School Street
Title
School Street
Date
1920s - 1990s
Description
In the early 1920s an African American community was settled not far from the Historical Courthouse. After a fire had damaged most of Main Street, a developer John Rust, bought the land around School Street and subdivided it into lots. Many African Americans bought the lots and generations of families lived there for seventy years. By 1989, developers began buying the property to build large homes and the community disappeared.
Creator
John Rust
District
Town of Fairfax
Location
School Street, Fairfax, Va
Additional Notes
“A Bit of Virginia History is on the Block” The Washington Post August 14, 1989, describes the history of the community and its residents.
Collection
Citation
John Rust, “School Street,” Fairfax County African American History Inventory, accessed October 24, 2026, https://fairfaxaahi.centerformasonslegacies.com/items/show/152.