Manassas, Virginia

Manassas is an independent city located in the state of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 35,135. This city is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The Bureau_of_Economic_Analysis combines the city of Manassas (along with Manassas Park) with Prince William County for statistical purposes. The City of Manassas is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

History

According to legend, the name Manassas was derived from an Indian source or from Manasseh, a Jewish innkeeper at Manassas Gap. Manassas originated in 1852 at the junction of two railroads which linked Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. with the Shenandoah Valley and Richmond.

Related Topics:
1852 - Washington, D.C.

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In 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas), the first major land battle of the American Civil War, was fought near here. The Second Battle of Bull Run (or Second Manassas) was fought near here on August 28-30, 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with rails leading to Richmond, Virginia, Washington, DC, and the Shenandoah Valley. Despite these two Confederate victories, Manassas Junction was in Union hands for most of the war.

Related Topics:
1861 - First Battle of Bull Run - American Civil War - Second Battle of Bull Run - August 28 - 1862 - Richmond, Virginia - Washington, DC - Shenandoah Valley - Confederate

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The crossroads grew into the town of Manassas following the war, incorporated in 1873. In 1892, it became the county seat of Prince William County, replacing Brentsville. In 1975, Manassas became an independent city.

Related Topics:
1873 - 1892 - County seat - Prince William County - 1975

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In modern times, Manassas's development has been strongly developed by its position as a suburb of Washington, D.C.. It has developed major problems with traffic and urban sprawl.

Related Topics:
Suburb - Washington, D.C. - Traffic - Urban sprawl

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