Did you know prehistoric animals such as the Sauroposeidon—the longest dinosaur in Virginia—lived right here in Stafford?

In this episode of Give, Work, Play, I’m going to share some fun facts I’ve learned about the history of Stafford, Virginia. We’ll look at everything from weird history to weird laws along with a fun local activity you’ve got to try.

In this episode of Give, Work, Play, I’m going to share some fun facts I’ve learned about the history of Stafford. We'll look at everything from local history to weird laws along with a fun local activity you’ve got to try.

0:56 Stafford Ranking
1:23 Captain John Smith
1:33 Pocahontas
1:46 George Washington
1:55 Marine Corp Base Quantico
2:03 Widewater Peninsula
2:27 Wacky Virginia State Laws
2:50 Home Facts
3:26 Fun Stafford Activity

The History Of Stafford

Not only do we have a lot of options of where you can live and build the home of your dreams, but we also have some really impressive history.

Did you know that Stafford is one of the fastest-growing counties in America? It also ranks in the top 20 for the wealthiest counties, too. 

As of the 2020 census, the population in Stafford County was just under 157,000 people and as of 2021, it was ranked as the second richest county in the United States. I know, that's crazy, right? This information comes from Kiplinger.com; depending on what source you look at, it's always consistently ranked within that top three.

Explorers, Pocahontas, & Past Presidents

European explorer Captain John Smith sailed up from the Potomac from Jamestown to present-day Stafford, setting foot right here on the shores. Did you know that the Powhatan Indian princess known as Pocahontas was actually kidnapped from Stafford's Indian Point shores? All of this took place before Stafford County was formally established in 1664. 

Did you know that in 1738, our first president moved to King George County, Virginia—which is now known as Stafford County—when he was 6 years old? Additionally, the Quantico Marine Corps Base was established in 1917 right here in Stafford County. Here's another interesting fact: the Widewater peninsula was once known as the wealthy man's hunting paradise. It was a favorite fishing spot for many US presidents. 

The ecologically and environmentally sensitive strip of land—with its 13 acres of fishing shores—produced the longest-running industry in Stafford's history. Widewater was actually the largest railroad fishing stop terminal for the Chesapeake. 

Odd Laws & Real Estate Facts

Did you know there are two really wacky laws in the state of Virginia? First, it's actually illegal to go trick or treating on Halloween. Second, no animal can be hunted on Sundays with the exception of raccoons, which may be hunted until 2:00 am. Weird, right? Here’s one more odd law for you: it's illegal to sell lettuce and peanut brittle on a Sunday.

Moving To Stafford

If you're looking to buy a home in Stafford, Virginia, did you know that the cost to buy a home here is a lot less expensive than what you'd find up in Northern Virginia? Additionally, you're probably going to save a lot of money on your taxes as well. Stafford is perfectly situated between DC and Richmond, so you've got great commuting options both north and south. 

The great thing about Stafford County is that if you're looking to buy, you can either buy a resale, build new, live on the water, live with horses, live on a golf course, and more. There are so many different options that are available to you that Stafford County is a great place to consider buying your next home. 

The Cavalier Roller Rink 

Remember the fun activity I mentioned that you can do in Stafford County? If you're around my age and lived through the 80s, you probably experienced rollerskating. Did you know that Stafford County has a roller rink that's been here for about almost 25 years?

The cool thing is they have a throwback night where you can put on your leg warmers, make your hair big, put on your disco clothes, and go rollerskating. There are plenty of fun family activities as well, and you can even rent the space out for birthday parties. The Cavalier Roller Rink is definitely one of the best hotspots in Stafford County. 

Explore Northern Virginia

I hope you enjoyed learning about some of Stafford, Virginia’s fun history and facts. Want to learn more about Northern VA? Subscribe to my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1UphSairTU-Ntxu_vpelA