Alexandria, Virginia

Population: 128,283
Located in Fairfax County
King Street in the winter
King Street in the winter

Alexandria, Virginia

Located along the western bank of the Potomac River, you'll find the Commonwealth of Virginia's independent city, Alexandria. Home of the George Washington Masonic National  Memorial, Alexandria is approximately 6 miles south of Downtown Washington, DC. And, like the rest of Northern Virginia and southern Maryland, modern Alexandria has been shaped by its proximity to the nation's capital.

The City of Alexandria has consistently been recognized for its stable economy, outstanding education and quality standard of living. Whether you seek a great job, beautiful home, eccentric neighborhood, a diversified community or some of the best schools in the nation, Alexandria provides it all.

Economy
The City of Alexandria, Virginia, is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and work on the east coast. In 2006 alone, Alexandria was name by Inc. Magazine as one of the "Best Places to Do Business," while Forbes.com name the State of Virginia the "Best Place to do Business." The City offers competitive costs for doing business, a quality office market, an experienced workforce of more than 95,000, an incredible urban ambiance and a safe environment.

The City's robust business environment is fueled by stable economic drivers such as a large concentration of technology companies, the fourth-largest concentration of professional associations in the country, federal agencies, and a tourism industry that hosts nearly two million visitors a year.

Alexandria is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service, the U.S. military, or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the federal government. 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 18 separate buildings in nearby Crystal City into a new headquarters complex in the city.

The City is also home to one of the largest concentrations of independent retailers and restaurants in the region, while also hosting a vibrant national retail community. These businesses tend to choose Alexandria because it is one of the most visited destinations in the mid-Atlantic region and one of the densest cities in the country.

Associations and non-profits are drawn to the city because Alexandria offers them the prestige of a world-renowned historic and vibrant environment with immediate access to Washington DC, Capitol Hill and federal agencies.

Education
Alexandria City Public Schools serve about 10 thousand students. The school system is known for its diverse student population, which is gladly embraced. Their nationally-recognized high school, T. C. Williams High School, is known for its academics and athletics, offering more than a dozen A.P. courses, with the exams costing the district more than $70,000 annually. T.C. was ranked by the Washington Post and Newsweek’s “Challenge Index” as one of the nations more challenging schools in 2006. T.C. is also recognized for its nationally and internationally competitive rowing program, claiming state, national, and international championships and producing a number of Olympic athletes.

Alexandria is home to some of the most well-known private schools including St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, Bishop Ireton High School, St. Mary's Catholic School, and Alexandria Friends School. The city’s only boarding school, Episcopal High School, founded in 1839, it is known as the “first high school in Virginia.”

While Alexandria is not home to a college or university, a number of higher education campuses are located within the city. Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), the second largest multi-campus community college in the US, operates a branch in the city. Three universities house branches around Alexandria: Virginia Tech's Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) is located on Prince Street in Old Town, George Washington University has a campus near the King Street metro, and Virginia Commonwealth University operates a branch of its School of Social Work here.

The Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), formally the Protestant Episcopal Theological  Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the nation. Founded in 1823, VTS is situated on an 80 acre campus, just a few miles from downtown Washington, D.C.

Source: wikipedia.org, alexandriava.gov, and funside.com Photo Source: alexandriava.gov, funside.com, Ben Schumin, and John W. Cross

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