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ALEXANDRIA, VA Homes, Real Estate and Community
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Alexandria, VA is an
independent city
in the
Commonwealth
of
Virginia
. The City of Alexandria, VA is estimated to have a current population of more than 140,000 residents. Alexandria city is located on the west bank of the
Potomac River
, six miles south of downtown
Washington, DC
.
Like the rest of
Northern Virginia
, as well as southern Maryland, modern Alexandria's popularity and growth has been shaped by its proximity to the nation's
capital
. Alexandria, VA is predominantly populated by U.S Civil Service Professionals, U.S. State Department diplomatic corps and the U.S. Military.
One of Alexandria's largest employers is the U.S. Department of Defense
. Others include the
Institute for Defense Analyses
and the
Center for Naval Analyses
. In 2005, the
United States Patent and Trademark Office
moved 7,100 employees from nearby, Arlington's Crystal City,
into a new headquarters complex in Alexandria.
Alexandria is home to numerous associations, charities, and non-profit organizations including the national headquarters of groups such as theSalvation Army.
Alexandria landmarks include the
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
(known to the locals as simply "The
Masonic
Temple"),
Gadsby's Tavern
, Christ Church, the Little Theatre, the
Torpedo Factory
art studio complex, Market Square, Robert E. Lee's boyhood home, the
John Carlyle House
and the
Virginia Theological Seminary
. In 2005, Alexandria became one of the first cities of its size to offer free wireless internet access to some of its residents and visitors.
Alexandria's public high school,
T.C. Williams
, and its legendary former football coach, Herman "Mad Dog" Boone, were featured in the 2000 motion picture, "Remember the Titans."
The City of Alexandria, first known as Belle Haven, was named in honor of John Alexander, who in the last quarter of the
17th century
had bought the land on which the city now stands from Robert Howison; the first settlement here was made in
1695
. Alexandria was laid out in
1749
and was incorporated in
1779
.
A portion of the City of Alexandria shares with
Arlington County
the distinction of having been originally in Virginia but ceded to the U.S. Government to form the
District of Columbia
in
1790
, and later
retroceded to Virginia
by the federal government in
1846
, when the District was reduced in size to exclude the portion south of the
Potomac River
. The City of Alexandria was re-chartered in
1852
.
From the end of the 1700's, a movement grew to separate Alexandria from the District of Columbia. As competition grew with the port of
Georgetown
and the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
favored the north side of the Potomac, the city's economy stagnated. In addition, many in Alexandria hoped to benefit from land sales and increased business from the federal government, but it had no need for the land south of the river. In addition, its residents had lost representation and the right to vote at any level of government.
After a referendum, voters petitioned Congress and Virginia to return the area to Virginia. The area was retroceded to Virginia by on
July 9
,
1846
.
The City of Alexandria became independent of
Alexandria County
in
1850
. The remaining portion of Alexandria County changed its name to Arlington County in
1920
, ending years of confusion.
Alexandria City is bounded on the east by the Potomac River, on the north and northwest by Arlington County, and on the south by
Fairfax County
. The western portions of the city were annexed from those two entities beginning in the
1930s
.
Alexandria, VA encompasses
a total area of ~16 square miles.
Old Town, in the eastern and southeastern areas of Alexandria along the Potomac River, is the oldest section of the city, originally laid out in
1749
, and is a national historic district. Old Town is chiefly known for its historic (and expensive) townhomes,
art galleries, boutiques
and
antique shops.
Alexandria's restaurants and nightlife range from great delis to exquisit fine dining while overlooking the Potomac River. Additionally there are a number of pubs and night clubs throughout Alexandria's historic Old Town District The Old Town district of Alexandria, VA is laid out on a
grid plan
of substantially square
blocks which makes navigating strolling tours and shopping easy and delightful
.
For more information on Alexandria's rich history be seure to visit the Lyceum's Alexandria History Page. As rich in history as Alexandria, it is also rich in cultural events, activities and organizations, including the Alexandria Choral Society, the Alexandria Symphony as well as the Little Theatre of Alexandria.
Old Town
The historic center of Alexandria is known as Old Town. It is a major draw for tourists and those seeking an urban nightlife. Like Old Town, many Alexandria neighborhoods are high-income suburbs of Washington D.C. A 2005 assessed-value study of homes and condominiums found that over 40 percent were in the highest bracket, worth $556,000 or more.
Alexandria real estate and homes for sale in Alexandria, Virginia's Old Town district are almost exclusively attached townhomes or as some call the "row houses." Even the detached homes in the Old Town district are townhome in-style and the side walls may extend up to the property line without actually touching the wall of the home next door.
In Alexandria's Old Town district, condominiums for sale range from the low-$200,000's to nearly $3-million for waterfront penthouse units. Townhomes for sale in Alexandria also have a broad range starting in the low to mid-$300,000's up to several millions. This price range also applies to detached single family home in Alexandria's Old Town District. Your expert Old Town real estate agent and realtor can help you find just the right home in Alexandria, Virginia
The Mount Vernon Trail boarders Alexandria's Old Town along the Potomac River. Starting in Arlington and running through Old Town, this trail travels 18 miles, all the way to Historic Mount Vernon at George Washington's home and now museum. This trail is extremely popular with hikers and bicyclists, every day and especially on weekends. Be sure to check out Bike Washington for plans, events and activities.
The city of Alexandria, VA has, in addition to the Old Town district, numerous neighborhoods of exceptional character. Certain of these neighborhoods have distinguished themselves and are popular with people relocating to Alexandria, VA as well as people who simply want to move within the region to Alexandria.
DEL RAY
The area to the northwest of Old Town, formerly in the once separate town of
Potomac
, is popularly known as Del Ray, although that name properly belongs to one of many communities (including Hume, Mount Ida, and Saint Elmo) in that area. The homes for sale in the Del Ray area include a mix of single-family houses, duplexes, townhouses, and condominiums. Your expert Alexandria Real Estate Agents are Realtors® and can help you find just the right home in Del Ray.
The community, while diverse, has experienced substantial
gentrification
since redevelopment began in
Potomac Yard
in the mid-
1990s and continues to today
.
Real Estate and homes for sale in Alexandria's Del Ray community are of exceptional character and style. Fortunately for the eclectic and somewhat art deco-ish architecture, most residents and people buying homes in Alexandria's Del Ray comminuty have chosen to "restore" rather than "renovate." The difference of "restoring" properties and homes in Del Ray, has retained the unique richness of the community vs. modernizing it into monotony.
Real Estate and homes for sale in Alexandria's Del Ray are a mix of townhomes and detached , single family homes. Del Ray's hoes prices range from the mid-$300,000's for a townhome to just over $1-million for a larger detached home.
Alexandria's Del Ray community is also home to a wealth of shops, boutiques, restaraunts and night clubs. That means, unless you choose to stay home, there is always something "happening" in Del Ray.
If you find that your under a little too much stress, don't miss the renown Pure Prana Yoga Studio, either. Founded by Natasha Hennessy, this studio has the highest reputation in the region.
WEST END
Alexandria's West End includes areas developed in the
1950s
. West End is the most suburban part of Alexandria, with tree-lined streets, gently rolling topography with neighborhoods of great character
. The western section of
Duke Street
in the West End is also known for a high-density residential area known for its concentration of High-Rise Condominiums and numerous shopping centers including the Landmark Shopping Mall
.
The
addressing system
in Alexandria is not uniform and reflects the consolidation of several originally separate communities into a single city. In Old Town Alexandria, street names numbers are assigned north and south from
King Street
and west (only) from the Potomac River. In the areas formerly in the (now non-existent) Town of
Potomac
, such as Del Ray and St. Elmo, srteet names are assigned east and west from Commonwealth Avenue and north (only) from King Street. In the western parts of the city, street names are assigned either north or south of
Duke Street
.
Real estate and homes for sale in Alexandria's west end district will rnage from condominiums in the low to mid-$200,000's up to several million dollars for larger estate homes. The moderate and mid-range condominiums and homes are closer to the Landmark area. Occassionally grand, historic, estate homes become available for purchase and one could expect these historic estates to range from $3-million to $10-million. Your expert Alexandria Real Estate Agents are Realtors® and can help you find just the right home in Alexandria's West End.
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