Defining "Northern Virginia"
"Northern Virginia" is more of a functional name than a rigidly defined area. It has no authoritative definition (like the legal boundaries of states, counties, or cities). The most common definition of Northern Virginia includes those counties and independent cities on the Virginia side of the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia Combined Statistical Area. In 2010, this included the counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren, and the independent cities Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
Businesses, governments and non-profit agencies may define the area considered "Northern Virginia" differently for various purposes. Beyond the areas closest to Washington, D.C., many communities also have close economic ties, as well as important functional ones regarding transportation issues such as roads, railroads, and airports.
Under broad and varying criteria, one might also consider Northern Virginia to include the counties of Frederick, Madison, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, and independent city Winchester.
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