Editing Fairfax, Virginia (section)

===19th century===
On June 1, 1861, the first land battle of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the [[Battle of Fairfax Court House (1861)|Battle of Fairfax Court House]], was fought in Fairfax after a [[Union Army]] scouting party clashed with the local militia; the outcome was indecisive with neither side gaining advantage. A [[Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1863)|second battle]] took place in Fairfax two years later, on June 27, 1863, in which Union troops were defeated, which delayed the movements of [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] cavalry chief [[J. E. B. Stuart|Jeb Stuart]] with disastrous consequences for [[Robert E. Lee]] at the subsequent [[Battle of Gettysburg]], the Civil War's bloodiest battle, which began several days later.<ref>Battle of Fairfax Court House June 1861 and June 1863: {{Hanging indent | {{cite book |last=Poland|first=Charles P. Jr. |title=The Glories Of War: Small Battle And Early Heroes Of 1861 |publisher=AuthorHouse |date=2006|isbn=978-1-4184-5973-4}}{{rp|27}}}} {{Hanging indent | {{cite book |title=Stuart's Tarheels: James B. Gordon and His North Carolina Cavalry in the Civil War|publisher=McFarland|date=2011|isbn=978-0-7864-6364-0|first=Chris J. |last=Hartley}}{{rp|123}}}}</ref>

In 1859, Fairfax was renamed the "Town of Fairfax".<ref name="charter" /> It was incorporated as a town in 1874.<ref name="charter" /> It was incorporated as a city in 1961 by [[court order]].<ref name="charter" /> Under Virginia law the city was separated from Fairfax County yet remains the county seat.<ref>[http://www.fairfaxva.gov/museumvc/History.asp History of the City of Fairfax, Virginia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505151456/http://www.fairfaxva.gov/museumvc/History.asp |date=May 5, 2006 }}. Fairfaxva.gov.</ref>