Dumfries, Va. –– What changed now that the Dumfries Magisterial District has morphed into the Potomac District?
District Supervisor Maureen Caddigan said those who live in her district would now know they don’t actually live in the Town of Dumfries.
The town and the magisterial district, now Potomac, had been and will remain two separate areas.
“When the renaming was brought forth by residents, I had no idea of the overwhelming positive input that I would receive for the name Potomac. Our district has grown significantly over the past 10 years. We now [prior to the name change] have 12 precincts, seven zip codes, and a great deal of confusion,” said Caddigan.
The newly created Potomac District was born Monday night when the Prince William County Board of Supervisors adopted its redistricting plan.
Required every 10 years, by law, the county must account for population change and shift magisterial its district boundaries to account for that change.
Encompassing the southeastern-most portion of Prince William, the Potomac District now includes the land for the planned Harbor Station development on the Cherry Hill peninsula –– which had been in the Woodbridge District –– as well as the large residential neighborhoods it had before: Ashland, Brittany, Montclair, Southbridge and Triangle.
Officials behind the renaming of the district say “Potomac” will give the area a better sense of connection to the river nearby. It will also help to reinforce plans for development along the U.S. 1 corridor in Prince William, the effort known as Prince William’s Potomac Communities initiative.
Dumfries Mayor Fred Yohey spoke out against renaming the district, saying Dumfries –– Virginia’s oldest chartered town –– brings a bit of historical significance to the area, and that county leaders should recognize that.
“This would be better done in a referendum, in which the people who were affected were asked as to whether or not they want to live in a Dumfries Magisterial District that is rich in history and tradition or in the Potomac District,” said Yohe.
The Dumfries Town Council –– the governing board for the Town of Dumfries and separate from the Prince William’s Board –– issued a declaration denouncing the name change.
The change now must go before the U.S. Department of Justice for final approval.
