Fairfax, VA

The city and county of Fairfax, Virginia, could be fairly described as the Silicon Valley of the state. Just minutes from the nation's capital and part of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, Fairfax is home to thousands of technology companies. The city and surrounding county are among the most affluent regions of Virginia and attract droves of young professionals and entrepreneurs building careers in the high-tech industries.

Fairfax covers more than 6 square miles and has a population of more than 23,000.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Today Fairfax is a prosperous, cosmopolitan city, with small-town charm and an ideal blend of commercial corridors with large offices and commercial space to quaint shops, townhomes and stately renovated houses in the city's Historic District.

Fairfax officials have created several initiatives to aid homeowners and to enhance communities in the city. Neighborhood Renaissance Programs were developed to facilitate the home-renovation process for residents. These programs are designed to help homeowners plan and complete their home-improvement projects. Highlights include the Real Estate Tax Exemption Program, the 0% Interest Loan Program, Home Repair Assistance, the Civic/Homeowners Association Grant Competition, and Residential Appearance Awards.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The city and surrounding Fairfax County are home to more than 5,400 technology companies, from publicly held corporations to entrepreneurial startups, employing more than 135,000 people.

Major aerospace companies include Airbus North America, BAE Systems, Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Systems. Biotech firms include ASCEND Therapeutics, Bode Technology, Covance, Quest Diagnostics, and Quintiles.

Several large environmental and energy companies are also located in Fairfax. These include CH2M Hill, ICF Consulting, and Kemron Environmental Services. Leading enterprise software firms in the city include Datatel, QuadraMed, Oracle and webMethods. CareerBuilder.com, Road Runner Group, and VeriSign are a few of the prominent Internet companies in Fairfax.

Fairfax County is home to one of the largest concentrations of telecommunications firms in the country. Area firms include Dimension Data, SAVVIS Communications, Sprint, Tier Technologies, and Verizon. Technology consulting firms, including Accenture, BearingPoint, Booz Allen Hamilton, LMI, and The MITRE Corp., have chosen Fairfax for its proximity to industry leaders.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Chocolate Lovers Festival: Valentine's Day coincides with the Chocolate Lovers Festival in Old Town Fairfax. Children's activities and craft shows commingle with vendors selling chocolates. A chocolate sculpture contest is a highlight.
• Irish Festival: A bit o' blarney and cup o' fun can be found at the Irish Festival in September. Celebrants enjoy Irish and Celtic entertainment of all kinds.
• Spotlight on the Arts Festival: Held every April, this event is co-sponsored by the city and area schools. The three-week event features various performance art opportunities.
• Independence Day Celebration Parade and Evening Show: On the Fourth of July, Fairfax offers a variety of festivities for the entire family, including one of the biggest fireworks displays in the metro area.
• Fall Festival: The second Saturday in October brings the Fall Festival, where visitors can explore hundreds of arts, crafts, and food vendors lining the city's streets.
• Festival of Lights and Carols: In December, the Fairfax Parks Department sponsors a lighting of the city's Christmas tree along with other holiday festivities.
• Major standing attractions and cultural offerings include the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, the Algonkian and Bull Run Regional Parks, the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, the Blenheim Civil War Encampment, and the National Firearms Museum.

EDUCATION

George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College are both located near Fairfax's city limits.

LOCAL MEDIA

• WMAL 630 (News/Talk)
• WXTR 820 (News)
• WILC 900 (Spanish)
• WTEM 980 (Sports)
• WUST 1120 (International)
• WMET 1150 (Talk)
• WFAX 1220 (Religious)
• WWRC 1260 (Sports)
• WDCT 1310 (Asian)
• WYCB 1340 (Gospel)
• WOL 1450 (News/Talk)
• WPWC 1480 (Country)
• WTOP 1500 (News)

• WAMU 88.5 (Public Radio)
• WPFW 89.3 (Jazz)
• WETA 90.9 (Classical)
• WGTS 91.9 (Christian Contemporary)
• WINC 92.5 (Hot AC)
• WKYS 93.9 (Hip Hop)
• WBPS 94.3 (Spanish)
• WARW 94.7 (Classic Rock)
• WHUR 96.3 (Urban Contemporary)
• WASH 97.1 (Adult Contemporary)
• WMZQ 98.7 (Country)
• WIHT 99.5 (Top 40)
• WBIG 100.3 (Oldies)
• WWDC 101.1 (Rock)
• WGMS 103.5 (Classical)
• WWVZ 103.9 (Hot AC)
• WAVA 105.1 (Religious)
• WWRE 105.5 (Classic Rock)
• WJZW 105.9 (Smooth Jazz)
• WJFK 106.7 (Talk)

• W42BE
• WNVC
• WPXW
• WJLA
• WUSA
• WTTG (FOX)
• WETA
• WDCA (FOX)
• WHUT (Howard University)
• WRC (NBC)
• WBDC
• WNVT (PBS)
• WMDO
• WZDC-LP
• WIAV-LP (AsiaVision)
• WFPT (Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission)
• WKRP-LP (Capital Media)

• Fairfax Connection
• Fairfax County Times
• The Washington Post