The American city that once belonged to the District of Columbia
In short: Before it was a cornerstone of Northern Virginia, Alexandria was part of the nation's capital. From a thriving tobacco port to a major center of the domestic slave trade, the city's borders and identity have shifted through wars, political referendums, and the ambitions of George Washington.
Established in 1749, Alexandria's early prosperity was built on its role as a major maritime port for agricultural goods. By the 1790s, it had become the dominant port on the Potomac, ranking as the seventh-largest in the United States by 1796. However, its political geography was far from stable. In 1801, following the creation of the District of Columbia, the city was ceded from Virginia to the new federal territory, a move that stripped residents of their Virginia state citizenship and their right to vote in federal elections.
This period of federal oversight was marked by both economic opportunity and profound moral darkness. While the city served as a hub for military activity during the American Revolution, the 1830s saw it become the largest center for the domestic slave trade in the country. Companies like Franklin & Armfield operated there, annually transporting over 1,000 enslaved people to markets in Mississippi, New Orleans, and Texas. This reliance on the slave trade became a driving force in the movement to separate the city from the District.
The push for 'retrocession'—returning the city to Virginia—was fueled by economic neglect, the high costs of failed canal projects, and the desire to protect the local slave trade from potential federal abolition. In a 1846 referendum, 763 residents voted in favor of leaving the District, compared to only 222 against. President James K. Polk accepted the results, and by 1847, Virginia had formally resumed control. Today, the city remains a vital part of the Washington metropolitan area, shaped by its proximity to the national capital.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Alexandria, Virginia
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