Aquia Church

Aquia Harbour is a census-designated place (CDP) in Stafford County, Virginia, United States, 13 miles (21 km) north of Fredericksburg. The population was 6,727 at the 2010 census. Aquia Church, erected in 1757 and now a National Historic Landmark, is located west of the community.

Aquia ( ) is an unincorporated community in Stafford County, in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is named for Aquia Creek, which leads to the Potomac River. Nearby historic locations include Aquia Church and the remains of Aquia quarry. Cliffs of the local Aquia Creek sandstone had been visible from the Potomac River near its confluence with Aquia Creek during colonial times. It was quarried to construct many buildings nearby (including Christ Church (Alexandria, Virginia) and Mount Vernon), as well as in Washington, D.C., including the White House, National Capitol Columns and Washington Monument (which was completed with other stone after the original Aquia quarry was depleted). It was a stop on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad which was replaced by, CSXT.

The Public Quarry at Government Island in Stafford County, Virginia is the principal source of Aquia Creek sandstone, a building stone used in many of the early government buildings in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Capitol and the White House. A quarry was established just off the Potomac River at Wigginton's Island on Aquia Creek by George Brent after 1694, providing stone for tombstones and to houses and churches in northern Virginia, including Gunston Hall, Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, Mount Airy in Richmond County, Virginia, and Aquia Church, as well as steps and walkways at George Washington's Mount Vernon. Washington selected Aquia sandstone as the primary material for use in Washington's government buildings. Acting on the government's behalf, the Wigginton's Island quarry was purchased by Pierre Charles L'Enfant in 1791, becoming known afterward as Government Island.Use of the stone declined as its susceptibility to weathering was observed, and the quarry became worked out and derelict after the U.S. Civil War. The property was sold by the U.S. Government in 1963.The property was acquired by Stafford County as a county park and opened to the public on November 6, 2010 with trails and markers highlighting the historical significance of the island. The park has 1.5 miles of trails including an elevated wooden boardwalk through marsh and wetlands, part of the park is handicap accessible. It is a designated site on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Garrisonville is an unincorporated community in Stafford County in the U.S. state of Virginia.

Stafford, also known as Stafford Courthouse, is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Stafford County, Virginia, United States. The population was 163,380 as of the 2020 census. It lies 10 miles (16 km) north of Fredericksburg, approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of Washington, D.C., and about 60 miles (97 km) north of Richmond, the state capital. Marine Corps Base Quantico is located north of the community. Stafford Courthouse is located at the intersections of U.S. Route 1 and Courthouse Road.

The Marine Raider Museum is located at Raider Hall, 24191 Gilbert Road, Camp Barrett, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Quantico, Virginia. It contains exhibits related to Marine Raiders. It was originally located in Richmond, Virginia, but was moved to its current location in 2005. In 1997, the museum won the prestigious Colonel John H. Magruder III Award from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

Midway Island is an unincorporated community in Stafford County, Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 164 feet (50 m). Midway Island was the name of a subdivision consisting of off-base housing for Marines stationed at nearby Quantico. It was torn down and is now the site of the Naval Research Laboratory's Midway Research Center.

Boswell's Corner is a census-designated place in Stafford County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 1,375. It is located along U.S. Route 1 just outside the boundary of Marine Corps Base Quantico ("Boswell's Corner" itself is the intersection with Telegraph Road).

Colonial Forge High School is a public high school in Stafford, Virginia serving students in grades nine through twelve in the central portion of Stafford County, Virginia.

Aquia Creek ( ) is a 27.6-mile-long (44.4 km) tributary of the tidal segment of the Potomac River and is located in Northern Virginia. The creek's headwaters lie in southeastern Fauquier County, and it empties into the Potomac at Brent Point in Stafford County, 45 miles (72 km) south of Washington, D.C. The White House was built largely using sandstone quarried from Aquia Creek from 1792 to 1799.