Welcome to
Discover Stafford
Stafford County spans more than 400
years of significant contributions in the
building of our nation.
We invite you to explore the stories we
know, add the stories not yet told, and
stay engaged as we celebrate and
Discover Stafford together!
Stafford Stories
Explore the stories and images of Stafford County. These stories are part of the history of a county, then a state, then a nation. It’s all connected. Stafford’s stories are America’s stories.
Heritage Trail
Explore and experience Stafford’s African American history spanning 300 years in Stafford County.
Historical Figure of the Week
Samuel Hampson Skinker
Born 1785 – Died 1856
Samuel Hampson Skinker (1785-1856) was the son of William Skinker (1738-1812) and Mary (Sells) Powlett (c.1745-1798) and the nephew of Thomas Skinker (1722-1802). Around 1776 Thomas Skinker purchased 1,021 acres in Stafford from Charles Carter (1738-1796). Part of this tract became known as Oakley and passed to Samuel H. Skinker. The fine old frame house, located on the west side of Poplar Road (Route 616) and in the corner formed by the intersection of this road and Shackelford’s Well Road (Route 754), collapsed in 2003. Part of the farm is now occupied by a housing subdivision called Oakley Reserve. Samuel Skinker married Margaret Wilson Julian (died 1863), the only daughter of Dr. John Julian of Fredericksburg. Samuel devised Oakley to his unmarried daughters, Louisa Virginia Knox Skinker (1828-1886) and Lucy E. Scott Skinker (1807-1896), and to his son, John Howard Skinker (1814-1867). Samuel was a veteran of the War of 1812.
History in Stafford
Explore the past with our interactive historical map, featuring artifacts and locations throughout history. Zoom in to discover more information and click on markers to learn more about specific time periods and places.
Get Involved
Discover Stafford is looking for volunteers for our upcoming events and projects. If you can spare some time to help out, it would be greatly appreciated. Even just a few hours can make a big difference.
Get Social
Stay current on everything Discover Stafford using Facebook and Instagram.
We invite you to use #discoverstafford to share your Stafford experiences on our social platforms.
Donate
Your gift will support our mission to teach, research and interpret the history and culture of Stafford County.
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