1742Government
The first Fairfax courthouse was established in 1742 near present-day Tysons, and is the namesake for Old Courthouse Road.
1752History
In 1752, the courthouse was moved to Alexandria, which offered to build the new courthouse at their own expense.
1790Government
The courthouse operated there until 1790, when Virginia ceded the land where the courthouse was located in preparation for the relocation of the national capital from Philadelph...
1800History
The first meeting of the Fairfax Court was held April 21, 1800.
1805Government
The town of "Providence" was established on the site by an act of the state legislature in 1805.
1859History
In 1859, Fairfax was renamed the "Town of Fairfax".
1863Military
A second battle took place in Fairfax two years later, on June 27, 1863, in which Union troops were defeated, which delayed the movements of Confederate cavalry chief Jeb Stuart...
1873Education
The oldest two-story building in Fairfax, the Fairfax Public School was built in 1873 for $2,750.
1874History
In 1874, the town changed its name to Fairfax.
1900Military
Joseph Edward Willard built the town hall building in 1900, and then gifted it to the town in 1902.
1904History
=== 20th century ===
In 1904, a trolley line connected Fairfax with Washington, D.C.
1949Government
The university was founded in 1949, and was initially an extension of the University of Virginia named the Northern Virginia University Center of the University of Virginia.
1958Education
Nine years after its founding, in 1958, the Town of Fairfax purchased 150 acres (0.61 km2) for the university, though the property remained within the county when the town becam...
1961Government
It was incorporated as a city in 1961 by court order.
1966Government
The present charter was granted in 1966.
1972Education
In 1972, following several name changes, the institution became George Mason University.
1986Sports
Smith won it in 1986 and 2002, respectively.
1992Architecture
On July 4, 1992, the building became the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center.
2005History
== Economy ==
Old Town Fairfax has undergone an extensive redevelopment, which began in 2005.
2009History
In May 2009, Fairfax was rated as No.
2016Crime
=== Mayor arrested for distribution of methamphetamine ===
On August 4, 2016, then-Mayor Scott Silverthorne was arrested in a sting operation conducted by the Fairfax County Pol...
2019Infrastructure
==== E-scooters and dock less mobility ====
In February 2019, the city has launched a one-year pilot program for e-scooters and other dockless transportation.
2023Government
George Mason University, located in unincorporated Fairfax County along Fairfax's southern border, is the largest public university in Virginia with 40,185 students as of 2023.
2024History
=== Nonprofit Grants Program ===
In December 2024 the recipients of the City's new Nonprofit Grants Program were named.