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Woodbridge, Virginia

(Redirected from Woodbridge (VA))
Not to be confused with Woodridge, Virginia.

Woodbridge is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince William County, Virginia, United States, located 20 miles (32 km) south of Washington, D.C.[3] Bounded by the Occoquan and Potomac rivers, Woodbridge had 44,668 residents at the 2020 census.[4]

Woodbridge, Virginia
Census-designated place
Woodbridge Railway Station
Woodbridge Railway Station
Location of Woodbridge in Prince William County and Virginia
Location of Woodbridge in Prince William County and Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia is located in Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia is located in the United States
Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
Coordinates: 38°38′37″N 77°15′39″W / 38.64361°N 77.26083°W / 38.64361; -77.26083
Country United States
State Virginia
County Prince William
Area
 • Total
10.8 sq mi (28.0 km2)
 • Land10.5 sq mi (27.1 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation
75 ft (23 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
44,668
 • Density4,100/sq mi (1,600/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
22191–22193
Area code(s)571, 703
FIPS code51-87312[1]
GNIS feature ID1497222[2]

Woodbridge offers a variety of amenities for residents and visitors, including Potomac Mills shopping mall and Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. Woodbridge is served by the Prince William County Public Schools, and the Woodbridge campus of Northern Virginia Community College borders the district. Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, a non-profit hospital, formerly Potomac Hospital, recently expanded and now has the capacity to serve 183 patients.[5] Transportation includes access to Interstate 95, two VRE commuter train stations, bus service, and a local "slugging" system, offering residents a variety of transit options.

Woodbridge offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for resident and visitors. The Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a natural habitat for a variety of plant and animal life including the bald eagles and ospreys. Veteran's Park and Leesylvania State Park are located on the Potomac River and provide swimming, boating, picnic and hiking services. Close by is Rippon Lodge, the oldest house in Prince William County, which is open for tours throughout the summer. Trails at Leesylvania Park lead to the ancestral home of the Lee family.

History

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Woodbridge was initially a village composed largely of plantations and later farms and industrial complexes. Formally dating to at least 1731 when Prince William County was formed out of the Stafford County, Virginia. Initially, the first Prince William County Courthouse was erected in Woodbridge owing to its location halfway between Dumfries, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia, the two largest Cities which were then in Prince William County.[6] With the incorporation of Fairfax County, Virginia, Woodbridge ceased to be the center of the county and municipal function eventually shifted westward into Brentsville and eventually to Manassas where it is today.

Later, the Woodbridge postal delivery area became the hub that included Dale City and Lake Ridge, which had previously been forged as a planned community in the 1960s and 1970s. The area takes its name from Thomas Mason's 1795 wooden toll bridge built to supplant the existing ferry, carrying the King's Highway traffic across the Occoquan River. Mason's Woodbridge Plantation was located in the area of the present day Belmont Bay golf course community. The original bridge from which the area takes its name was washed away in 1807 following a heavy storm.[7] Subsequently, industrial and economic development shifted toward Occoquan the next nearest river crossing. The bridge would not be replaced until the 20th century when an iron truss bridge was built. This bridge failed in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes and was eventually replaced by the current structure.

 
Remains of the Route 1 Bridge following Hurricane Agnes

The Freestone Point Confederate Battery and Rippon Lodge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]

Tent city

Since c. 2003, numerous people have been trespassing in a 10-acre (4.0 ha) tent city adjacent to the Potomac Mills mall. It is tolerated by the private landlord. In 2018, part of the residents were directed to leave.[9]

Geography

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Woodbridge is at 38°38′37″N 77°15′39″W / 38.64361°N 77.26083°W / 38.64361; -77.26083 (38.643517, −77.260843). It is located on the peninsula of Linton Neck.[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000, the CDP has a total area of 10.8 square miles (28 km2), of which 10.5 square miles (27 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 2.87%, is water. Woodbridge is about 20 miles (32 km) from Washington, D.C.

The 2010 census reconfigured Woodbridge so that the majority of its land area was redesignated Marumsco and Neabsco, Virginia. The southern border of Woodbridge was now Occoquan Road, with the area between Occoquan Road and Opitz Boulevard–Rippon Boulevard being part of Marumsco. All of the former Woodbridge CDP south of Marumsco was designated as Neabsco. However, the areas continued to be addressed Woodbridge.[3] At the 2020 census, the Marumsco CDP was reincorporated into the Woodbridge CDP, and Neabsco was renamed Leesylvania.

Climate

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Woodbridge has a humid subtropical climate.

 
Damage to the Route 1 Bridge over the Occoquan during hurricane Agnes.
Woodbridge
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source: USA.com (13 March, 2021)
Metric conversion
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Nearby towns and communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
197025,412—
198024,004−5.5%
199026,40110.0%
200031,94121.0%
201040,55027.0%
202044,66810.2%

As of the 2020 Census, Woodbridge had 44,668 residents with 13,107 households. The racial demographics were as follows:

  • 42.3% Hispanic or Latino
  • 23.5% White
  • 22.2% Black or African American
  • 8.6% Asian
  • 8.1% Two or More Races
  • 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native
  • 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,176.8/km2). There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1 per square mile (406.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 56.34% White, 23.45% African American, 0.55% Native American, 4.90% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 9.62% from other races, and 4.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 19.07% of the population.

There were 10,687 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households 20.4% were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $75,525, and the median income for a family was $52,362. Males had a median income of $35,538 versus $28,587 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,810. About 4.6% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

The estimate median house or condo value was $294,156 as of 2008.[11] As of 2013, the average home sale price was $222,940.[12]

Education

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Public schools

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Further information: Prince William County Public Schools

Nearby public high schools include:[13]

The middle schools include:

  • Fred Lynn Middle School
  • Lake Ridge Middle School
  • Rippon Middle School
  • Woodbridge Middle School

The elementary schools include:

  • Antietam Elementary School
  • Belmont Elementary School
  • Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School
  • Featherstone Elementary School
  • Lake Ridge Elementary School
  • Marumsco Hills Elementary School
  • Neabsco Elementary School
  • Occoquan Elementary School
  • Potomac View Elementary School
  • R. Dean Kilby Elementary School
  • River Oaks Elementary School
  • Springwoods Elementary School
  • West Ridge Elementary School

Private education

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Private high schools:[11]

Private middle schools, elementary schools, and preschools:[11]

  • Academy Day Care (Pre-1)
  • Cardinal Montessori School (Pre-4)
  • Christ Chapel Academy[14] (Pre-12)
  • Cloverdale School (Pre-2)
  • Manassas Christian School
  • Manassas Christian School Academy
  • Minnieland Private Day School (Pre-K)
  • Prince William Academy (Pre-8)
  • Riverview Baptist Day School (Pre-K)
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School[15] (Pre-8)
  • Young World Development Center (Pre-4)

Colleges and universities

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Attractions and culture

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Woodbridge experienced its current development boom in the mid-1980s, after being a municipality composed largely of either farms or industrial complexes, as an annex of sorts of Dale City, which had been forged as a planned community in the 1960s and 1970s.

Woodbridge is home to Potomac Mills Mall (managed by Simon Property Group), one of the largest shopping centers in northern Virginia. Woodbridge is a suburban city because many of its residents are employed in nearby Washington, D.C.

Due in part to the I-95 and I-66 HOV waiver given to hybrid vehicles, many D.C. government workers have relocated to the area to take advantage of the lower-priced housing. However, in July 2006, the hybrid/HOV privilege was revoked. Vehicles registered prior to July 2006 were exempted from occupancy requirements in all (HOV) facilities in Virginia until July 1, 2009.

Other cultural resources include Rippon Lodge, the oldest house in Prince William County, which was opened as a park and museum in October 2007.

Sports

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Woodbridge was the former home of the Potomac Nationals minor league baseball club, before their relocation to Fredericksburg.[16] Their former stadium, the Pfitzner Stadium, is located in Woodbridge. The stadium is now the source of many community events.

On May 24, 2022, the Washington Commanders announced potential plans for a new stadium complex in Woodbridge, with plans for a new stadium, amphitheater, retail hub, and office space.

Transportation

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Highways

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The VA Route 294 Woodbridge exit on I-95

Passing north—south through Woodbridge is U.S. Route 1, with Interstate 95, which forms the western boundary of the CDP, running parallel to it further west. Three other major routes, all of which have interchanges with I-95 and terminate at U.S. 1, are VA 123 (Gordon Boulevard), which runs north to Fairfax and ends in Arlington at the Washington, D.C. border, VA 294 (Prince William Parkway), which runs northeast to and ends in the Manassas area, and SR 784 (Dale Boulevard)—which heads northeast to Dale City and ends west of Hoadly. Other major roads in Woodbridge include SR 639 (Horner Road), SR 906 (Occoquan Road), and SR 2000 (Opitz Boulevard).

Public transportation

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Further information: Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission and Woodbridge station (Virginia)

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), which operates its OmniRide and OmniRide Local bus services throughout Prince William County, is headquartered in Woodbridge. Two routes operate in Woodbridge; the Woodbridge/Lake Ridge (WOODLOC) route—serving the two communities of Woodbridge and Lake Ridge, and the Route 1 (RT1LOC) route, which runs from the Woodbridge train station down to Quantico.

Woodbridge station, at 1040 Express Way, is owned by Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and serves Amtrak's Northeast Regional line and VRE's Fredericksburg Line. The train station receives bus service from the OmniRide Woodbridge/Lake Ridge and Route 1 routes.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Morello, Carol (February 11, 2011). "Welcome to Woodbridge. Er, make that... Marumsco?". Washington Post. p. B1.
  4. ^ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Woodbridge district, Prince William County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  5. ^ "Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center". Sentara Healthcare. 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  6. ^ "Woodbridge is 200 Years Old! - Historic Prince William". www.historicprincewilliam.org. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "GEORGE MASON'S PLANTATIONS & LANDHOLDINGS: WOODBRIDGE". archive.gunstonhall.com. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. ^ "wusa9.com". wusa9.com. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "Woodbridge, Virginia (VA) profile". City-data.com. 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  12. ^ "Neighborhoods: Woodbridge (Prince William County, VA)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  13. ^ "School Facilities by Magisterial District".
  14. ^ a b Christ Chapel Academy
  15. ^ St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School
  16. ^ "Fredericksburg Nationals Release 2020 Inaugural Schedule". MiLB.com. October 24, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
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