About the 44th

The 44th District of Virginia has a rich political, economic, and cultural history that laid the foundation of our great nation. Situated on the Potomac River just south of our nation’s Capital and across the river from Maryland, the 44th is home to many prominent historical sites and political figures that were instrumental in the development of Virginia and the United States.  The Fairfax family, for which Fairfax county is named, resided in the 44th for over 30 years. George Washington – Founding Father, first U.S. President, and one of the most important political and military leaders in the country’s history – made our district his home.   Home to Forts Belvoir and Hunt, the Mount Vernon Estate, Huntley Meadows Park, and pivotal figures in U.S. history, the 44th District of Virginia and its diverse background helped establish the political, economic, and cultural foundation of our nation from the colonial to modern eras that continues to resonate throughout the country to this day. 

Much of the rich history, culture, and development of the region is due to the contributions of the Fairfax family. Initially mapped and explored by Captain John Smith in 1608, the 44th district and Fairfax County were settled beginning in 1649 after Thomas Culpeper was granted the vast area of land. He then passed ownership to his son-in-law, Thomas Fairfax 5th Lord of Cameron, in 1689 and his son, Thomas Fairfax 6th Lord, inherited the entire region in 1719. When Fairfax County was officially established in 1742 by Thomas’ cousin William Fairfax, it was named after Thomas Fairfax 6th Lord of Cameron because of the key role he played in the success of the area.  Rooted in our District’s Belvoir Mansion for over 30 years (for which Fort Belvoir is named), the Fairfax family became a prominent cultural and social centerpiece of Virginia. They frequently hosted members of the aristocratic colonial society at their Belvoir estate. The Fairfax family also had a deep connection with the Washington’s, specifically in helping George Washington rise to prominence at a young age. The two families were connected by marriage when George Washington’s half-brother, Lawrence, married William Fairfax’s daughter, Anne. The prominent Fairfax family befriended a young George Washington as he frequently accompanied them on hunting trips and was given his first job to survey the Fairfax’s Shenandoah Valley lands. George Washington himself credited the Fairfaxes with advancing his military career and providing him “the happiest moments of my life.” Until his death in 1799, George Washington maintained a lifelong friendship with members of the family that included hundreds of letters over a span of forty years that have been preserved to this day.

While the Fairfax family’s prominence in our district helped lay the foundation for the area’s cultural and social significance, the Washington family established its roots at Mount Vernon and played a critical role in the birth of our nation. The Washington family has been connected to the 44th since 1656 when John Washington, George’s great-grandfather, purchased 5,000 acres of land along the Potomac River. When the land was passed to George’s father, Augustine, he built the central plantation house in 1726. In 1734, the family, which included George, his 5 siblings, and his parents Augustine and Mary Ball, moved to Little Hunting Creek, later renamed Mount Vernon in 1740. It was here that George Washington grew up, learned how to farm, and became a cultured member of Virginia society. It was not until 1754 that he became sole owner of the property and oversaw every detail of the estate’s massive renovation and 3,000 acre expansion, which included gardens, an enlarged plantation home, additional exterior buildings, and a new Washington family burial tomb. George Washington lived on and off at Mount Vernon, as he was called into public service to serve as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and then as first President of the United States. After his two terms as President ended in 1797, he lived at Mount Vernon until his death in 1799, which became the site of his final resting place as well as many other Washington family members. Mount Vernon is one of the most popular historic estates in the country and attracts over one million visitors each year.

Other notable historical sites in our district include Fort Belvoir, Huntley Meadows Park, and Fort Hunt:

• The Belvoir mansion was the illustrious estate of the Fairfax family for decades. After the Mansion was abandoned in 1783, it was destroyed by a fire and was damaged further by British cannons during the War of 1812. The District of Columbia purchased part of the grounds in 1910 and transferred the land to the War Department in 1912 when it was then used as a rifle range, training camp, and first site of the Army Engineer School.  The Fort was used as a vital training base for over 150,000 engineer troops throughout WWI and WW2. After undergoing several name changes, the post was officially named Fort Belvoir in 1935 to honor its colonial history.

• George Mason, a politician and delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, purchased the land that now encompasses Huntley Meadows Park in 1757. In 1825, his grandson Thomas Francis Mason built Historic Huntley, a residence overlooking the park that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register, and the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Ownership of the land stayed with the Mason family until the early 1900s. 

• In response to worsening relations with Spain that led to the Spanish-American War, the military constructed Fort Hunt in 1987 as a part of the Harbor Defense of the Potomac on land initially owned by George Washington as part of his River Farm Plantation. The Fort was meant to complement Maryland’s Fort Washington and protect the nation’s capital in times of war. While never engaged in battle during the Spanish-American War, the Fort was later used for a variety of purposes from housing the Army’s Finance School to operating as a setting for top secret World War II military intelligence operations (known as "P.O. Box 1142") as well as an interrogation center for high-value prisoners of war. Fort Hunt is now a public park that attracts many visitors.

Our Community Today

All of our county’s rich history laid the foundation for our diverse and community centric district. This is exemplified by our district’s schools and community centers.  

Virginia’s 44th District offers premier educational opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds. While the schools in our District have roots dating back to the mid 1800’s, our schools have been at the forefront of progress and modernization. For example, Fairfax County schools were some of the first schools in the nation to break the barrier of segregation. Representing a new era in our District’s and nation’s focus on equality, inclusion, and educational opportunity for all, all racially segregated schools in Fairfax County were closed at the end of the 1965-1966 school year. 

Our District’s schools include Woodlawn Elementary School, Belle View Elementary School, Carl Sandburg Middle School, Mount Vernon High School, and West Potomac High School. Here is a brief history on just a couple of our great schools:

• Woodlawn Elementary School was established by Quaker settlers in the mid 1800’s. Initially housed in the miller’s cottage next to Washington’s Grist Mill, Woodlawn Elementary was the first school in the area. After moving to a couple other small locations in the area, a larger portion of land was granted to the school for one dollar in 1869. In 1937, 10 acres was given to the county to build a new school that had 4 classrooms and 162 students, however, enrollment expanded so dramatically in the 1950s that Woodlawn underwent several expansions while several new schools were built in the area. At its peak, Woodlawn Elementary had 763 students. 

• By the early 1950s, children born as a result of the Baby Boom were old enough to attend school, thus Belle View Elementary School was established in 1952 to relieve the overcrowding at Woodlawn. Twenty other elementary schools were built around this time as well. 

• Our West Potomac High School Wolverines are defending basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, and lacrosse conference champions!

The Mount Vernon RECenter, run by the Fairfax County Park Authority, is located at 2017 Belle View Boulevard and brings people from all backgrounds together in a fun, active, and family-friendly environment. The Mount Vernon RECenter was first constructed in 1978 as just one ice rink. A pool was added in 1983. The Mount Vernon RECenter offers aquatic activities for everyone including, beginner swimming lessons, training for events, recreational swim, and over 150 exercise classes. In addition to offering a world class gym facility, the RECenter offers camp sessions for kids, exercise classes for adults, and recreational ice skating, skating classes, and ice hockey. The Mount Vernon RECenter will be undergoing a renovation after voters in 2016 approved a $22 million overhaul of the existing structure with the addition of a multi-purpose fitness center. There is also a Phase II proposal that would add an NHL regulation ice rink. Construction will begin in December 2020, and hopefully, both projects can be completed by July 2024. For more information, check out this story in the Fort Hunt Herald.