DUMFRIES,
VIRGINIA’S OLDEST CHARTERED TOWN
Dumfries,
the largest Town in Prince William County, was chartered in 1749 by a group of
men with vision that included the first families of Northern Virginia,
Washington, Lee, Grayson and Mason, among others. These founding fathers recognized the
importance of the site and decided that a town and port should be established
on Quantico Bay for easy access to ship tobacco to England and to receive the
manufactured goods not available in the Colonies. This site became the Town of Dumfries and was
located on Kings Highway, the only road linking all the colonies.
It
was formally established on 60 acres of land at the head of the harbor of
Quantico Creek, provided by John Graham.
He named the town after his birthplace, Dumfries, Scotland. It grew in wealth and importance as a major
tobacco port that rivaled New York and Boston until soil erosion and silting of
the port caused Dumfries’ demise.
We are committed to keep our Quantico Creek clean and healthy for all. All waterways are connected to each other. Help in keeping the environment debris free.
