Fairfax Station is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 12,420 at the 2020 census. Located in Northern Virginia, its center is located southwest of Washington, D.C.
History
Established in 1851, Fairfax Station was originally a station of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, with proximity to the county seat of Fairfax; it was known as "Lee's Station" during its first year. During the Civil War in August 1862, Clara Barton tended to wounded Union and Confederate troops at the station after the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), with headquarters at nearby St. Mary's Church. An employee of the U.S. Patent Office in Washington at the start of the war, Barton later founded the American Red Cross in 1881. A small skirmish, which was also the last in the county during the war, was fought at Brimstone Hill near Fairfax Station.
The construction of St. Mary's began in 1858, and it was the first Catholic church in Fairfax County.
Demographics
Fairfax Station was first listed as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|8,883
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,118
|73.84%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |65.36%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|460
|style='background: #ffffe6; |545
|3.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.39%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|11
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.09%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|1,457
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,914
|12.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.41%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|38
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.60%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|307
|style='background: #ffffe6; |707
|2.55%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.69%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|869
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,043
|7.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.40%
|-
|Total
|12,030
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,420
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Fairfax Station had a population of 12,420. The median age was 45.0 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males age 18 and over.
The population density was . The average housing unit density was .
There were 4,103 households in Fairfax Station, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 77.2% were married-couple households, 7.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 12.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 4,070 households, out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were headed by married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.1% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95, and the average family size was 3.16.
Arts and culture
thumb|Woodglen Lake is located in the CDP
thumb|Church in Fairfax Station
Fairfax Station Railroad Museum is located here.
Education
The education system in Fairfax County is among the top public school counties in the country. The children of Fairfax Station go to six elementary schools; William Halley Elementary for the southern part of Fairfax Station and Silverbrook Elementary for the northern part. They can also attend Fairview Elementary, Oak View Elementary, Bonnie Brae Elementary or Sangster Elementary. After 6th grade, the last year in all of the elementary schools, students enter one of four public schools: South County Middle School (feeder school for South County High School), Robinson Secondary School, Robert Frost Middle School (feeder for W.T. Woodson High School), or Lake Braddock Secondary School.
The private school Islamic Saudi Academy previously had its West Campus in Fairfax Station.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Residents are dependent on private cars for most transportation. Local roads include Route 123 (Ox Road) and Fairfax County Parkway. Some commute using Virginia Railway Express.
Notable people
- Bob Hall, Republican member of the Texas State Senate, former resident of Fairfax Station
- John Jackson, blues singer and guitarist
- Rebiya Kadeer, political activist
- David Lereah, author and businessman
- Doug Limerick, radio personality
- Kjell Lindgren, astronaut
- Bob McEwen, former member of the United States House of Representatives
- Alex Riley, professional wrestler
- William A. Roosma, U.S. Army major general
- Wolfgang W. E. Samuel, author and United States Air Force veteran
- William Lloyd Scott, former United States Senator
- Steve Scully, former senior executive producer and political editor for C-SPAN
- Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court