Occoquan

Occoquan is a small town in northern Virginia. It is one of the four incorporated towns in Prince William County VA. The other three are Dumfries, Haymarket and Quantico. The Occoquan river borders the town to the north. This river played a large part in the towns history.

The towns history began in 1736 with a tobacco warehouse. That was followed by other buildings along the river that soon turned into an industrial complex. The Merchant's Mill was an important part of Occoquan's growth and it operated for 175 years. It is now a museum, just one of the many historic landmarks in this unique town.

The town of Occoquan is famous for it's historic homes and businesses and the ghosts they say reside in some of them.

Some of these places of interest include the Shanklin home and the Occoquan Schoolhouse, both on Commerce Street. The Occoquan Inn, Leary's Lumber and Hardware Store and Wayland's Grocery are on Mill Street. The Hammill Hotel and the Courtyard are on Union Street. These are just some of the buildings of significance in this old town, and yes, they just may be haunted.

The town is now geared towards tourists and artists. It is full of shops and restaurants and everything else that is needed to make a day of sightseeing complete, including ghost walks.

The Occoquan Spring Arts and Crafts is just one of the many events held in Occoquan's Historic District. This is not to be missed if you are in the area the first week of June. Any Saturday is a good day for the Farmers Market featuring freshproduce from local farmers.

Occoquan is just north of Woodbridge and is surrounded by state and national parks. All within a close distance are the Mason Neck State Park, the Piscataway National Park, Prince William Forest Park, Fountainhead Regional Park and Manassas Park.

The Occoquan River is used for boating and all types of water activities. Prince William County is full of recreational activities, all within a short drive. Whether you want hiking, boating, fishing, bird watching, shopping, visiting museums and libraries, it's all close at hand. That is if you can ever stand to leave this beautiful little town called Occoquan VA.

Occoquan Facts and Figures

State:
County:
Mayor:
ZIP code:
Area code(s):

Virginia
Prince William
Earnie Porta
22125
703

Area

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Water:

0.2 sq mi
0.2 sq mi
0.0 sq mi

Occoquan Map & Directions (click on marker for your personalized directions)

Occoquan is located at 38°40'58''N 77°15'39''W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.2 square miles. The population was 759 at the 2000 census and 418 households, and 186 families residing in the town.

There were 443 housing units at an average density of 2,841.7/sq mi (1,069.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.51% White, 8.17% Black, 0.53% Aboriginal American, 1.58% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.46% of the population.

There were 418 households out of which 11.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.3% were non-families. 45.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.82 and the average family size was 2.54.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,750, and the median income for a family was $77,420. Males had a median income of $50,938 versus $30,833 for females. The per capita income for the town was $33,007.

Occoquan is derived from a Dogue Indian word meaning "at the end of the water". Located on the Occoquan River, Occoquan was a natural site for water-borne commerce. A number of structures in town, including many in the downtown commercial area, are part of the Occoquan Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places; the former house of the town founder, Rockledge, is also listed on the Register.

To learn more about Occoquan read Historic Occoquan; Occoquan Information; or More Occoquan Info.

Occoquan Town Articles:

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