The colonists took her from Passapatanzy, located in the eastern part of what is now Stafford County, to a secondary English settlement, known as Henricus (or Henrico Town).

[12] During the American Civil War, the county was part of the battlegrounds, occupied repeatedly by more than 100,000 troops for several years.

In 1862, before and after the Battle of Fredericksburg, some 10,000 slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom.

This exodus and Trail of Freedom is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river, in Fredericksburg and in Stafford County.

Falmouth, a town bordering Fredericksburg, was the home of late-19th century American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers.

Many residents commute north to work there and in other defense and federal facilities, as well as private companies, in Washington and its environs on Interstate Highway 95, U.S. Route 1, and by Virginia Railway Express.

These facts contribute to the high-income of families in Stafford County, and the high amount of home-ownership, and college graduates.

In recent years Stafford County has experienced major suburbanization, and growth as more and more workers move to the suburbs for their families.

In the early morning hours of May 9, 2008, a tornado touched down in the southern part of the county, severely damaging about 140 suburban homes.

The independent city of Fredericksburg developed at the fall line of the river, supporting mills run by water power.

Aquia Creek empties into the tidal segment of the Potomac River at Brent Point in Stafford County.

Due to its location and proximity to Washington D.C. many Federal Government workers and commuters live in Stafford County.

The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: George Washington, Hartwood, Falmouth, Griffis-Widewater, Aquia, Garrisonville, and Rockhill.

Due to its rapid suburbanization and growth of families, and Federal Government employees from D.C. and being a part of Northern Virginia it has trended Democratic however has stayed Republican at the state and local level.

Democrats Candi King, Joshua G. Cole and Republican Paul Milde in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Republican incumbent Robert Gibbons from the Rockhill District won re-election after a failed state legislature race in which he lost in the primary.

Independent Jack Cavilier ran for re-election and won in the Griffis-Widewater district, keeping the Board of Supervisors at a gridlock 3-3-1 partisan split.

Gary Snelings, a Republican from the Hartwood district lost re-election by 36 votes to Independent Joe Brito.

Republican incumbent Mark Osborn lost re-election in the Falmouth district for a second term, to Democratic political newcomer George Schwartz.

Peter Fields, the Democratic incumbent from the George Washington District declined to run for a third term.

Jack Cavilier, an Independent incumbent from the Griffis-Widewater district ran for re-election as a Republican and lost to Democratic newcomer Bob Woodson.

Republican Cord Sterling who worked for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) ran for the Rockhill District and won against a Democrat.

Republican incumbent Mark Dudenhefer from the Garrisonville District ran for state legislature and won.

Republican Ty Schieber was named Interim supervisor and won a special election to finish out Mark Dudenhefer's term.

Republican Supervisor Bob Thomas from the George Washington District decided to run for state legislature.

Tom Coen, a Republican candidate who ran twice for the seat was named Interim Supervisor and won a special election as an Independent to finish out Bob Thomas’ term.

These include FOX 5(WTTG), NBC 4(WRC-TV), ABC 7(WJLA-TV), CBS 9(WUSA), and PBS 26(WETA-TV).

However, places on Marine Corps Base Quantico are zoned to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.

A study done by INRIX Roadway Analytics awarded Southbound I-95 from D.C. to the southern tip of Stafford County the worst single traffic hotspot in the nation.

Thus, the Commonwealth of Virginia has poured big amounts of money in road infrastructure in Stafford County.