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By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Town of Dumfries 275th Anniversary

WHEREAS, the Town of Dumfries, Virginia celebrates its 275th anniversary on May 11, 2024, and it is fitting to recognize the rich history of Dumfries on this significant milestone; and

WHEREAS, the settlement of present-day Dumfries can be traced back to the Quantico Church, built around 1667, and later to about 1690 when Richard Gibson built a gristmill on Quantico Creek; and

WHEREAS, the small, historic Town of Dumfries, located in southern Prince William County, was established as the first of seven townships in the county; and

WHEREAS, located at the head of the harbor of Quantico Creek, the original 60 acres for the Town of Dumfries was provided by John Graham and named after his hometown in Scotland; and

WHEREAS, on May 11, 1749, the town received its charter making it the oldest continuously chartered town in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in the mid-18th century, Dumfries thrived as the second leading tobacco port in Colonial America, rivaling New York, Philadelphia, and Boston; and

WHEREAS, Dumfries is located alongside Interstate 95 about 30 miles south of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, and about 80 miles north of Richmond, the Virginia state capital, and near Marine Corps Base Quantico, Fort Belvoir, as well as museums and historical sites; and

WHEREAS, the 275th anniversary of the historic Town of Dumfries is a time to celebrate a community proud of its heritage and dedicated to preserving it for future generations; and

WHEREAS, the history, culture, and the people of the Town of Dumfries, Virginia strengthen the Spirit of Virginia, and citizens are encouraged to join the town in celebrating their long and proud history;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 11, 2024, as the 275th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF DUMFRIES in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.