Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fredericksburg, Virginia
Independent city
Historic Downtown Fredericksburg
Flag Seal Coat of arms
Motto:  America's Most Historic City
Location of Fredericksburg in Northern Virginia
Fredericksburg Show map of Northern Virginia Fredericksburg Show map of Virginia Fredericksburg Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°18′6.5″N 77°28′15″W / 38.301806°N 77.47083°W / 38.301806; -77.47083
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	None (Independent city since 1879, adjacent to Spotsylvania County)
Founded	1728
Incorporated	1781
Named for	Frederick, Prince of Wales
Government
• Mayor	Kerry P. Devine
Area [1]
• Independent city	10.52 sq mi (27.24 km2)
• Land	10.45 sq mi (27.07 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation	59 ft (18 m)
Population  (2020)
• Independent city	27,982
• Density	2,700/sq mi (1,000/km2)
• Urban	167,679 (US: 216th)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	22401 (USPS designates 5 zip codes for Fredericksburg, but 4 of them lie outside the Independent City in surrounding counties; only 22401 lies inside it)
Area code	540
FIPS code	51-29744[2]
GNIS feature ID	1494947[3]
Website	www.fredericksburgva.gov
* Independent from Spotsylvania County in 1879

Fredericksburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,982.^[4] It is 48 miles (77 km) south of Washington, D.C., and 53 miles (85 km) north of Richmond.^[5][6] The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County for statistical purposes.

Located near where the Rappahannock River crosses the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era. During the Civil War, Fredericksburg, located halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and Second Battle of Fredericksburg. These battles are preserved, in part, as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. More than 10,000 African-Americans in the region left slavery for freedom in 1862 alone, getting behind Union lines. Tourism is a major part of the economy. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums, art shops, galleries, and many historical sites.^[7]

Fredericksburg is home to Central Park (as of 2004, the second-largest mall on the East Coast). The Spotsylvania Towne Centre is located in Spotsylvania County, adjacent to the city. Major employers include the University of Mary Washington (named for the mother of George Washington, who lived here), Mary Washington Healthcare, and GEICO. Many Fredericksburg area residents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Washington, D.C., and Richmond, as well as Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington counties.^{[8][9][10][11]}