Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It lies on the western (or southern) bank of the Potomac River in Northern Virginia, bordering Washington, D.C. to the northeast. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 census made it the sixth-most populous city in Virginia and 169th-most populous city in the U.S. Alexandria is a principal city of the Washington metropolitan area, which is part of the larger Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. Large portions of neighboring Fairfax County have Alexandria mailing addresses, but are administratively distinct from the independent city.

Alexandria was established in 1749 and incorporated as a town in 1779. In its early decades, Alexandria's port was one of the largest in the country, prospering from the trade of agricultural goods and slaves. Ceded to the District of Columbia in 1801, economic troubles led to Alexandria's retrocession back to Virginia in 1847. Alexandria was re-chartered as a city in 1852 and became independent of Alexandria County in 1870. The 19th century saw Alexandria become a manufacturing and railway hub as its port declined in importance. The city significantly expanded its borders in the 20th century, particularly with the annexation of the town of Potomac and its surroundings in 1930 and an unincorporated portion of Fairfax County in 1952, both of which roughly doubled Alexandria's land area.

The highest-income independent city in Virginia, Alexandria is heavily influenced by its proximity to the national capital. The expansion of the U.S. federal government during the New Deal and World War II, coupled with postwar deindustrialization, helped transform Alexandria into a community for federal employees. The city's largest employers include the U.S. Department of Defense's Mark Center and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Numerous nonprofit organizations and private corporations are also headquartered in Alexandria. Tourism is a major industry, particularly in the city's traditional core of Old Town. Old Town hosts the Alexandria Historic District, the third historic district in the United States.