Catlett is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 297. It is located west of the Prince William County line. Catlett was a former rail stop on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The area was the site of many raids on the railroad during the American Civil War.
The Catlett Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, and Auburn Battlefield in 2011.
History
Thanks to the creation of a railroad system that was essential to travel and supply in Virginia, many small towns including Catlett sprung up as stops. During its heyday, Catlett was a busy telegraph outpost and mail stop along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The land that the town was built on had originally been granted to John Catlett in 1715, but was not named for him at first. The post office and town were first known as Colvin's Station after the Colvin family, but over the years was changeded to Catlett Station, and then to simply Catlett.
Catlett was the site of a pivotal skirmish in the Civil War between Maj. General J. E. B. Stuart of the Confederacy and the Union's Maj. General John Pope. The Confederates conducted the raid on the Union camp on August 22, 1862 in an effort to disrupt the Union's supply lines on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Stuart and his men began their attack during what Stuart referred to as the "darkest night I ever knew." He and his men rode into town, using sabers and fire to destroy the encampment. The Confederates were able to burn the Federal encampment, cut telephone wires, obtain wagon full's of supplies and capture almost 300 Union troops. They attempted to destroy the railroad bridge that lies on the outskirts of Catlett. A heavy thunderstorm prevented burning the bridge, so the Confederates attempted to use axes, but were turned away by Union riflemen who caught them. The most important prize that the Confederates gained were General Pope's orders, which contained critical information about the Union campaign. These orders were taken by Stuart to General Robert E. Lee and played a pivotal role in securing the South's victory in the Battle of Second Manassas.
Later in the war, Col. John S. Mosby conducted a raid with his cavalry unit in an attempt to disable an engine on the same rail line that Stuart had attacked in August 1862. This skirmish on May 20, 1863 went in favor of the superior numbers of the Union troops. Mosby's unit retreated after disabling the engine with a Howitzer cannon that they had captured the previous day. The Confederate troops took 5 fatalities, 20 injuries, and 10 of Mosby's men were captured by the Federals.
Geography
Catlett is located in southeastern Fauquier County, bordered to the southwest by Calverton. Virginia State Route 28 passes through the community, leading southwest through Calverton to Midland and Bealeton; to the northeast it leads through Nokesville in Prince William County to the city of Manassas. Warrenton, the Fauquier County seat, is 12 miles (19Â km) to the northwest via local roads.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Catlett CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4Â km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07Â km2), or 0.84%, is water. The western and southern edge of Catlett is formed by Cedar Run, a tributary of the Occoquan River, which flows southeast to the Potomac.
Demographics
According to the 2010 census the total population of Catlett, Virginia is 297. The town of Catlett is predominantly White with 251 residents or 84.5% of the population. The second highest and only other race in Catlett is African-American with 46 residents or 15.5% of the population. Data from the 2010 census shows that there are no other ethnicities living in Catlett.
100% of the population of Catlett are citizens of the United States with a median age of 56.2. Between her 144 households, Catlett is a relatively wealthy town bringing in a median household income of $78,198.
Education
Catlett contains H. M. Pearson Elementary School. The citizen's of Catlett are educated through Fauquier County Public Schools. Catlett is zoned for Cedar Lee Middle School and Liberty High School. There are also many private schools both in Fauquier County and its neighboring Prince William County that are available for citizens of Catlett to attend.
Public services
Catlett is home to Engine Company 7 which services much of Fauquier County. They are equipped to fight both building and vehicular fires, as well as brush fires. The engine company also has two ambulances. Engine Company 7 is a completely volunteer run fire station made up of over 80 participants. The fire company is made up of two merged organizations: the Catlett Volunteer Fire Company which was organized in 1962 and the Cedar Run Volunteer Rescue Squad which was organized in 1973.
Politics
Catlett is in Virginia's 1st congressional district and Virginia's 31st House of Delegates district. Catlett was in Virginia's 28th Senate district until the 2011 redistricting put it in Virginia's 27th Senate district. Catlett is in the Cedar Run district of the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors.
References
Notes
Sources
- Virginia Trend Report 2: State and Complete Places (Sub-state 2010 Census Data)
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Catlett, Virginia
