Long before European settlement, the area that is now Alexandria was inhabited by indigenous peoples, notably the Doeg tribe. By the late 17th century, European land grants began dividing the area. In 1749, Scottish merchants founded the town, naming it after the Alexander family who owned the land. It quickly grew into a bustling seaport and a major tobacco trading center.
In 1791, Alexandria was included in the original 100-square-mile territory chosen by George Washington to form the District of Columbia. However, economic stagnation and fears of losing the lucrative slave trade led residents to petition for return to Virginia, which was granted in 1846 (an event known as the Retrocession). Tragically, prior to the Civil War, Alexandria was home to one of the largest domestic slave trading firms in the country, Franklin and Armfield.
During the Civil War, Alexandria was occupied by Union troops almost immediately in 1861 and remained under military control for the duration of the conflict. It became a critical logistical supply center for the Union army and a sanctuary for African Americans escaping slavery, eventually leading to the establishment of the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery.
In the 20th century, Alexandria transformed from an industrial and railroad hub into a thriving residential and commercial center. In the 1960s and 1970s, significant urban renewal and historic preservation efforts protected Old Town's colonial architecture. Today, Alexandria continues to evolve, recently welcoming major institutions like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the upcoming Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.