Dumfries, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Dumfries is a town in Prince William County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 4,937 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land. The town is situated approximately 25 miles/40 km south of central Washington D.C.
on Quantico Creek
. A customhouse and warehouse followed in 1731, and many others cropped up along the estuary by 1732. The Town of Dumfries was formally established on 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land at the head of the harbor of Quantico Creek, provided by John Graham. He named the town after his birthplace, Dumfries
, Scotland
.
After much political maneuvering, the General Assembly established Dumfries as the first of seven townships in the county. Dumfries received its charter on May 11, 1749, making it the oldest continuously chartered town in Virginia
.
The Ceremonial Seal of the Town of Dumfries embodies elements of its heritage, from the period of 1651, when the first patents were issued to colonists, who following the Potomac
recognized the value of a snug harbor in Quantico Creek. Thus the foundations for the establishment of a town, which in 1749 received its charter from the Colonial government in Williamsburg, Virginia
.
The elements of the seal are contained within the pattern formed by the outer frame of a hawser rope or cable, and the inner frame of an anchor chain, of a type employed in ships of the Colonial era.
Within these frames are found items which are consistent with a town of maritime background. They are overlaid on a chart of the Chesapeake Bay
and the Potomac River
, with Dumfries indicated at the head of Quantico Creek. The navigational aids of the sextant and compass rose complete the maritime motif.
The two water fowl relate to the wetlands of Quantico Creek. The dock with fishnet, pilings, ships block and line further the theme of a mercantile port of call. The thistle
indicates the Scottish
founders of the town, with the name of Dumfries, taken by John Graham, the founder, in honor of his home in Scotland.
The supporters of the shield are, on the left, a Piscataway brave, of the Powhatan Confederacy, the predominant tribe along the Potomac, in this area. On the right, a Colonial militiaman of 1775, when Colonel Henry Lee was company Commander. The shield in its upper quadrant, displays a sailing vessel of the period, and below the tobacco leaf, the first commodity, overlaid with shafts of wheat, the later commodity that supported the town.
When Dumfries became the second leading port in Colonial America receiving tobacco from the upland, it rivaled New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Dumfries peaked in size and importance in 1763. For about 15 years Dumfries was a thriving port when several factors brought about its demise: the Revolutionary War, erosion and siltation, and the shift in the main shipping commodity (from tobacco to wheat and sugar).
The Dumfries Cemetery
contains burials of some of the Dumfries pioneers.
Alexander Henderson
built a house known as the Henderson House
which still stands on a hill in Dumfries, as well as owning various land in Prince William Forest Park
. Alexander was a merchant when the ports were booming in Dumfries. Alexander is famous for his son, United States Marine Corps
commandant Archibald Henderson
.
of 2000, there were 4,937 people, 1,573 households, and 1,198 families residing in the town. The population density
was 3,085.6 people per square mile (1,191.4/km²). There were 1,699 housing units at an average density of 1,061.9 per square mile (410.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 48.91% White, 35.26% Black, 0.63% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 3.73% from other races
, and 8.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.06% of the population.
There were 1,573 households out of which 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.51.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,672, and the median income for a family was $46,927. Males had a median income of $35,247 versus $24,451 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,652. About 10.4% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,937 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Dumfries is located at 38°34′4"N 77°19′29"W (38.567853, -77.324591).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land. The town is situated approximately 25 miles/40 km south of central Washington D.C.
History
Dumfries history began as early as 1690 when Richard Gibson erected a gristmillGristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
on Quantico Creek
Quantico Creek
Quantico Creek is a tidal tributary of the Potomac River in eastern Prince William County, Virginia. Quantico Creek rises southeast of Independent Hill, flows through Prince William Forest Park and Dumfries and empties into the Potomac at Possum Point....
. A customhouse and warehouse followed in 1731, and many others cropped up along the estuary by 1732. The Town of Dumfries was formally established on 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land at the head of the harbor of Quantico Creek, provided by John Graham. He named the town after his birthplace, Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
After much political maneuvering, the General Assembly established Dumfries as the first of seven townships in the county. Dumfries received its charter on May 11, 1749, making it the oldest continuously chartered town in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
The Ceremonial Seal of the Town of Dumfries embodies elements of its heritage, from the period of 1651, when the first patents were issued to colonists, who following the Potomac
Potomac
-Places in the United States:Washington, D.C. area:*The Potomac River, which flows through West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC**The Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, a region of the Potomac River's watershed in West Virginia...
recognized the value of a snug harbor in Quantico Creek. Thus the foundations for the establishment of a town, which in 1749 received its charter from the Colonial government in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
.
The elements of the seal are contained within the pattern formed by the outer frame of a hawser rope or cable, and the inner frame of an anchor chain, of a type employed in ships of the Colonial era.
Within these frames are found items which are consistent with a town of maritime background. They are overlaid on a chart of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, with Dumfries indicated at the head of Quantico Creek. The navigational aids of the sextant and compass rose complete the maritime motif.
The two water fowl relate to the wetlands of Quantico Creek. The dock with fishnet, pilings, ships block and line further the theme of a mercantile port of call. The thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
indicates the Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
founders of the town, with the name of Dumfries, taken by John Graham, the founder, in honor of his home in Scotland.
The supporters of the shield are, on the left, a Piscataway brave, of the Powhatan Confederacy, the predominant tribe along the Potomac, in this area. On the right, a Colonial militiaman of 1775, when Colonel Henry Lee was company Commander. The shield in its upper quadrant, displays a sailing vessel of the period, and below the tobacco leaf, the first commodity, overlaid with shafts of wheat, the later commodity that supported the town.
When Dumfries became the second leading port in Colonial America receiving tobacco from the upland, it rivaled New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Dumfries peaked in size and importance in 1763. For about 15 years Dumfries was a thriving port when several factors brought about its demise: the Revolutionary War, erosion and siltation, and the shift in the main shipping commodity (from tobacco to wheat and sugar).
The Dumfries Cemetery
Dumfries Cemetery
The Dumfries Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Dumfries, Virginia. It is located on Mine Road near Cameron Street. The cemetery includes graves of original pioneers of Dumfries from 1667. It also contains unmarked graves from the Civil War....
contains burials of some of the Dumfries pioneers.
Alexander Henderson
Alexander Henderson (Virginia)
Alexander Henderson was a colonial merchant, born in Glasgow, Scotland who came to Colchester, Virginia in 1756. He served in the Virginia militia during the American Revolution. He was a member of the Virginia General Assembly and a Virginia delegate to the Mount Vernon Conference in 1785 which...
built a house known as the Henderson House
Henderson House (Dumfries, Virginia)
The Henderson House is a historic U.S. home located in Dumfries, Virginia. Alexander Henderson built this home in the late 18th century. Alexander Henderson was the father of Archibald Henderson, fifth Commandant of the Marine Corps....
which still stands on a hill in Dumfries, as well as owning various land in Prince William Forest Park
Prince William Forest Park
Prince William Forest Park was established as Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area in 1936 and is located in southeastern Prince William County, Virginia, adjacent to the Marine Corps Base Quantico. The park is the largest protected natural area in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region at...
. Alexander was a merchant when the ports were booming in Dumfries. Alexander is famous for his son, United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
commandant Archibald Henderson
Archibald Henderson
Archibald Henderson was the longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving from 1820 to 1859. He is often referred to as the "Grand old man of the Marine Corps," serving in the United States Marine Corps for 53 years.-Biography:Born in Colchester, Fairfax County, Virginia to successful...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,937 people, 1,573 households, and 1,198 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,085.6 people per square mile (1,191.4/km²). There were 1,699 housing units at an average density of 1,061.9 per square mile (410.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 48.91% White, 35.26% Black, 0.63% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 3.73% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 8.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.06% of the population.
There were 1,573 households out of which 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.51.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,672, and the median income for a family was $46,927. Males had a median income of $35,247 versus $24,451 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,652. About 10.4% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Alexander HendersonAlexander Henderson (Virginia)Alexander Henderson was a colonial merchant, born in Glasgow, Scotland who came to Colchester, Virginia in 1756. He served in the Virginia militia during the American Revolution. He was a member of the Virginia General Assembly and a Virginia delegate to the Mount Vernon Conference in 1785 which...
, merchant - Kendall MarshallKendall MarshallKendall Dewan Marshall is an American college basketball player for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. He grew up in Dumfries, Virginia, and attended Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia.-High school career:...
, college basketball player
External links
- Town of Dumfries
- Dumfries Magisterial District Supervisor
- Prince William County Government
- Dumfries Harbor as if it never silted in, from Google Earth
- Dumfries-Triangle Rescue SquadDumfries-Triangle Rescue SquadDumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad was formally organized on January 8, 1957 and began operations with one ambulance donated by Cope Ford of Triangle...