The Nine Magisterial Districts of Fairfax County
Fairfax County is one of the largest, most prosperous and most populous counties in Virginia. To be more specific, according to the US Census Fairfax County has about a million residents. Furthermore, average annual household income in Fairfax County ($100,552) is twice the national average ($51,106).
The county government is managed by a Board of Supervisors that are elected from nine different magisterial districts . The board overseen by Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, who holds an at-large seat, and by Vice Chairman Sharon of the Braddock District.
The County Supervisors appoint seven members to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Commission which are
- Steven Davis Chairman,
- Michael Horwatt Vice Chairman,
- Ann Rodriguez Secretary/Treasurer,
- Ronald C. Johnson CEO of Ronson Network Services Corporation,
- Michael Lewis President of Liberty Capitol,
- Sudhakar Shenoy CEO of Information Management Consultants Inc.;
- and William Soza Chairman of Security One Bank.
Click on the image for a larger view of the map. To enter an address and find out what district that address is in click here. Fairfax County Government has earned top marks from the Pew Charitable Trust's Government Performance Project. The magisterial districts of Fairfax County are:
Braddock District is 26 square miles of mainly residential communities but includes recreational locations, Wakefield Recreation Center, Lake Accotink Park.
Sully District is supervised by Michael R. Frey. Sully offers its residents numerous public facilities, golf courses, and nearby Washington Dulles International Airport.
Lee District supervisor is Jeff McKay. Lee District is the home of the Lee District RECenter where residents can swim, jog, play racquetball, basketball and volleyball in the 20,000 square foot gym. Also, Huntley Meadows park is located in the Lee District and is home to forests, wetlands, and flower filled meadows. In addition, there is the Franconia Museum which preserves the Franconia area.
The supervisor from Dranesville District is John H. Foust. Dranesville District has the Farmers Market which runs through May until November.
Mason District's supervisor is Penelope A. Gross. The business centers of Bailey's Crossroads, Seven Corners, and Annandale are all located in Mason District. Recreational facilities here include Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Lincolnia Senior Center, Pinecrest Gold Coarse, Green Spring Gardens Park, Clark House, Bailey's Community Center, Willston Multicultural Center, and Mason District Park.
The Springfield District supervisor is Pat Herrity. Springfield District is the home for Fair Oaks, Clifton, Burke and Fairfax Station. This year the inaugural Springfield District Children's Fair which included a BMX demo, exhibits from the fire and police stations, a 5 mile run/walk around Burke Lake and a golf tournament. Parks include Accotink Stream Valley, Franconia, Lee High, Island Creek, and Hooes Road.
Catherine M. Hudgins is the supervisor for Hunter Mill District. The Hunter Mill District includes parts of Tysons Corner, Vienna, North Vienna, Reston, Oak Hill, and areas in Herndon.
Mount Vernon District (supervisor: Gerry W. Hyland) has much to offer its residents. There are many historical sites including George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and Woodlawn Plantation and the Pope-Leighey House. Recreation facilities include Mount Vernon Rec Center and George Washington Rec Centers, Fort Hunt Park, Mason Neck State Park, Pohick Regional Park, Fairfax Fair which is held in June of every year, and Lord and Ladies Fairfax who are announced at the Fairfax fair.
The Providence District supervisor is Linda Q. Smyth. Providence District is approximately 22. 31 square miles. "Nottoway Nights" is one of the main features of the Providence District which is a summer concert series. Shopping centers include Tyson's Corner Center, Fairfax Square, Tyson's Galleria and Fair Oaks mall.
Throughout the county there are numerous departments and agencies that provide essential community services such as senior centers, health clinics, and school/day care programs. Here are some great tools for researching homes, neighborhoods and properties in Fairfax County.
- Zillow by Will Nesbitt
- Northern Virginia statistics
- Fairfax County Records
- Neighborhood Comparison -- Compare neighborhood stats side by side.
- Property Search
- Condo Property Search
Fairfax Connector Bus Service
Since September of 1985, Fairfax County has provided an alternative to WMATA's Metrobus called the Fairfax Connector. The Fairfax Connector began operation in the southern end of Fairfax County from Huntington Metro Station to Mount Vernon and Fort Belvoir. Today the Connector has more than fifty routes providing public transportation to most of Fairfax County. The northern end of the county including Reston and Herndon is now well served by buses. 
Riders pay fares in by
- cash (exact change only);
- valid transfer tickets or tokens;
- bus pass cards from regional bus systems;
- Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passes;
- Translink passes or;
- with Metro SmarTrip cards.
The basic fare for a bus trip is usually a dollar, but certain express routes range up to three dollars. When transferring from Metrorail transfer, fares are discounted significantly. The dollar fare is discounted to 35 cents (exact change) with a transfer ticker and the three dollar fair is discounted to $2.10 exact change. Pennies are not accepted as fare. Drivers do not carry cash and do not make change.
Fares for seniors are discounted to either $0.50 or $1.00. Seniors get free fare with a Metrorail transfer. Up to two children under age 5 may ride for free with a paying adult. The disabled ride free on all routes.
The are are a number of simple restrictions and rules on the Fairfax Connector. Smoking, eating, drinking and playing radio or video devices without earphones are strictly prohibited. Strollers must be folded on the bus. Service animals are permitted on the bus. Other small animals are permitted only if transported in a secure container.
Bus transfer tickets or tokens are issued FREE to customers paying fares with cash or tokens. Transfers are valid for two additional hours from time of boarding for an unlimited number of rides. A transfer cannot be redeemed for another transfer. VRE, Translink and bus passes serve as transfers.
For three dollars, a rider can purchase a regional one day bus pass. This pass is valid for an unlimited number of rides on local routes of participating regional bus systems on the day purchased. The one-day pass has a value of $1.25 per trip when used on express routes. The one day pass expires at midnight, Sunday-Thursday and at 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday.
North Fairfax County Schedules : Fairfax Connector bus routes serving Fairfax County Government Center, Herndon, Reston, Tysons Corner, Crystal City, Pentagon including service to the West Falls Church-VT/UVA, Dunn Loring/Merrifield, and Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail Stations.
South Fairfax County Schedules : Fairfax Connector bus routes serving Belle View, Fort Hunt, Fullerton Industrial Park, Kingstowne, Richmond Highway, Springfield, Tysons Corner, Pentagon including service to the Huntington, Van Dorn Street, Franconia-Springfield, and Dunn Loring/Merrifield Metrorail Stations.
Schedules for Mobile Devices - Get up to date schedules for Northern Virginia area transits services delivered to your handheld device by CommuterPage.com.
Fairfax Connector Fare Chart
Fares are subject to change without notice. These fares were last updated January 2008 and as of November 15th they are still presumed to be (but not guaranteed to be) accurate.
| Using SmarTrip, Cash, Bus Passes, VRE Passes, or Translink Passes | Cost |
|---|---|
| All local routes except express routes using SmarTrip or cash | $1.00 |
| Express routes 380, 595 & 597 Using SmarTrip or cash | $3.00 |
| All routes using regional systems' bus passe, VRE passes or Translink passes | FREE |
| All routes using MetroAccess ID card (valid for card holder & 1 companion) | FREE |
| Using Metrorail-to-Bus Transfers | |
| All local routes except express routes using SmarTrip or cash | $0.35 |
| Express routes 380, 595 & 597 using SmarTrip or cash | $2.10 |
| All routes using Senior/Disabled SmarTrip & MetroAccess ID cards | FREE |
| Using Senior/Disabled SmarTrip, cash, valid Metro ID card or valid Medicare card * (see details under Senior Disabled Fares) |
|
| All routes except express routes | $0.50 |
| Express routes 380, 595 & 597 | $2.00 |
| Using Paper Transfers | |
| Local-to-local, express-to-express & express-to-local routes | FREE |
| All local-to-express routes | $2.00 |
| Children's Fares | |
| Up to 2 children ages 4 and under traveling with an adult paying full fare | FREE |
| Children age 5 and older | Adult Fare |
Richmond Highway Express
Richmond Highway Express, nicknamed "REX" is a bus route operated by the WMATA (the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) in partnership with Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Federal Government. The REX is a limited stop express bus that serves the Richmond Highway corridor. Before the REX, riders from Fort Belvoir had many stops to make along Richmond Highway enroute to Huntington Metrorail Station and to the King Street Metrorail Station.
REX buses operate every 15 minutes in both directions on Richmond Highway during weekday rush hours. During non-rush hours and on Satuday the REX comes through every 30 minutes. Then on Sunday the bus only operates every 60 minutes. Buses operate between 5:30 AM and 10:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM on Sunday.
The REX uses special technology which allows REX buses to sustain green lights in order to move more quickly up and down Rt. 1. The REX bus has low-floor buses for quicker boarding and SmartCard for quicker paying. In addition the REX has only a limited number of stops:
- King Street Metro (Alexandria)
- Dulaney Street/PTO (Alexandria)
- Eisenhower Avenue (Alexandria)
- Kings Highway
- Beacon Center
- Lockheed Boulevard
- Arlington Drive
- Belford Drive South
- Ladson Lane
- South County Center
- Frye Road
- Lukens Lane
- Sacramento Drive/Cooper Road
- Old Mill Road/Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway
- Dewitt Hospital (Fort Belvoir)
- Langfitt Loop (Fort Belvoir)
- 16th Street & Belvoir Road (Fort Belvoir)
- Jackson Loop (North) & Gunston Road (Fort Belvoir)
REX
passengers may
transfer at any
Richmond Highway
stop to Fairfax Connector routes, and may transfer at
Huntington and King Street Metro stations
to rail service as well as other local bus
service such as Alexandria’s DASH.
To stand-out from other Metrobuses and other area bus lines, REX busses are purple-blue with a golden yellow logo featuring the image of a running lion. The lion references the three lions emblazoned on the Fairfax County seal, which references the family crest of Lord Fairfax. Bus stop signs use the same color scheme, and stand out among the other bus stops along Route 1.
