Stafford County Virginia Real Estate

Stafford County Real Estate in Northern Virginia

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Formally established in 1664, Stafford County, Virginia, has a complex history.

Long before John Smith discovered Stafford, the Patowomecke and Manahoac Indians thrived here.

As the county began to grow, the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, which border Stafford, provided sources of food and transportation for people and goods.

They also provided energy for the operation of iron works, as well as flour and lumber mills.

During the Revolutionary War, Stafford’s mineral and iron works helped us fight for our nation’s independence by supplying the Continental Army with equipment; during the Civil War, Stafford hosted Union and Confederate troops during the battles over Fredericksburg.

Famous Staffordians include George Washington and George Mason.

Works by Gari Melchers, an internationally renowned impressionist painter who resided in Stafford, are on display around the world and in the United States.

Today, much of the historic landscape of Stafford has disappeared.

Stafford County

Bordered by the historic Potomac River to the east, Stafford County is centrally located just 45 minutes south of Washington D.C. and 1 hour north of Richmond.

Although the county encompasses some 277 square miles of land and more than 600 subdivisions and neighborhoods, North Stafford County is home to just 25,000 residents, give or take a few.

The northern part of the county is made up of a unique and eclectic mix of communities - including Garrisonville, Aquia Harbor, Brooke, Hartwood, Widewater, Vista Woods and Lake Arrowhead - along Highway 610 and Route 10.

Founded in 1664, Stafford County is rich in history.

George Washington spent much of childhood at Ferry Farm, his familys 600-acre Stafford County estate.

Traveling through this lush, unspoiled area, it is easy to imagine a young George skipping stones across the Rappahannock River and chopping down the legendary cherry tree.

Stafford County is still primarily rural, although there has been recent growth in population and in industry -- especially near the Quantico Marine Corps Base.

This area of concentrated development around Quantico is what locals refer to as Stafford.

Stafford is closely linked to Fredericksburg and is in proximity to three large military installations.

The county is also home to several major companies, though the majority of wage earners in Stafford County commute to work in the Washington, D.C. or northern Virginia areas.

The charming bedroom communities of Stafford County are an ideal living environment for families of any shape or size.

Stafford County is in the Northern Virginia region on the Interstate 95 corridor positioned midway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va.

The city of Fredericksburg is located just south of the county.

Stafford was established in 1663 and named for Staffordshire, England, and was a major port on the north bank of the Rappahannock River.

History buffs can visit Goerge Washington's Ferry Farm, historic Fredricksburg, famous Civil War battlefields, such as Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and The Wilderness.

The county's location between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the east allows visitors to choose from an extensive selection of recreational and cultural advantages.

The county is full of equestrian activities in Virginia's "Horse Country."

The Rappahannock River is noted for challenging white water canoeing, too.Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg serves as host to a series of quality concerts, art exhibits and performances throughout the year.

The artist Gari Melchers lived in Stafford County, and his home, Belmont, is an historic landmark open for tours.

This D.C. Beltway suburb is well-positioned as a leader in high-tech job growth, with the FBI National Lab among the leading employers.

GEICO is here as well, with McLane Mid-Atlantic, Hilldrup United Moving & Storage, Intuit and Northrop Grumman among other major employers.

The U.S. Marines' Quantico base also helps drive the local economy that has become home to an escalating number of defense contractors.

Stafford's unemployment rate: just 1.9 percent

Stafford County is located on the "Capital Edge," about halfway between Washington, DC and Richmond, Virginia.

Today, Stafford is the second fastest growing county in Virginia. It also boasts one of the best school systems in the state.

Bordered by the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, there are lots of riverfront and lakefront new homes to choose from.

Stafford County also has many rural areas, with tiny towns, communities and family farms.

New home choices range from starter condominiums and townhomes to country mansions and waterfront vacation homes.

Crow's Nest

Crow’s Nest is a nearly 4,000 acre peninsula in Stafford County, Virginia. 

It got its name from a three-masted schooner, The Crow, that was anchored there in the mid-1800s. 

The peninsula is roughly bounded by Accokeek Creek to the north, Potomac Creek to the South (just as they feed into the Potomac River), and by Brooke Road to the East. (See map.) Crow’s Nest is rich in history and an ecological marvel.

But Crow's Nest is in potential peril. 

In November of 2003, K&M Properties, the largest landowner on the peninsula, broke off negotiations with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Trust for Crow's Nest for the purchase of Crow's Nest. 

In January 2004, K&M began discussing plans for developing portions of Crow's Nest by introducing up to 2,500 units of "cluster housing."  
 

History Of Crow’s Nest

Albert Z. Connor Jr., in his book, A History of Our Own: Stafford County, Virginia, has documented the history of Crow’s Nest and surrounding environment.

The Potomacs, Native Americans whose descendants still reside in Stafford County, originally inhabited Crow’s Nest.

Pocahontas, Powhatan’s most famous daughter, was kidnapped in 1613 by Capt. Samuel Argall when she was lured onto his ship, anchored off Crow’s Nest in Potomac Creek. 

The land comprising Crow’s Nest was originally granted to Col. Gerard Fowke.

In 1662, Raleigh Travers received a patent for 3,540 acres on Potomac Creek, encompassing what is now the heart of Crow’s Nest.

A large brick house, “Crow’s Nest,” was built on a high ridge that paralleled Potomac Creek.

The home was named after The Crow, a black sailing ship owned by the Travers family. It was harbored in Potomac Creek.

The Daniel's family cemetery in Crow's Nest during winter.
 
Pen of Fire is the title of Peter Bridges' biography of John Moncure Daniel, the controversial but influential journalist who edited the Richmond Examiner during the Civil War. 

Daniel was born on Crow's Nest and his family owned the peninsula.

Peter Daniel (1706-1777) married Sarah Travers (1717-1788), daughter of Raleigh Travers. An advocate of freedom from England, he was the first to sign a protest against the Stamp Act.

The Daniels family cemetery is located in Crow’s Nest, close to Crow’s Nest point.

President Martin Van Buren was a friend of Peter Vivian Daniel, and visited the area.

Supreme Court Justice Peter Vivian Daniel (1784-1860) and diplomat and Civil War editor John Moncure Daniel were born in Crow’s Nest. (See Daniel family letter supporting the preservation of Crow's Nest.)

Like many such properties, Crow’s Nest plantation was destroyed during the Civil War.

Union troops were encamped throughout the Crow’s Nest peninsula. Many fierce battles and heroic construction efforts took place as opposing troops built, destroyed and rebuilt supply bridges across Potomac Creek.

Crow’s Nest is a unique wildlife habitat.

It is home to nesting bald eagles and over 1,000 blue herons (the bird that can be seen in the "Save Crow's Nest" banner logo).

It also plays a critical role in supporting migratory bird populations.

In 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified fifty-seven species of neotropical birds that landed there during the Spring migration.

The Civil War and Crow's Nest

Crow’s Nest peninsula is in the background of this undated photograph taken at Belle Plains during the Civil War.

The Crow’s Nest peninsula, home to union soldier encampments during the Civil War, lies just seven miles east of I-95.

The remains of tent huts and a gun pit are on the peninsula itself.

Local lore recounts that soldiers camped here to be near the several taverns on the peninsula.

But perhaps the most important aspect of Crow’s Nest is the opportunity it provides to interpret nearby Civil War sites.

Windmill Point, a union field hospital, was located on Marlborough Point, across from Crow’s Nest.

In his army letters, U.S. Christian Commission field agent John A. Cole described his visit to the hospital: “I have just come from Windmill Point Hospital where are about 4,000 sick soldiers, some of them have suffered terribly and many die daily…. many lives I believe have been saved within the past three weeks and many souls have passed from darkness into light.” (Feb. 10, 1863)

Two major Civil War sites are across Potomac Creek from Crow’s Nest. Neither of these sites is readily accessible by land.

Belle Plains, which was a primary Union supply port during part of the 1864 Overland Campaign, is southwest of Boykin’s Island.

Belle Plains also became a holding area for thousands of Confederate prisoners captured at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.

Waugh Point is east of Belle Plains, and was the site of Union First Corps camps, with 15,000 troops, during the winter of 1862-63. 
 

                              HOW TO BUY A STAFFORD COUNTY HOME IN A BUYER'S MARKET

The market for buying real estate in Stafford County offers real opportunity for home buyers.

Tips for getting a good buy include:

Work with a Stafford County Buyer's Agent who will use the following to recommend offering prices.

List Price and former prices.

How many times, if any, has the price been lowered?

DOMP - How many days on the market has the seller been trying to sell the property?

Listings of similar homes in the area that have sold in the past 2-3 months.

What is the seller's equity position?

Is the property still occupied?

Is the property in good condition?

                    USE THE SERVICES OF AN EXPERIENCED STAFFORD COUNTY BUYER'S AGENT

We recommend working with an agent that is not with the listing company.

Our Stafford County agents consider your buyer's interest above all and not be concerned about what other agents in their office will think.

The above points of interest are essential in determining how much to offer on a home for sale.

Buyers who work with a Stafford County Buyer's Agent who knows the market and is a skilled negotiator will have a better opportunity to buy at a better price.

There are many homes on the market in 2007.

We are in a STRONG Buyers' Market.

Buyers need to protect their equity position for the future by getting the BEST POSSIBLE PRICE for a home when they buy.

Have your Buyers Agent help you analyze the SOLD information before deciding on a price to offer.

Keep in mind that there are several components to determining a price; price, buyer subsidy, DOMP, condition, location and more.

List to Sold prices in Stafford County are approximately 92% when considering the price and buyer's subsidy.

On a $400,000 list price, a 92% purchase means $32,000 instant equity FOR YOU.

Contact Stafford County Real Estate.

We'll work for YOU.

Stafford real estate offers good value and is accessible to DC and Pentagon by VRE Train.

SEARCH LISTINGS in Stafford County to find the homes you wish to tour.

Or, just tour the listings to learn about the Stafford real estate market.

All homes listed in the Multiple List Service, MLS, that we agents use are available for you to see in We know home buyers like to search listings on line before deciding what and where to look at actual homes for sale.

We make it easy for you.

Tour the listings, select the homes to see and contact Stafford County Real Estate.

We'll arrange a tour at your convenience.

Let's go...Call us 877-855-7913

Agriculture in Stafford County

Average size of farms: 111 acres

Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $10530

Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $120.98

The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 2.06%

The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 53.62%

Average total farm production expenses per farm: $18335

Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 36.46%

Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 1.95%

Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $39315

The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 89.83%

Average age of principal farm operators: 58 years

Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 14.
Corn for grain: 1257 harvested acres
All wheat for grain: 156 harvested acres
Soybeans for beans: 1333 harvested acres

County population in 2005: 117,874 (74% urban, 26% rural)

County owner-occupied houses and condos: 24,331

Renter-occupied apartments: 5,856

Land area: 270 sq. mi.
Water area: 9.6 sq. mi.

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2005: 5.6%

Median age of residents in 2005: 33 years ols
(Males: 32 years old, Females: 34 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 35 years old, Black residents: 26 years old, American Indian residents: 30 years old, Asian residents: 30 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 27 years old, Other race residents: 24 years old)

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999

Type of workers:

Races in Stafford County, Virginia:

White Non-Hispanic (80.1%); Black (12.1%); Hispanic (3.6%)

Average wage per job in 2003: $31,698
County population in 2003: 110,236
Jobs in 2003: 30,203

Stafford County was established by the British colonial government of Virginia in 1664 from territory that was previously part of Westmoreland County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Prince William County, and thusly encompassed the majority of what is now considered Northern Virginia.

The county is named for Staffordshire, England and is the sister city of Stafford, England.

Pocahontas, the Indian princess, was kidnapped at Marlborough Point in the eastern part of the county and taken to a secondary English settlement known as Henricus (or Henrico Town).

While there, she converted to Christianity and married an English settler named John Rolfe in April 1614. See also Kidnapping of Pocahontas Highway Marker or Pocahontas Highway Marker.

George Washington spent much of his childhood in the lower part of the county on his family's home, Ferry Farm, along the Rappahannock River across from the city of Fredericksburg.

It was during this time that George supposedly cut down the legendary cherry tree.

 Colonial Forge High School was built on a tract of land owned by his father, Augustine Washington.

Aquia Episcopal Church, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1757 and remains open today.

During the Revolutionary War the Stafford iron works furnished arms for the American soldiers.

Aquia sandstone quarried from Stafford's Government Island was used to build the White House and the U.S. Capitol [4].

More than 100,000 troops occupied Stafford during the American Civil War for several years.

The Battle of Aquia Creek took place in Stafford in the Aquia Harbour area.

In Falmouth, a town in the southern part of Stafford County bordering Fredericksburg, is Belmont, home to the late-19th century artist Gari Melchers.

Stafford County today is considered part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and many residents commute north on Interstate Highway 95, U.S. Route 1, and Virginia Railway Express.

Stafford VA homes for sale are priced right, schools are highly ranked and folks have room to move around. Shopping in Stafford County is convenient.

Buyers of homes in Stafford County will find single family homes in Stafford County are priced about 50% lower than Fairfax County and about 16% lower than Prince William County.

Unemployment in Stafford County is about 2.5% and Stafford jobs grow at a rate of about 4.5% a year. This makes owning a home a good investment with a viable home buying market.

Transportation in Stafford County offers alternatives to driving with the Virginia Railway Express running from Fredericksburg to Washington, D.C.

Homefinders.com has been selling real estate in Stafford County since 1989 and we've watched the area grow with quality employment opportunities, wonderful new home communities that offer quiet, stable real estate for Stafford County home owners.

Stafford County includes the towns of Stafford, Falmouth and Fredericksburg.

The area of Garrisonville located on Garrisonville Road, while not a town, is a popular area for homes in Stafford County.

CONTACT US for a tour of homes in Stafford County and you'll be on your way to owning a new or resale home in a wonderful area. We can help.

NEW LISTINGS in Stafford County for APRIL 2007. 35 new MLS listings have been added for sale in Stafford County in the first 4 days of May, 2007.

Stafford County has 23 new Detached Single Family Homes listed; 10 new Town Home MLS listings have been added and 2 new condo MLS listings have been added.

FORECLOSURES IN STAFFORD COUNTY

Foreclosures in Stafford County will include bank owned properties.

In any month, there will be about 20-30 bank owned homes offered for sale.

In September 2007, there are about 27 bank owned homes in Stafford County for sale.

oUR agents will show you the bank owned homes for sale in Stafford right along with the other homes for sale in Falmouth, Stafford and Fredericksburg.

Some of the foreclosed homes for sale in Stafford have only been owned for a few months and may never have been lived in.

Stafford is located in Stafford County

Population: 92,000 Stafford is located midway between the metropolitan areas of Washington, D. C. and Richmond, the capital of Virginia.

The County encompasses 277 square miles, 65% of which is still forested.

Our population in 2000 was approximately 92,000 people. Marine Corps Base Quantico, the "Crossroads of the Marine Corps", occupies 30,527 acres in the northern end of the County.

Stafford offers excellent public services to its citizens, including one of the best school systems in the Commonwealth.

Recreational opportunities abound in more than 1,000 acres of County, regional, state and national parks.

Stafford offers numerous sports amenities including 5 private marinas, 2 public fishing lakes, 7 County parks, 188 acres of athletic fields and 3 golf courses.

The Rappahannock River, once a popular shipping route to the historic port of Falmouth, flows along the southern boundary of the County.

The Rappahannock has been designated as a State Scenic River, and offers abundant wildlife habitat and scenic recreational opportunities.

Stafford continues to maintain a strong connection with its rich historical tradition.

Visitors can tour Ferry Farm and other compelling historical sites such as Chatham Manor, the Union Headquarters during the Battle of Fredericksburg; Belmont, the 18th century home of American artist Gari Melchers; and Aquia Church, one of the oldest colonial churches in the United States.

Stafford is also the site of many businesses, including several Fortune 500 companies.

A new regional airport opened in 2001, which provides new opportunities for business development.

Because of its close proximity to the richness of historical Virginia, the cultural attributes of Washington, D.C., and the recreational opportunities of the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, and the Blue Ridge Mountains,

Stafford has become one of the fastest growing counties in the state.

It is a family-oriented suburban community with plenty of rural countryside.

Stafford County Schools

The school enrollment is projected to exceed 23,555 in the 2002-2003 school year.

Although the school division has experienced rapid growth, the county has maintained its commitment to educational excellence.

Support received from the Board of Supervisors and the community have enabled the school division to maintain, improve, and expand school facilities, transportation offerings, and instructional programs.

Commitment to an excellent student-teacher ratio has enhanced quality instruction and attention for our children.

Significant technology advances ensure students have the opportunity to learn practical work skills in modern facilities.

The size and number of facilities in the Stafford school division have increased in proportion with the growth in student population.

Kate Waller Barrett Elementary and a replacement for T. Benton Gayle Middle will open in September 2002.

Renovations to North Stafford High School are scheduled for completion by the year 2005.

The construction of three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school is scheduled over the next six years.

Aquia Harbour

Aquia Harbour is a Premier Gated Community in North Stafford County, Virginia.

We are located on historical Aquia Creek approximately 45 miles south of Washington DC, 15 miles north from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and 70 miles north of Richmond, Virginia.

We are a short commute from MCB Quantico and Fort Belvoir Army Base.

Our community is rare among modern developments.

As an example, first time visitors to the Harbour usually notice just about every home is unique in appearance.

This was not an accident.

It was decided early on to make sure the Harbour didn't suffer from the cookie-cutter syndrome so prevalent in modern home and neighborhood development.

This gives the Harbour its own distinct look and feel.

It's something that you have to see to appreciate.

Aquia Harbour encompasses over 2,000 acres, including 400 acres of protected wetlands on Aquia Creek.

Wildlife abounds; you can watch eagles fish the creek and see deer feeding in the surrounding forest.

We're far enough away from the city so you can clearly see a zillion stars while standing on your porch but close enough to be visiting the sites of Washington DC, in under an hour.

Amenities abound at Aquia Harbour included is the, Marina, Country Club, Golf Course, 2 Swimming Pools, Horse Stables, 9 Parks for baseball, soccer, basketball, and just playing, and a Preschool, all within the Harbour Gate!

Also our Volunteer Board of Directors, Citizen Committees, Local History, and much more.

Find Historic Homes for Sale in Stafford

You'll Enjoy The Stafford County Home Buying Experience

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