of Manassas are branch campuses of American Public University System, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, ECPI College of Technology and Strayer University. Despite that some of these may in fact be just outside the city limits in Prince William County, NVCC and Strayer call these branches their "Manassas Campuses."
List of public schools in Manassas:[23]
- Baldwin Elementary School
- Dean Elementary School
- Haydon Elementary School
- George C. Round Elementary School
- Weems Elementary School
- Joseph B. Johnson Learning Center
- Mayfield Intermediate School
- Grace E. Metz Middle School
- Osbourn High School
Notable people
- Jim Bucher (1911–2004), in- and outfielder in Major League Baseball
- Danny Doyle, Irish folk singer
- Wilmer Fields, pitcher and third baseman in Negro league baseball
- Brandon Hogan, football player
- Chaney Kley (1972–2007), American film and television actor
- Jon Knott, Major League Baseball outfielder
- Jeremy Linn, 1996 Summer Olympics swimmer and current swimming coach
- Mike O'Meara, radio personality[24][25][26]
- Harry J. Parrish (1922–2006), a longtime member of the Virginia House of Delegates
- Leven Powell, also Levin, (1737–1810), a US Representative from Virginia
- Dr. George Roller, executive director of the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship on Capitol Hill
- David Robinson, American basketball player
- Ravi Shankar, American poet
- Joanna Mary Berry Shields, founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; teacher
- C. J. Sapong, American soccer player currently playing for Sporting Kansas City
- Leeann Tweeden, model
- Ryan Williams, running back for the Dallas Cowboys
- George Zimmerman[27]
- Lucky Whitehead, current wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys
See also
References
- ↑ Manassas, VA ZIPs Retrieved November 22, 2009/April 6, 2012
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ Contributed by The Hornbook of Virginia History. "Cities of Virginia". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
- 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Manassas Civil War Commemorative Event, July 21–24, 2011". Historic Manassa, Inc.
- ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "Climate Summary for Manassas, Virginia". Weatherbase.com. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ↑ Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service (UVA)
- 1 2 American Community Survey (ACS)
- ↑ City of Manassas, Department of Community Development
- ↑ Virginia Employment Commission, 1st Quarter, 2012
- ↑ https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/va/manassas/crime/
- 1 2 http://www.manassascity.org/DocumentCenter/View/23188
- ↑ http://www.manassascity.org/index.aspx?NID=1600
- ↑ "Manassas City Public Schools - MCPS Home". Manassas City Public Schools. 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
- ↑ "Radio's Mike O'Meara". wcsh6.com. 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ↑ AUDIO: Radio Host Mike O'Meara Blasts Adam Carolla's Anti-Occupy Rant. National Confidential (2011-12-03). Retrieved on 2014-03-21.
- ↑ "Virginia church turns to Hindu temple [newKerala.com News # 140512-191333]". Newkerala.com. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ↑ "Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman has Manassas ties". The Washington Post. March 22, 2012.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manassas, Virginia. |
- Manassas travel guide from Wikivoyage
- City of Manassas Official website
Coordinates: 38°45′05″N 77°28′35″W / 38.751415°N 77.476396°W
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