Discover Stafford

07/01/2026

This month, America turns 250. 🇺🇸

It’s a milestone built from 400-plus years of Virginia history, and Stafford County is woven right through it. From the land John Smith first mapped in 1608 to the boyhood home of a future first president, the story of the nation runs straight through here.

All summer, we’re celebrating the people and places that connect Stafford to America’s founding. Because Stafford’s stories *are* America’s stories.

Follow along and tell us: what part of Stafford’s history makes you proudest?

06/29/2026

Exploring history through photographs from the Library of Congress! For example, this is a photo of Capt. J.W. Forsyth from Ohio as he sits upon boxes at Aquia Landing in 1863. He was Provost Marshall then, and the boxes contained hardtack for the Union soldiers stationed here. After leaving Stafford, Forsyth strongly supported African Americans and Buffalo soldiers. A graduate of West Point, he later participated in the Indian Wars and was even at the Battle of Wounded Knee. He ended his career as a Major General. 📸 🇺🇸

06/24/2026

Meet Margaret Brent: "America's first woman attorney" and a 17th-century powerhouse! 👩‍⚖️

Born in 1601, this remarkable woman landed in Maryland in 1638 and quickly became the colony's largest landowner and most influential person. She managed vast estates, served as executrix for the deceased governor, and appeared in Provincial Court over 124 times!

In 1648, she shocked the Maryland Council by confronting them and demanding the right to vote (actually two votes!). Though rebuffed, her fame endured. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg even noted that her power so confused contemporaries that she was sometimes called "Gentleman Margaret Brent" in court records.

A true pioneer whose influence reached both Maryland and Virginia, owning the future sites of Alexandria and Fredericksburg!

06/21/2026

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, here's a Stafford County story that deserves more recognition. Around 1758, Scottish merchant James Hunter established an iron manufactory just up the Rappahannock from Falmouth. By the time of the Revolution, Hunter's Iron Works had grown into what historians believe was one of the largest manufacturing facilities in all of colonial America, supplying arms and critical materials to Continental troops fighting for independence. Despite his enormous contribution to the cause, Hunter and his works have been nearly forgotten by history. Stafford remembers. 🔨 Read the full story at https://pulse.ly/xkfcrx4z8f

06/18/2026

Tomorrow is Juneteenth, and Stafford County is celebrating in a big way! 🎉 Join the Stafford County NAACP for the 2026 Juneteenth Commemoration and Celebration on Saturday, June 20th, 10 AM–5 PM at Colonial Forge High School (550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554). Expect music, art, storytelling, youth activities, cultural performances, guest speakers, and community resources. This year's motto says it all: "Educate to Advocate… then Activate." Freedom didn't end in 1865; it continues to evolve through awareness, action, and unity. See you there! 🗓️ More info:https://pulse.ly/q4ystrjzkg

Celebrate Stafford NAACP’s 5th Annual JUNETEENTH with live entertainment, food, reenactments, a vehicle showcase, vendors, & more!

06/17/2026

Freedom is more than a proclamation; it's built in the businesses opened, the trades mastered, the families sustained. The Stafford African American Heritage Trail's Entrepreneurship and Work theme traces the Black-owned businesses, farms, and industries that took root in Stafford County after emancipation and beyond. These are stories of people who built futures from next to nothing, and whose descendants still walk these roads today. This Juneteenth week, we celebrate their legacy. Explore the full trail at staffordafricanamericantrail.com ✊

06/16/2026

Stafford Trivia 🗓️
Stafford’s Heritage Trail traces 300 years of African American history, from early settlements to modern contributions, showcasing the county’s diverse cultural fabric.

06/15/2026

The Rappahannock River has been the heartbeat of Stafford County for thousands of years. 🌊 Paleo-Indians, the Patawomeck tribe, European settlers, Revolutionary soldiers, Civil War armies, and generations of Stafford families have all lived alongside this river. Captain John Smith sailed these waters in 1608. Pocahontas was kidnapped near Indian Point on its banks. Iron, grain, and commerce flowed through Falmouth at its crossing. 💬 Question for the community: What does the Rappahannock mean to you? Share a memory, a photo, or your favorite spot along the river in the comments below!

06/14/2026

📍 From prehistoric settlements to modern milestones, Stafford’s past is full of stories waiting to be told. Start your journey with us! 🕰️ https://pulse.ly/rtqjx7jcnt

06/12/2026

Did you know that the stories of Stafford County stretch back more than 400 years of American history?

From early colonial settlements to the Civil War and beyond, Stafford’s past helped shape the nation we know today.

Explore the people, places, and moments that made history right here in our community.

📚 Dive into the stories → https://pulse.ly/aa0bwdcrgu