Alexandria is a city located in Virginia. With a 2020 population of 165,748, it is the 6th largest city in Virginia and the 158th largest city in the United States. Alexandria is currently growing at a rate of 1.60% annually and its population has increased by 18.42% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 139,966 in 2010. Spanning over 15 miles, Alexandria has a population density of 11,099 people per square mile.
The average household income in Alexandria is $127,734 with a poverty rate of 10.59%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,702 per month, and the median house value is $557,000. The median age in Alexandria is 36.5 years, 36.3 years for males, and 36.6 years for females. For every 100 females there are 92.8 males.
Alexandria is an independent city that has been heavily influenced by Washington D.C., which is located just seven miles away. The city of Alexandria was originally founded in 1749 and wasn't incorporated as a city until 1852. It was designated later as an independent city in 1870.
Alexandria Age and Education Statistics
Alexandria’s residents are more educated than others in the state, with about 58% of the city’s residents holding at least a bachelor’s degree, exceeding the 33% average of Virginia.
Population Growth in Alexandria
The city has exhibited steady population growth, and recent estimates show that the figures are up over 11% since the city’s last recorded population in 2010. This growth is driven primarily by the number of jobs in the area, including roles in the U.S. military, the Department of Defense and other government and private entities.
The town founders called the new town "Belhaven," but this was never officially approved and fell out of favor quickly, replaced with the name Alexandria upon official incorporation in 1779.
Alexandria was included in the area chosen by George Washington in 1791 to become the District of Columbia. George Washington was also the land surveyor that sketched the shoreline where the city would eventually be.
In 1814 - during the War of 1812, Alexandria suffered an attack by the British which was successful. The surrender of the city allowed the British to loot from the town stores - including flour, sugar, and wine. After three days, the British troops withdrew to rally forces for another attack.