Name Change From Lee To Franconia District Officially Approved

FRANCONIA, VA — It's official: the Lee District is officially renamed as the Franconia District in Fairfax County.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the name change officially Tuesday. It followed a board matter in June which started the process of the name change.

Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk had started community engagement in March 2021 regarding a name change for the Lee District. He previously noted the name Franconia was the overwhelming preference for those who participated in an effort to decide whether to change the name of the Lee District.

The Franconia District refers to a geographical location within the district. The Franconia District includes areas like Franconia, Rose Hill, Kingstowne, parts of Springfield and parts of the Richmond Highway corridor.

"Franconia has been central to the district’s identity for decades, and the name is synonymous with the community," said Lusk in a statement. "During our three renaming town halls, it was clear that the overwhelming majority of participants supported changing the name to Franconia. From the Franconia Governmental Center, Franconia Road, to the Franconia-Springfield Metro, the new name celebrates a place, not a person."

This year, the Fairfax County's Redistricting Advisory Committee was asked to make a recommendation if the Lee District should be renamed. The committee recommended a name change in its final report "given the context of all the Confederate names that are in use within Fairfax County and the significance of the Lee name to our area."

According to the county, historical research was "inconclusive" on whether the Lee District was named for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee or a member of the Lee family. But some still associate the name with Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy, and the county's move to rename the district supports its One Fairfax racial and social equity policy.

"We can’t change our history, but we can decide what in our history is worth celebrating and what is worth learning from to always do better," said Chairman Jeff McKay, who previously represented the then-Lee District. "Franconia is a recognizable, richly diverse area, an area I have been proud to have lived in my entire life. This new name ensures our county continues to be a welcoming community to all people."

According to board documents, the name change is effective immediately, and much of the work for the name change is expected to be done by the end of 2022. A few items such as GIS mapping updates, election precinct updates and notifications, and comprehensive plan updates will continue into early spring 2023. Fairfax County Public Schools was also prepared to update its information regarding the district.

Other name changes within the district have already happened. One of the schools within the district, Robert E. Lee High School, was renamed as John R. Lewis High School by the Fairfax County School Board in 2020. The Fairfax County Park Authority previously removed the Robert E. Lee name from its recreation center, renaming it Lee District Rec Center before it became Franconia Rec Center. Lee District Park was also renamed Franconia Park, while Lee High Park was renamed Lewis High Park. The Lee Residential Permit Parking District is now the Lewis Parking District, and the Lee Community Parking District is now the Franconia Parking District.

Localities have the authority to name their districts under state law. Magisterial district names have changed numerous times over the years. Another district considered for a name change, Sully District, is maintaining its name. The county's redistricting committee did not recommend name changes for the Springfield District or Mount Vernon District.