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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - If you live in Huntington, Belle Haven, Hybla Valley, Franconia, Groveton, Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Hollin Hills, Rose Hill or Kingstowne, your mailing address may say Alexandria, Virginia. Your Amazon driver knows you as an Alexandria resident. So does your mail carrier.
But your city council doesn't represent you. Neither does Alexandria City Public Schools, the Alexandria Police Department or the Alexandria Sheriff's Office.
You live in Fairfax County.
This story has been a long time coming. Yesterday, a high-profile state office issued a press release describing an event as taking place in Alexandria. It didn't. The location was in Fairfax County. When The Alexandria Brief pointed out the error, it was acknowledged and corrected. It was a good-faith mistake — and one that happens constantly.
It happens almost every day. A shooting, a fire, a development project — described as occurring in Alexandria when the address is actually in Fairfax County. News outlets, social media posts, and emergency alerts routinely make the mistake. This publication has made it too. The confusion is that embedded in how the region talks about itself.
How it happened
The confusion traces back to Alexandria's history as an independent city. The dividing line between the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County was established at Cameron Run by 1871, with the West End boundary north of the Beltway finalized in the mid-20th century.
As the region grew, the U.S. Postal Service assigned mailing addresses based on its own delivery zones — not municipal boundaries. The result: large portions of Fairfax County carry Alexandria mailing addresses. Many locals refer to these neighborhoods collectively as "South Alexandria," "Lower Alexandria" or "Alexandria, Fairfax County."
The ZIP codes 22302, 22304, 22311 and 22312 are shared between Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria. The 22206 ZIP code is shared between Arlington County and the City of Alexandria.
Why it matters
The confusion has real consequences.
When a crime occurs on a Fairfax County street with an Alexandria mailing address, reporters — including those at national outlets — routinely describe it as happening in Alexandria. The Alexandria Police Department has no jurisdiction there. Fairfax County Police do.
The same confusion applies to schools, zoning decisions and emergency services. A development project with an Alexandria address may fall under Fairfax County's planning commission, not the City of Alexandria's. A call to 911 may be answered by a different jurisdiction than a resident expects.
The misidentification is common enough that some residents have taken to calling these neighborhoods "Fake Alexandria" or "Faux Alexandria" on social media — a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of an identity that exists on paper but not in practice.
City officials have said the lack of clarity has resulted in errors that mislead the public about where incidents actually occurred.
The confusion extends beyond news coverage. The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and Visit Alexandria, the city's tourism arm, both represent businesses and attractions in areas that fall outside city limits — including Mount Vernon, which is located in Fairfax County. While both organizations serve a broader regional community, their Alexandria branding can reinforce the perception that these areas are part of the city proper.
What The Alexandria Brief covers
The Alexandria Brief covers the City of Alexandria — the independent city, its government, its schools, its police department and its residents within city limits.
When something occurs at an address that carries an Alexandria mailing address but falls within Fairfax County jurisdiction, we will say so clearly. That distinction matters to our readers, and we will not paper over it.
How to check your jurisdiction
Not sure which government represents you? The City of Alexandria's GIS Parcel Viewer lets you search by address and confirm whether your property falls within city limits. Fairfax County residents can use Fairfax County's Jade mapping tool to verify their jurisdiction.
Your voter registration and property tax records will also reflect your actual jurisdiction — not your postal address. If you've ever wondered why you can't vote in Alexandria city elections, why your children attend Fairfax County Public Schools, or why a city permit office can't help you — now you know.
Ryan Belmore is the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send questions, news tips, and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
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