City of Fredericksburg

History

The City of Fredericksburg was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1728, on land originally patented by John Buckner and Thomas Royston of Essex County in 1681. It was named for Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707-51), eldest son of King George II of Great Britain and father of King George III. Its older streets still bear the names of members of the British royal family.

Located at the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg flourished as a regional marketplace and prosperous seaport before the American Revolution. George Washington's father bought three lots in the town and became one of its trustees; and George's boyhood home, "Ferry Farm," lies just across the Rappahannock in Stafford County.

Visitors today can walk among the more than 350 original 18th and 19th century homes and buildings. Explore the 18th century apothecary shop owned by George Washington's friend, Hugh Mercer or stop in for rousing entertainment at the Rising Sun Tavern, Charles Washington's drinking establishment.

Although the Fredericksburg region is steeped in over 300 years of history, it is the area's part in the Civil War that attracts most of the visitors today. The City of Fredericksburg is strategically located midway between Washington D. C. and Richmond, Virginia. The City of Fredericksburg was a major objective for both sides during the Civil War. The city changed hands at least seven times and is the site of some of the most intense and crucial battles of the war.