FAIRFAX

city, seat (1779) of Fairfax county (though administratively independent of it), northeastern Virginia, U.S., about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Washington, D.C. It developed after 1799 with the construction of the county courthouse and relocation of the county seat from Alexandria. The wills of George and Martha Washington are displayed in the courthouse wing. Early known as Earp's Corner, it was incorporated as the town of Providence in 1805 and in 1859 was renamed for Thomas, 6th Baron Fairfax of Cameron. Reincorporated as a town in 1892, it became a city in 1961. George Mason University (1957), originally a branch campus of the University of Virginia, is located in Fairfax. The city is mainly residential with some light manufactures (computer software, instruments, electronic equipment). Several historic buildings and structures are located in and around Fairfax, such as Gunsten Hall (175558), Sully Plantation (1794), and the Fairfax Elementary School (1873), which has been converted into a museum. Pop. (1990) 19,894; (1998 est.) 20,697.