City of Fairfax, Virginia
Quick answer: The City of Fairfax is an independent city in Virginia. Its estimated population in 2025 was 26,772, up 10.9% since 2020. It covers about 6 square miles of land.
| Type | independent city |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1805 |
| Population, 2025 estimate | 26,772 |
| Population, 2020 estimate | 24,174 |
| Change 2020–2025 | 10.7% |
| Rank by population in Virginia | 70 of 133 |
Overview
The City of Fairfax is one of Virginia's 38 independent cities. In Virginia, an independent city is not part of any county; it runs its own local government, courts and schools.[1] Fairfax is also the county seat of Fairfax County, even though the city is legally separate from that county.[2] Its founding date is recorded as 1805.[2] The name comes from Thomas Fairfax.[2]
Population of Fairfax
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Fairfax at 26,772 in July 2025, up 10.9% from the April 2020 base of 24,146.[1] That made it 70th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 7th for growth since 2020.[1]
From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 3,096 births and 1,463 deaths, a natural increase of 1,633.[1] More people moved away to other parts of the United States than moved in. Net domestic migration was -941. Moves from abroad added 1,911.[1]
Geography
The City of Fairfax covers 6.2 square miles of land and 0.0 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 129th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 4,290 people per square mile in 2025, so it is one of the more densely settled places in the state. Its geographic center lies near 38.85° N, 77.30° W.[3]
The city borders Fairfax County.[4]
The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 1 named stream in the city.[5]
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairfax in a county?
No. Fairfax is an independent city, so it is not part of any county.
What is the population of the City of Fairfax?
About 26,772 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
How big is the City of Fairfax?
About 6 square miles of land, plus 0.0 square miles of water.
References
- [1] U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025) – last checked 11/08/2026
- [2] Wikidata, Fairfax city, Virginia (open data, CC0) – last checked 11/08/2026
- [3] U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files: Counties – last checked 11/08/2026
- [4] U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File (2024) – last checked 11/08/2026
- [5] U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Domestic Names – last checked 11/08/2026
Official website: www.fairfaxva.gov
Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.