Alexandria is home to numerous associations, charities, and non-profit
organizations including the national headquarters of groups such as the
United Way and American Red Cross.
The historic center of Alexandria, known as Old Town, is a major draw for
tourists and those seeking nightlife without crossing the Potomac River.
Like Old Town, most Alexandria neighborhoods are wealthy, high-status
suburbs. In 2002, an assessed-value study of homes and condominiums found
that about 40 percent were in the highest bracket, worth $250,000 or more.
Alexandria is served by Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which
abuts the city and is located to the north in Arlington County, Virginia; by
Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia; and by
Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. Its
railroad station is served by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express, with the
King Street station of the Washington Metro rail transit system adjacent.
Alexandria landmarks include the George Washington National Masonic
Memorial, also known as the Masonic Temple; Gadsby's Tavern; Old Town;
Christ Church; the Lyceum; Market Square; and the Virginia Theological
Seminary.
Alexandria's public high school, T.C. Williams, and its legendary former
football coach, Herman Mad Dog Boone, were featured in the 2000 motion
picture, "Remember the Titans." Alexandria is home to the Thomas Jefferson
High School for Science and Technology, a public magnet school and a
Governor's school for Virginia.
Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, is eight miles to the south along
the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
39.9 km˛ (15.4 mi˛). 39.3 km˛ (15.2 mi˛) of it is land and 0.6 km˛ (0.2 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 1.49% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 128,283 people, 61,889 households, and
27,726 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,262.9/km˛
(8,452.0/mi˛). There are 64,251 housing units at an average density of
1,634.2/km˛ (4,233.2/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 59.79% European
American, 22.54% African American, 0.28% Native American, 5.65% Asian, 0.09%
Pacific Islander, 7.38% from other races, and 4.27% from two or more races.
14.72% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 61,889 households out of which 18.6% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 32.2% are married couples living together, 9.2% have
a female householder with no husband present, and 55.2% are non-families.
43.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.8% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.04 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the city the population is spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18,
9.2% from 18 to 24, 43.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100
females there are 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $56,054, and the median
income for a family is $67,023. Males have a median income of $47,514 versus
$41,254 for females. The per capita income for the city is $37,645. 8.9% of
the population and 6.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 13.9% are under the age of 18 and 9.0% are
65 or older.
History
Alexandria, first known as Belhaven, was named in honour of John Alexander,
who in the last quarter of the 17th century had bought the land on which the
city now stands from Robert Howison; the first settlement here was made in
1695. Alexandria was laid out in 1749 and was incorporated in 1779. From
1790 until 1846 Alexandria county was a part of the District of Columbia;
the city was re-chartered in 1852.
At Alexandria in 1755 General Edward Braddock organized his fatal expedition
against Fort Duquesne, and here, in April of the same year, the governors of
Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland met to
determine upon concerted action against the French in America. In March 1785
commissioners from Virginia and Maryland met here to discuss the commercial
relations of the two states, finishing their business at Mount Vernon on the
28th with an agreement for freedom of trade and freedom of navigation of the
Potomac. The Maryland legislature in ratifying this agreement on November 22
proposed a conference between representatives from all the states to
consider the adoption of definite commercial regulations. This led to the
calling of the Annapolis convention of 1786, which in turn led to the
calling of the Federal convention of 1787. In 1814 Alexandria was threatened
by a British fleet, but bought immunity from attack by paying about
$100,000. At the opening of the American Civil War the city was occupied by
Federal troops, and great excitement throughout the North was caused by the
killing (May 24, 1861) of Colonel E. E. Ellsworth (1837-1861) by Captain
James W. Jackson, a hotel proprietor, from whose building Ellsworth had
removed a Confederate flag. After the erection of the state of West Virginia
in 1863, and until the close of the war, Alexandria was the seat of what was
known as the "Alexandria Government."
