Manassas, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Town Is Born
1873 - 1915
As the twentieth century dawned, an emerging town stood on what was once battle-scarred land. Incorporated in 1873, Manassas included church, businesses, banks, newspapers, small police and fire departments, and hudnreds of homes. The influence of the road continued to shape community and was the main factor in Manassas becoming the county seat in 1892. Women in particular played an important role in shaping the town during the first quarter of the twentieth century, established schools, working in local businesses, and creating civic organizations that supported a wide array of charitable causes. As segregation was a way of life, local Black citizens contributed much to their neighborhoods, building schools, churches, and businesses central to the growth of community.
Everything here is new
George Carr Round, 1885
[Captions:]
Center Street in 1915 and the first water lines being installed. Note the horse drawn carriages parked in the background. For Manassas, automobiles were still a thing of the future when this photo was taken.
Manassas Museum Collection
Eugenia Osbourne (left) and Jennie Dean (below) used their passion for education to establish schools in the late nineteenth century for the schildren of Manassas.
Manassas Museum Collection
Surveying tools like this one were used when laying out streets and lots in Manassas during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Photograph by Don Flory
Manassas Museum Collection
Erected by City
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, City of Manassas series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.
Location. 38° 45.019′ N, 77° 28.399′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia. It is on West Street south of Center Street (Virginia Route 28), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9417 West St, Manassas VA 20110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
Other markers no longer nearby. The Town Is Born (has been replaced with this marker); Jackson's Raid (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Wartime Manassas (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Site of Manassas Junction (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker. There are slight differences in the inscriptions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
