[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4090-4091]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     HONORING THE 270TH BIRTHDAY OF PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2001

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to recognize Prince William County, Virginia, which will be 
celebrating its 270th birthday on March 20, 2001.
  Prince William County was established by the Virginia General 
Assembly on July 9, 1730, when the population increased to a point that 
the formation of a new county was necessary. It took several months for 
the legislation to become law. In 1731, Prince William County was 
recognized as a county and included Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, 
Loudon and Fauquier. Named for William Augustus, the second son of King 
George II, the county was cut to its current size in 1759. Within the 
county there are also two independent cities, Manassas and Manassas 
Park.
  The citizens of Prince William County are continually contributing to 
the country's history and cultural heritage. The county was home to 
some of the nation's first European settlements. Many of the first 
arrivals to the county were of Irish descent. They settled on vacant 
plots and began to farm, aided only by convicts who had been sent from 
England. It also played an important role in the American Revolution by 
aiding in the formation of the new country.
  Prince William County was the site of many Civil War battles. One of 
the most notable of the Civil War conflicts was the Battle of First 
Manassas, which was the first major encounter between the North and 
South. The Manassas Battlefields are now National Parks visited by 
thousands every summer.

[[Page 4091]]

  Prince William County continues, to this day, to have a close 
connection to our military. In fact, the town of Quantico is completely 
surrounded by a Marine Corps Base. The military history of this town 
goes back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, when the land was used 
for Virginia Naval Operations. The Marine Corps Base was established 
there in 1917.
  Today, Prince William County is the second most populous county in 
the Commonwealth. The rich history in this county makes it one of the 
most historical counties in the nation. The citizens are proud to keep 
this history alive and are continually reminded of the past by the 
collective knowledge of those who live and work there. Moreover, Prince 
William County is a leader in a new Virginia revolution, a technology 
revolution. I am certain that her citizens will continue their role as 
leaders of Virginia's and America's futures.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish continued prosperity for the County 
of Prince William and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in 
applauding this remarkable milestone. I am proud to represent a portion 
of Prince William County in the House of Representatives.

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