Dumfries, Virginia, United States of America

Dumfries is a town located in Prince William County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 4,937.

Dumfries Geography

Dumfries is located at 38°34'4" North, 77°19'29" West (38.567853, -77.324591).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²). 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Dumfries History

Dumfries history began as early as 1690 when Richard Gibson erected a gristmill 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 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).

Dumfries Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 4,937 people, 1,573 households, and 1,198 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,191.4/km² (3,085.6/mi²). There are 1,699 housing units at an average density of 410.0/km² (1,061.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 52.91% White, 35.26% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 5.73% from other races, and 4.40% from two or more races. 13.06% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,573 households out of which 46.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% are married couples living together, 19.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% are non-families. 16.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.13 and the average family size is 3.51.

In the town the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $43,672, and the median income for a family is $46,927. Males have a median income of $35,247 versus $24,451 for females. The per capita income for the town is $17,652. 12.5% of the population and 10.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Nearby towns and neighborhoods include Woodbridge and Occoquan.

External links

• City of Dumfries
• Weems-Botts Museum

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Dumfries,_Virginia".