Opal, Virginia

Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

38°37′15″N 77°48′00″W / 38.62083°N 77.80000°W / 38.62083; -77.80000CountryUnited StatesStateVirginiaCountyFauquierArea

• Total3.16 sq mi (8.19 km²) • Land3.14 sq mi (8.12 km²) • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km²)Elevation

449 ft (137 m)Population

(2010)

• Total691 • Density220/sq mi (85.1/km²)Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)ZIP code

20186

FIPS code51-59416GNIS feature ID1499824

Opal (formerly Fayettesville) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. It is on U.S. Highway 15/U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 29, at an elevation of 449 feet (137 m).^[1] The population as of the 2010 census was 691.^[2]

Geography

Opal is in western Fauquier County, 7 miles (11 km) south of Warrenton, the county seat, and 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Culpeper. US Route 17 diverges from Route 15 and 29 at Opal, leading southeast 31 miles (50 km) to Fredericksburg. Bealeton is directly south of Opal.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Opal CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.2 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km²), or 0.81%, is water.^[2] The north and east sides of the community are part of the Potomac River watershed via Licking Run, Cedar Run, and the Occoquan River, while the west and south sides are part of the Rappahannock River watershed, via Tinpot Run and Bowens Run.

History

Opal was chartered in 1798 as Fayettesville.^[3]

References

^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Opal, Virginia
^ ^a ^b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Opal CDP, Virginia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 19, 2016.^{[dead link]}
^ Harrison, Fairfax (1924), Landmarks of Old Prince William, pg 666.