Where is manassas located

However, a financial recession started in , triggered in part by the shotage of hard currency in the astern states after the SS Central America sank off the South Carolina coast and the expected shipment of gold from California never arrived in New York. Herndon, Virginia is named after the heroic captain of the steamship, who died along with passengers.

The Panic of blocked the investors from borrowng the money needed to lay the rails, and then the Civil War intervened. After the war, the two rail lines were merged under common ownership, eliminating the risk that the junction at Manassas would lose value. In , there was a dirt road but no direct rail connection running south between Alexandria and Richmond. Passengers and freight were carried from Alexandria by steamboat south on the Potomac River, downstream to Aquia Landing near Fredericksburg.

McDowell planned to seize Manassas, establish a supply depot there, then march along the rail line south to Gordonsville. Trains would carry hay for the horses pulling artillery and supply wagons, as well as food and ammunition for the troops. Once the Union Army reached Gordonsville, it would follow the route of the Virginia Central to Richmond, capture the Confederate capital, and end the rebellion in The Confederates established a defensive line along Bull Run to block the Union advance, with 22, soldiers under P.

West of the Blue Ridge, at the northern end of the valley near Winchester, another Confederate army with 10, Confederate troops under General Joseph Johnston blocked any advance by the Union Army there commanded by General Robert Patterson.

Before the major fighting occurred, the Blue Ridge mountains between Manassas and the Shenandoah Valley split both Union and Confederate armies - but the Confederates were innovative enough to use the Manassas Gap Railroad to overcome that barrier.

That railroad extended west through the Blue Ridge into the Shenandoah Valley. Brown, In reality, the whole mall setup is a museum in and of itself and a major destination for locals and visitors alike.

Numerous government offices and first class hospitality venues surround the mall. To the northwest of the mall, but still within the city limits, lies the upscale residential and commercial enclave of Georgetown, home to Georgetown University, George Washington Hospital, and a variety of entertainment and nightlife amenities.

But not all of the D. Read More about Manassas. For most prospective residents, the real story of the D.

Just south across the Potomac in Virginia lies Fairfax County, a built-up area including the satellite city of Arlington and the larger suburbs of Alexandria, McLean, and the more upscale Fairfax. This is hardly the whole Northern Virginia story — the sprawling D. The super-suburbs especially west include such names Reston, Herndon, Ashburn and extend to Leesburg, all very large and mostly new residential suburbs, some well-planned and some not.

Extensive commercial and corporate developments lie along the corridor with new-economy names like AOL, Nextel, Siebel, Oracle, IBM and Accenture mixed with numerous other businesses and government contractors. Employment in the greater DC area is strong in general and particularly strong in this zone.

Many do commute to the DC area proper but more often commute to other places in the suburbs. Areas east of the city are more industrial and generally uninspiring, while the Maryland suburbs along I northwest through Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, and Gaithersburg have been split off into another metro area.

The dominance of the U. Government and its impact on the local economy and culture cannot be overstated. Not surprisingly, the area has a high percentage of well-educated citizens. But a significant number of educationally and economically disadvantaged people are also within its borders. Arts, entertainment and cultural assets in total are among the best. The Cost of Living Index is high but not exorbitant for this type of area. Housing options and costs have escalated in recent years, but there are signs of softening.

Growth and sprawl is a major concern, with development and business activity flung farther out into the countryside and even across venerated Civil War historic sites.

Public transportation works well as far out as Dulles Airport and northwest into Maryland, but whether it relieves traffic issues further out is yet unclear. Bottom line - Washington, D. It does have downsides, and they are becoming strong enough even in the suburbs to negatively impact the ranking. The D. Washington lies at the western edge of the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, about 50 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and 35 miles west of Chesapeake Bay.

The immediate area is flat with rolling hills starting just outside the city to the northwest and southwest. The climate is coastal continental with a subtropical influence. Summers are warm and humid with occasional hot, sticky spells and thunderstorms.

The weather in Manassas is relatively comfortable year-round. July is the hottest month, with temperatures reaching an average high of 88 degrees.

January is the coldest month, with temperatures reaching an average low of 24 degrees. There are sunny days a year in Manassas on average, which is pretty close to the overall U.

Historic downtown Manassas prides itself on having a unique blend of one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, and acclaimed restaurants. And of course, you could always visit the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Be sure to check out the local calendar to find our more about upcoming Manassas events.

Browse the antique shops in Occoquan, or stop by for the annual arts and crafts show. The choice is yours! What are some of the best places to eat in Manassas, VA? For a small city, Manassas has quite a wide variety of cuisines available. Or enjoy the fruits of the sea at C.