The most populous jurisdiction in the Washington Metropolitan area, Fairfax County is bordered by the Potomac River, which separates it from Washington, DC, and Maryland, and by the City of Alexandria and the counties of Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun in Virginia.

Formed in 1742, Fairfax County is rich in history, especially from the Colonial and Civil War eras. George Washington's Mount Vernon estate is probably the best known of the County's many historic sites.

Today, Fairfax is a modern urban county encompassing nearly four hundred square miles with a population of almost one million persons. It has an urban county executive form of government with a county executive and department heads, including the Chief of Police, appointed by an elected ten-member board of supervisors.

The County's population growth has been accompanied by ever-increasing expansion of its business and industrial base. Only five cities have more office space than Fairfax County, which surpasses Boston, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, among others, in terms of total office space. The County is home to hundreds of hi-tech firms as well as to the corporate headquarters of Mobil Oil, Electronic Data Systems and Mars Candy Corporation.

There is a substantial government presence as well. Major installations include Central Intelligence Agency headquarters, the top-secret National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. Geological Survey and Fort Belvoir.

Three regional shopping centers and a host of smaller ones provide exceptional opportunities for retail and service businesses, and simultaneous opportunities for criminal activities.

Major transportation facilities include Washington Dulles International Airport (which is shared with Loudoun County), the Metro Transit system, Interstate 66, the Capital Beltway and Interstate 95, which is the main north-south vehicular corridor on the East Coast.

Proximity to the Nation's Capital means that Fairfax County's residents and visitors include numerous dignitaries such as members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, cabinet members, agency directors and military leaders. There is a large diplomatic corps presence, as well.

Fairfax County is widely recognized for its outstanding school and library systems, and the county government has received frequent recognition for innovative programs and procedures.

The Fairfax County Police Department was established in 1940 with an initial force of five officers. Today, the department employs more than 1,350 officers and more than 340 civilian personnel.