The City of Alexandria is located in Northern Virginia, about seven miles south of downtown Washington D.C. Sitting on the west bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria encompasses a total area of 15.5 square miles, of which 97.15 percent is land and 2.75 percent is water. With a population of 150,575 residents (according to the 2014 census), Alexandria is the seventh largest city in Virginia. Interestingly, it is also the most populated town among the fourteen Alexandrias in the United States.
The history of Alexandria began in 1695, when the first European settlement was formed along the Potomac River in what was then the English Colony of Virginia. During the next 50 years, the area was mostly covered by tobacco plantations. When local residents realized that grains like corn and wheat could be raised more profitably than tobacco in the upland area away from the river, the town of Alexandria was officially established as a trading place where they could gather their crops for export. Following its incorporation in July 1749, the city was named after in honor of the early land owner, Scotsman John Alexander. Throughout its rich history, …show more content…
has largely influenced the city’s growth and development, especially in the past 50 years. Today, Alexandria mostly serves as a home base for professionals employed in the nation’s capital—particularly those who are working in the U.S. military and the federal civil service. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Defense are Alexandria’s largest employers. When it comes to the private sector, the list of major employers includes Inova Health System, ABM Janitorial Services and the Institute for Defense Analyses—the latter of which are companies that provide services to the federal government. The unemployment rate in Alexandria is 3.6%, with a predicted ten-year job growth of 40.9%. The median home cost in Alexandria is $444,200 and the average commute time is 30
The history of Alexandria began in 1695, when the first European settlement was formed along the Potomac River in what was then the English Colony of Virginia. During the next 50 years, the area was mostly covered by tobacco plantations. When local residents realized that grains like corn and wheat could be raised more profitably than tobacco in the upland area away from the river, the town of Alexandria was officially established as a trading place where they could gather their crops for export. Following its incorporation in July 1749, the city was named after in honor of the early land owner, Scotsman John Alexander. Throughout its rich history, …show more content…
has largely influenced the city’s growth and development, especially in the past 50 years. Today, Alexandria mostly serves as a home base for professionals employed in the nation’s capital—particularly those who are working in the U.S. military and the federal civil service. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Defense are Alexandria’s largest employers. When it comes to the private sector, the list of major employers includes Inova Health System, ABM Janitorial Services and the Institute for Defense Analyses—the latter of which are companies that provide services to the federal government. The unemployment rate in Alexandria is 3.6%, with a predicted ten-year job growth of 40.9%. The median home cost in Alexandria is $444,200 and the average commute time is 30