Stafford County

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. This detailed pictorial volume containing over 200 images–many of which have never been published–offers a peek at a history in danger of being forgotten.