20-589: Manassas Park is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 17,219. Manassas Park is bordered by the city of Manassas and Prince William County . Manassas Park is a part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area . During the American Civil War , the Manassas Park area was used as a campsite by
40-541: A Circuit Court with adjacent Arlington County. In Virginia, a District Court is not a court of record , so all cases are heard by a judge; all jury trials are heard in a Circuit Court. Three older Virginia counties, whose origins go back to the original eight shires of Virginia formed in 1634 in the Colony of Virginia , have or had the word city in their names; politically, however, they are counties. The independent cities were formed to centralize trading and legal matters as
60-469: A median income of $ 38,643 versus $ 30,942 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 21,048. About 4.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over. In June 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Manassas Park with the fifth best life expectancy in the United States at 92.5 years old. The city
80-591: A short time: An independent city is not the same as: Manassas Line The Manassas Line is a Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service that extends from Washington, D.C. to Bristow, Virginia . The first of VRE's two lines, with service beginning on June 22, 1992, the line operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation (the RF&;P Subdivision ) and Norfolk Southern Railway (the Washington District ). The line south of Alexandria, Virginia ,
100-531: Is considered a primary administrative division of its state. Independent cities are classified by the United States Census Bureau as " county equivalents " and may also have similar governmental powers to a consolidated city-county or a unitary authority . However, in the case of a consolidated city-county, a city and a county were merged into a unified jurisdiction in which the county at least nominally exists to this day, whereas an independent city
120-413: Is served by Manassas Park City Schools , with a total of 4 schools: Cougar Elementary, Manassas Park Elementary, Manassas Park Middle, and Manassas Park High School . There are also Private Schools. Virginia State Route 28 is the main highway serving the city. From Manassas Park, SR 28 extends north to Interstate 66 and south to Virginia State Route 234 , providing connections to major cities through
140-521: The Confederate States Army during both the First and Second Battles of Bull Run . Manassas Park was created as a subdivision of Prince William County, with the first houses being constructed in 1955. In 1957, Manassas Park was incorporated as a town. Approximately 600 acres of land was annexed by the town of Manassas Park in 1974, and the town was incorporated as a city independent from the county
160-404: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km), all of it land. At the 2000 census there were 10,290 people, 3,254 households and 2,557 families in the city. The population density was 4,129.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,594.2/km). There were 3,365 housing units at an average density of 1,350.3 per square mile (521.4/km). The racial makeup of
180-434: The county seat of an adjacent county, even though the city by definition is not part of that county. Some other Virginia municipalities, even though they may be more populous than some existing independent cities, are incorporated towns . These towns always form part of a county. Incorporated towns have limited powers, varying by each charter. They typically share many aspects such as courts and public school divisions with
200-588: The United States. In the Commonwealth of Virginia , all municipalities incorporated as "cities" have been "independent cities", also called "free cities", since 1871, when a revised state constitution took effect following the American Civil War and the creation of West Virginia . Virginia's thirty-eight independent cities are not politically part of a county, even though geographically they may be completely surrounded by one. An independent city in Virginia may serve as
220-532: The city was 72.79% White, 11.17% African American, 0.44% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.14% from other races, and 3.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.00%. Of the 3,254 households 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 14.4% of households were one person and 2.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size
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#1732852333368240-520: The county they are within. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are two classes of city. The primary difference relates to the court system. A first-class city (e.g., Richmond) has its own District Court and also its own Circuit Court . A second-class city (e.g. Norton or Emporia) has its own District Courts, but not its own Circuit Court. As a second-class city, City of Fairfax shares a Circuit Court with Fairfax County , while Falls Church shares
260-551: The line on June 22, 1992. In 2009, Amtrak extended its Northeast Regional service south to Lynchburg, bringing more trains to Manassas and Burke Centre . In 2017, VRE began a $ 2.8 million study of expansion to the Broad Run station and layover facility that would allow additional Manassas Line service. As of June 2024 , the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is negotiating with Norfolk Southern to purchase
280-433: The next year in 1975. Since then, it has been Virginia's newest city. Manassas Park is located at 38°46′19″N 77°27′09″W / 38.77194°N 77.45250°W / 38.77194; -77.45250 (38.771944, -77.45250). It is roughly dumbbell-shaped and lies to the south of Bull Run . It is longest NW–SE along Manassas Drive, and is bisected by Virginia State Route 28 at its narrowest section. According to
300-556: The older system of merchant ships cruising from plantation to plantation was inefficient. The colonial capital of Williamsburg was created for this reason, being a port on the James River. Two of these counties are Charles City County and James City County , whose names originated with earlier "incorporations" created in 1619 by the Virginia Company as Charles Cittie and James Cittie . Additionally, Elizabeth City County , which
320-549: The region. Virginia State Route 213 follows Manassas Drive, serving as a main roadway within Manassas Park. However, the route designation is unsigned. The city is home to Manassas Park station located on the Manassas Line of the Virginia Railway Express . Independent city (United States) In the United States, an independent city is a city that is not in the territory of any county or counties and
340-420: Was 3.16 and the average family size was 3.47. The age distribution was 31.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 40.1% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males. The median household income was $ 60,794 and the median family income was $ 61,075. Males had
360-450: Was legally separated from any county or merged with a county that simultaneously ceased to exist even in name. Of the 41 independent U.S. cities, 38 are in Virginia , whose state constitution makes them a special case. The three independent cities outside Virginia are Baltimore, Maryland ; St. Louis, Missouri ; and Carson City, Nevada . Baltimore is the most populous independent city in
380-509: Was once owned by Southern Railway , whose Crescent train stopped at the line's Alexandria and Manassas stations. When U.S. intercity passenger service was taken over by Amtrak , the new railroad continued the Crescent service between New Orleans and New York City . In 1984, planning began for a commuter rail service for the area. Eight years later, after many new stations were constructed, Virginia Railway Express began operating trains on
400-506: Was originally part of the older Elizabeth Cittie , became extinct in 1952 when it was consolidated politically by mutual consent with the small City of Hampton, its county seat, and the Town of Phoebus . These merged entities became the current independent city of Hampton, Virginia , one of the largest cities of Virginia. Former independent cities, now extinct, that were long extant in Virginia include: Two other independent cities existed only for
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