Area Code 571

Where Is Area Code 571?

Area code 571 is the area code for a portion of Northern Virginia. Area code 571 is located in the Eastern Time Zone and covers 11 counties of Virginia. Area code 571 was put into use on March 1, 2000, and was created as an overlay of area code 703.

Alexandria is an independent city situated along the western bank of the Potomac River in Northern Virginia; independent cities are administratively independent of any county. Located approximately 8 miles south of downtown Washington, D.C., Alexandria’s proximity to the U.S. capital has greatly influenced the city. Going back in history, a land patent granted 6,000 acres to Robert Howsing in 1669, which would later become the city of Alexandria. Captain Philip Alexander II and his cousin Captain John Alexander founded Alexandria in 1749 but the town did not become incorporated until 1779. In 1791, Alexandria was ceded to the U.S. Government to form the District of Columbia. By the 1830s, Alexandria served as one of the largest slave trading ports in the country. Over time, the people of Alexandria wanted to separate from the District of Columbia. Once voters petitioned Virginia and the federal government to return Alexandria to Virginia, the federal government retroceded Alexandria to Virginia in 1846.

When it comes to the economy, the majority of the residents work in the federal civil service and in the U.S. military; the largest employers in the city are United States Department of Commerce and United States Department of Defense. Since Alexandria is an independent city, it obtains its governing authority from the Virginia General Assembly. One of the most popular spots in the city is Old Town. Old Town is a revitalized waterfront with redbrick sidewalks, antique shops, colonial houses and churches, boutiques, restaurants, and theaters. The Old Town Waterfront is the best place to take in scenic views of the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. The Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend is one of Alexandria’s most festive events and consists of an entire weekend of events and festivities that celebrate the city's Scottish heritage. The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is the highlight of the event and features hundreds of Scottish clansmen marching through Old Town with their bagpipes. Alexandria has a distributed park system with more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space. The city has all kinds of parks including nature parks, waterfront parks, historic parks, and family friendly parks. For people who like to jog, bike, and hike, the Mount Vernon Trail runs through Old Town. Points of interest in the city include the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, the Carlyle House, and the Little Theatre of Alexandria.

Fairfax is an independent city in Northern Virginia; even though it is an independent city, it is the county seat of Fairfax County. Going back in history, farmers from Virginia's Tidewater region settled the area in the early 18th century. The town of Providence was established in 1805 and renamed Fairfax in 1859. Fairfax was named in honor of landholder Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Today Fairfax has a population of 22,565 and the racial makeup of the city is 69.6% White, 15.8% Hispanic, 15.2% Asian, and 4.7% African American (2010 Census). The low crime rate makes Fairfax a safe city to reside in. To help increase the economy, Fairfax underwent an extensive redevelopment that included additional retail and restaurant space, office condominiums, and upscale residential condominium units. Annual events in the city include the Chocolate Lovers Festival, the Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Festival, the Fall for the Book Festival, and the Festival of Lights and Carols.

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