In 2025, the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, Heritage Resources Branch (DPD-HRB), received a Certified Local Government grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) to develop a static printed map of historic African American communities in Fairfax County. DPD-HRB has contracted with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), to complete the project. The map will identify the locations of 47 historic African American communities and include a historic narrative for each. It will also feature images representing the communities and their existing resources.

This project builds upon earlier work completed in 2021 as part of  a reconnaissance-level architectural survey, which documented 18 historic African American communities and 52 individual resources. The survey was also funded through a Cost-Share grant from VDHR. The final African American Historic Resources Survey Report provided a historic context for post-Civil War African American resources and included recommendations for future preservation efforts.

Since the completion of the survey,  community members have identified additional resources, including some that are no longer extant and were outside the scope of the original study. DPD-HRB staff have subsequently conducted research and worked closely with community members to identify and document approximately 200 historic African American resources including 47 communities. These communities will be represented by the current map project.

Additional funding for the project has been provided by the Fairfax County History Commission, Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, and DPD.

Timeline

WJE will begin work in January 2026. The project is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.