History of Roads in Fairfax County, Virginia from 1608
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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with with permission permission of the of copyright the copyright owner. owner.Further reproductionFurther reproduction prohibited without prohibited permission. without permission. A HISTORY OF ROADS IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: 1608-1840 by Heather K. Crowl submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts In Anthropology Chair: Richard J. Bern, PhD. o ____________ T/Emlen Myers, Ph.D. Dean oi the College Date 2002 American University Washington, D.C. 20016 mammmsBimm 95 j q Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 1408884. ___ ® UMI UMI Microform 1408884 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A HISTORY OF ROADS IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: 1608-1840 by Heather K. Crowl ABSTRACT This thesis documents the history of roads in Fairfax County, Virginia from 1608 to 1840. It describes historic road development, changes in road construction, and the relationship between roads and the rise of towns and commerce. Historic routes are mapped on current maps and related to modem transportation routes. Like other aspects of material culture, roads reflect the transition from the Post Medieval to the Georgian Order. Initially, bridle paths and rolling roads followed paths of least resistance to churches and river landings. From 1740 to 1780, the county road system expanded, towns emerged, and the disparity between the wealthy (who controlled where roads were built) and other residents widened. From 1780 to 1840, entrepreneurs formed turnpike companies operated with a combination of private and public funds to promote regional commerce. After 1840 until the advent of automobile travel, the focus of transportation shifted to railroads and canals. n Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Dedicated to Dr. Janet L. Friedman Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. AD# The Map People ADC THE MAP PEOPLE March 8, 2001 Part of (he Lanjwnsehcidt Publishing Croup Heather Crawl 1911 Kennedy Drive, Apt. 301 McLean, VA 22102 Dear Ms. Crawl: This letter shall constitute your authority to reproduce the Index to Map Pages from ADC’s Street Map Book of Northern Virginia to include in your Master’s thesis. Permission is granted for this one time use. The following copyright acknowledgement must appear on each copy: ADC The Map People® USED WITH PERMISSION All copyright fees have been waived. Thank you for using ADC Map products. Carey IBinsyranger Directoref Copyrights 6440 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 Telephone: (703) 750-0510 Toll Free: 1-800-ADC-MAPS Telefax: (703) 750-3092 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................................ii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................................................... v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS...................................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Background and Significance ..........................................................................................3 Methods............................................................................................................................................5 County Description .........................................................................................................................7 County Formation ......................................................................................................................... 10 2. EARLY ROAD CONSTRUCTION (1608-1740).............................................................................12 Historic Context.............................................................................................................................12 Early Historic Roads .................................................................................................................... 22 3. EXPANDED ROAD CONSTRUCTION PERIOD (1740-1780).................................................. 41 Historic Context............................................................................................................................41 Eighteenth Century Roads .......................................................................................................... 47 Roads to the First Courthouse .................................................................................... 53 Roads to Alexandria .....................................................................................................56 4. INTENSIVE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PERIOD/TURNPIKE ERA (1783-1840).................. 72 Historic Context............................................................................................................................ 72 Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century Roads...........................................................93 Turnpikes........................................................................................................................94 Alexandria City Streets ...............................................................................................123 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Public Roads .................................................................................................................127 5. CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................................................138 BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................................................... 142 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Tolls Outlined in the General Turnpike Act o f 1817 .............................................................................. 88 Table 2. Tolls Specified in the Act Establishing the Little River Turnpike.................................................... 104 Table 3. Tolls Specified in Faquier and Alexandria Turnpike Act .................................................................... 109 Table 4. Tolls Specified for the Georgetown and Leesburg Turnpike ............................................................. 116 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. The Fall Line in Fairfax County ................................................................................................................ 8 Figure 2. Modem Map of Fairfax County ................................................................................................................ 9 Figure 3. Evolution of Fairfax County.................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 4. Detail of John Smith’s Map of Virginia Dated 1608 ........................................................................... 14 Figure 5. Detail of Augustine Herrman’s Map of Virginia and Maryland Dated