WOODBRIDGE, VA

Woodbridge is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince William County, Virginia, United States, located south of Washington, D.C. Bounded by the Occoquan and Potomac rivers, Woodbridge Magisterial District had 44,668 residents at the 2020 census. The Woodbridge census-designated place comprises just one portion of the magisterial district and had a population of 4,055 in the 2010 census. The census-designated place consists solely of the section north of Occoquan Road and Dawson Beach Road, and east of Interstate 95.

Woodbridge offers a variety of amenities for residents and visitors, including Potomac Mills shopping mall and Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. Woodbridge is served by the Prince William County Public Schools, and the Woodbridge campus of Northern Virginia Community College borders the district. Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, a non-profit hospital, formerly Potomac Hospital, recently expanded and now has the capacity to serve 183 patients. Transportation includes access to Interstate 95, two VRE commuter train stations, bus service, and a local "slugging" system, offering residents a variety of transit options.

Woodbridge offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for resident and visitors. The Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a natural habitat for a variety of plant and animal life including the bald eagles and ospreys. Veteran's Park and Leesylvania State Park are located on the Potomac River and provide swimming, boating, picnic and hiking services. Close by is Rippon Lodge, the oldest house in Prince William County, which is open for tours throughout the summer. Trails at Leesylvania Park lead to the ancestral home of the Lee family.

History

Woodbridge was initially a village composed largely of plantations and later farms and industrial complexes. Formally dating to at least 1731 when Prince William County was formed out of the Stafford County, Virginia. Initially, the first Prince William County Courthouse was erected in Woodbridge owing to its location halfway between Dumfries, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia, the two largest Cities which were then in Prince William County. With the incorporation of Fairfax County Woodbridge ceased to be the center of the county and municipal function eventually shifted westward into Brentsville and eventually to Manassas where it is today.

Later, the Woodbridge postal delivery area became the hub that included Dale City and Lake Ridge, which had previously been forged as a planned community in the 1960s and 1970s. The area takes its name from Thomas Mason's 1795 wooden toll bridge built to supplant the existing ferry, carrying the King's Highway traffic across the Occoquan River. Mason's Woodbridge Plantation was located in the area of the present day Belmont Bay golf course community. The original bridge from which the area takes it's name was washed away in 1807 following a heavy storm. Subsequently, industrial and economic development shifted toward Occoquan, Virginia the next nearest river crossing. The bridge would not be replaced until the 20th century when an iron truss bridge was built. This bridge failed in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes and was eventually replaced by the current structure.

The Freestone Point Confederate Battery and Rippon Lodge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

;Tent city

Since ca. 2003, there exists a tent city adjacent to the Potomac Mills mall. It is tolerated by the private landlord. In 2018, part of the residents were directed to leave.

Geography

Woodbridge is at (38.643517, −77.260843). It is located on the peninsula of Linton Neck. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 2.87%, is water. Woodbridge is about from Washington, D.C.

The 2010 census reconfigured Woodbridge so that the majority of its land area was redesignated Marumsco and Neabsco, Virginia. The southern border of Woodbridge is now Occoquan Road. The area between Occoquan Road and Opitz Boulevard–Rippon Boulevard is now Marumsco. All of the former Woodbridge CDP south of those streets has been designated as Neabsco. However, these areas continue to have postal addresses in "Woodbridge," which is served by a post office in Marumsco.

Climate

Woodbridge has a humid subtropical climate.

Nearby towns and communities

Demographics

As of the 2010 Census, the Woodbridge Magisterial District had 54,275 residents with 17,796 households. The racial demographics were as follows:

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile (1,176.8/km²). There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi (406.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 56.34% White, 23.45% African American, 0.55% Native American, 4.90% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 9.62% from other races, and 4.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 19.07% of the population.

There were 10,687 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households 20.4% were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $75,525, and the median income for a family was $52,362. Males had a median income of $35,538 versus $28,587 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,810. About 4.6% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

The estimate median house or condo value was $294,156 as of 2008. As of 2013, the average home sale price was $222,940.

Education

Public schools

The nearby public high schools include:

The middle schools include:

The elementary schools include:

Private education

Colleges:

Private high schools:

Private middle schools, elementary schools, and preschools:

Attractions and culture

Woodbridge experienced its current development boom in the mid-1980s, after being a municipality composed largely of either farms or industrial complexes, as an annex of sorts of Dale City, which had been forged as a planned community in the 1960s and 1970s.

Woodbridge is home to Potomac Mills Mall (managed by Simon Property Group), one of the largest shopping centers in northern Virginia. Woodbridge is a suburban city because many of its residents are employed in nearby Washington, D.C.

Due in part to the I-95 and I-66 HOV waiver given to hybrid vehicles, many D.C. government workers have relocated to the area to take advantage of the lower-priced housing. However, in July 2006, the hybrid/HOV privilege was revoked. Vehicles registered prior to July 2006 were exempted from occupancy requirements in all (HOV) facilities in Virginia until July 1, 2009.

Other cultural resources include Rippon Lodge, the oldest house in Prince William County, which was opened as a park and museum in October 2007.

Sports

Woodbridge is the home of the Northern Virginia FC soccer club.

Woodbridge was the former home of the Potomac Nationals minor league baseball club, before their relocation to Fredericksburg. Their former stadium, the Pfitzner Stadium, is located in Woodbridge. The stadium is now the source of many community events.

On May 24, 2022, the Washington Commanders announced plans for a new stadium complex in Woodbridge, with plans for a new stadium, amphitheater, retail hub, and office space.

Transportation

Prince William Parkway serves as the cross-county connector. It links the community to I-95 and runs from Woodbridge westward to near Gainesville. Virginia Route 123 connects the I-95 corridor and U.S. 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) to points west and north and ultimately terminates in McLean, Virginia. Marumsco has the Prince William Parkway (Virginia Route 294) as an east-west highway, and Neabsco is served by Rippon Boulevard and Cardinal Drive. The area is also served by the Virginia Railway Express Fredericksburg Line.

U.S. 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) is currently under major construction to widen the road to six lanes. It will also see a new interchange to redirect traffic from Virginia Route 123 to Belmont Bay Drive. There will also be a 10' shared use path, a 6' side walk, and a 28' median for future WMATA Metro expansion or Bus Rapid Transit. The Project is estimated to cost $259 Million, with completion by the end of 2018.

The Woodbridge Amtrak station, at 1040 Express Way, is owned by Virginia Railway Express. Its 29,418 passengers (2014) are served by numerous VRE trains and Amtrak Virginia Regionals, as well as OmniRide Commuter buses. The station has free (taxpayer-subsidized) parking spaces for 738 vehicles, as well as bike racks. It is ADA compliant.

Notable people