Education and Career Advancement in Fredericksburg, VA

Fredericksburg, Virginia is 50 miles south of Washington, DC and 55 miles north of Richmond, VA. Fredericksburg is part of the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, sometimes called "the BW corridor." Many consider it part of Northern Virginia, also known as "NoVA," because of the large number of Fredericksburg residents who commute to Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington Counties.

Fredericksburg has a population of 20,732, with a median personal income of $21,527. It's the commercial center of a rapidly growing region of north-central Virginia. A number of Virginia trends have affected employment and industry in Fredericksburg over the past two decades. The position of tobacco in the state's agriculture has waned, and the textile and furniture industries in Virginia's Southside have declined. New economic sectors have moved in, including Northern Virginia's high-tech sector, through the coordination of statewide and regional efforts for economic development.

Fredericksburg now offers many career opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Major city employers include:

• Rappahannock Electric cooperative
• Simmons manufacturing Company
• LLC MediCorp Health System
• Flatter & Associates, Inc.
• Quarles Petroleum, Inc.

Fredericksburg's many attractions include a 40-block national historic district in the downtown area with more than 350 buildings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Another of the city's highlights is the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Military Park, which commemorates the area's civil war battles. Other local landmarks include the Mary Washington House, Rising Sun Tavern, and Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center.

Fredericksburg offers many colleges, universities, and technical schools for students seeking new degree and career options. Some schools focus on career and technical training, while others offer a liberal arts education.

Sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau, Fredericksburg, VA
• City of Fredericksburg

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