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Dating back to the 17th century and the beginnings of our country, the area we now know as Fauquier County was listed in 1608 as part of the Northern Neck of the Colony of Virginia by Captain John Smith, explorer and leader of the Jamestown Colony. Named after Francis Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Virginia from 1758 to 1768, Fauquier County was founded from a section of land previously considered Prince William County, and incorporated in 1759.

The rich Civil War history in Fauquier County can be experienced through several
different self-driven tours, guided tours, museums, and historical trail markers. Although no major battles were fought in Fauquier County, a number of skirmishes involving infantry and cavalry did occur.

After the second Battle of Manassas, which took place just 10 minutes from Fauquier by today's travel standards, over 1,800 wounded soldiers were brought to Warrenton to makeshift hospitals set up in Warrenton's businesses, churches and homes.
In 1862, Union General McClellan said farewell to his troops, as Commander of the Army of the Potomac, from the balcony of what is now the Warren Green Building.

Other interesting facts

In 1909 Warrenton experienced a major fire that destroyed closeto half its structures, including the county courthouse
Wallis Warfield Spencer, the future Duchess of Windsor,
set up residency at the Warren Green Hotel to get her first divorce
President Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909) rode horseback from Washington to Warrenton and back in one day to prove such a trip was possible
The John Kennedy family came to Fauquier for recreation during their years in Washington