Prince William County

Prince William County is an administrative unit in northern Virginia that stretches along the Potomac River and belongs to the Washington metropolitan area. Manassas serves as the seat of this region, which connects residential neighborhoods, commercial zones and green spaces.

The Virginia General Assembly founded this administrative unit in 1731 and named it after a son of King George II. Over the centuries, the area changed from agricultural land to a heavily populated suburban region.

The administrative unit takes its name from Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, a British royal from the 18th century. Visitors today find towns like Manassas and Woodbridge, where residential areas sit alongside business districts and parks.

Highways like Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 cross the area and connect it with Washington and other cities. Commuters often use the Virginia Railway Express, which provides train connections to the capital.

The area sits close to Marine Corps Base Quantico, a large installation of the American armed forces. Many residents work in fields connected to defense and federal agencies.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1731

Capital city: Manassas

Part of: Arlington–Alexandria–Reston metropolitan division

Shares border with: Loudoun County, Charles County, Stafford County, Fairfax County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fauquier County

Website: http://pwcgov.org

GPS coordinates: 38.70000,-77.48000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:34