 History:
In 1721, a vast new county was formed in the young
colony of Virginia. Extending far beyond the Blue
Ridge Mountains, this frontier outpost was named for
Alexander Spotswood, Colonial Governor of Virginia.
Much of Spotsylvania County's early development is
attributed to Spotswood's ironworks that he founded
in the early 1700's. Spotswood's "Iron Mines
Company," mining and smelting operation, was founded
in 1725 at Germanna. This was the first fully
equipped iron furnace in the colonies and
Spotsylvania County's first industry. A blast furnace, also
founded by Spotswood, was operated in this area from 1730-1785. Remnants of the
ironworks are still found in the County. At his death in 1740, Spotswood left behind, in the wilderness of
Spotsylvania County, a nearly self-sufficient iron empire that set in motion the rise of America's iron and
steel industry. Spotswood's Furnace was acquired in 1842 by the United States government who set up a
forge and foundries. Here, the government made hundreds of cannons to supply the
Mexican War. At that time, it was one of the most important cannon works in the country.
Four major Civil War battles were fought on Spotsylvania soils, including one of the
bloodiest of the war, the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864. Here the armies
of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee saw one of the most intense clashes in American
history, the Union attack on the Confederate-held "Bloody Angle." This battle marked the
beginning of the fall of the Confederacy. Also, it was in Spotsylvania County, at
Chancellorsville, that Stonewall Jackson fell to the mistaken fire of his own men. The
National Park Service maintains more than 4,400 acres of the Civil War battlefields in
various locations throughout Spotsylvania County.
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Location:
Spotsylvania's strategic
location is not just a geographic advantage. The site selection process involves many different factors
that affect a location’s potential for profitability.
In the case of Spotsylvania County, one key factor ties all the rest together:
our strategic location.
 Easy Transportation
Access - and proximity to major markets are
crucial for businesses that are looking for a place to relocate or expand.
Spotsylvania County's central East Coast location puts 65% of the total U.S. population within 750
miles.
And its prime location
between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, VA provides ideal access to these markets.
Interstate 95, the East Coast’s main transportation corridor,
runs right through the county.
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 More Advanced
Infrastructure - Spotsylvania enjoys a leading-edge telecommunications infrastructure that benefits both high-tech companies and those in more traditional sectors, as well.
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- Utilities
- Spotsylvania County also exceeds expectations when it comes to the basic
 resources needed for today’s businesses. From electric power to water to natural gas, Spotsylvania has the high-quality utilities and natural resources that help businesses prosper.
Reliable, low-priced electric power, costing 15% less than the national
average, is readily available in Spotsylvania from well established, experienced companies
with the capacity and the forethought to meet Spotsylvania’s industrial, commercial, and residential needs, both today and in the future.
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- Soil - The soil we build on and grow in is a key aspect of Spotsylvania’s strategic location for a
 variety of businesses. Planners, community officials, engineers, developers, builders, and home buyers all have access to Spotsylvania’s comprehensive soil survey data, which can be used to help plan land use, select sites for construction, identify special practices needed to ensure proper performance, and identify productive agricultural or forest lands.
- Woodlands
- 70% of Spotsylvania County’s total land area (184,537
acres) is made of up of woodland, much of which consists of second-growth hardwoods, loblolly pine, and Virginia pine, varying in size from seedling and pole to mature saw timber.
While we’ve encouraged growth in Spotsylvania, we also know that woodlands and other natural areas contribute to the high quality of life here, and are actively seeking to maintain them.
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- Air Quality
- Spotsylvania enjoys good air quality, and most new or expanding industries have no problem meeting air quality standards established by the EPA and State Air Pollution Control Board. Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act of 1977, Spotsylvania is classified as an “undesignated” area.
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- High-Tech
Territory - Spotsylvania County is located
adjacent to Northern Virginia (NOVA), home to more than 6,000 high-tech
companies and second in concentration only to Silicon Valley.
For more than 12 years, many of these companies have been migrating to
Spotsylvania, because, like NOVA, the County offers proximity to Washington, D.C.; access to a well-educated, highly trained workforce; and a sophisticated, high-speed telecommunications infrastructure.
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- Smart & Abundant
Workforce - Spotsylvania has a low unemployment rate and yet there is a more than abundant workforce available to businesses here. In addition to the 131,000 workers that live within the Spotsylvania region, nearly one million highly educated, highly mobile workers live within the County’s 40-minute commute zone, which extends into Northern Virginia.
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- Diverse
Industry - In Spotsylvania, you’ll find everything from high-tech to back-office, manufacturing to call centers, and retail to warehousing and distribution – a diverse economic base that makes for a strong economic base.
 In fact, Spotsylvania has been ranked by Demographics Daily as the #1 small-business sector in the U.S.. The study analyzed conditions in each of the 1,003 counties and independent cities that have at least 1,000 small businesses. Spotsylvania was ranked first in the nation, with a vitality index of 602, six times the national benchmark of 100.
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- Quality of
Life - Spotsylvania offers its residents a
highly desirable quality of life with many
business, recreational, educational and cultural
opportunities and a rich history. Visit
quality
of life page for more!
The
2010
Demographic Profile contains details & more
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Tax
Information:
Spotsylvania has
one of the lowest overall tax burdens of any
metropolitan area in the nation, due in part to a
state income tax that is among the nation's
lowest—six percent—and which hasn't increased
since 1971. Local taxation in Spotsylvania County
includes taxes on real estate (reassessed every two
years), mobile homes, machinery and tools, motor
vehicles, and utility purchases. The County prorates
cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, campers, motor
homes and boats.
Unaffected by proration are airplanes, business property, and
machinery and tools, which are assessed as of
January 1 each year.
Click
here for comprehensive tax rate information |
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