One thing that newcomers to Fairfax, Virginia often find confusing is that while the address says Fairfax, some homes are in Fairfax City and others are in Fairfax County.

At first glance, it might seem like they are just different names for the same area. However, it's not just a matter of different neighborhood names.

They are separate administrative regions, each with its own government responsible for taxes, schools, various permits, and public services.

This structure is particularly common in Virginia.

In most parts of the U.S., cities are located within counties.

However, Virginia has a unique system called Independent City.

As the name suggests, an independent city is a distinct administrative region that is not part of any county.

Fairfax City falls into this category.

Fairfax City is a small city, covering only about 6.3 square miles.

It's even more interesting when you look at a map. Fairfax County surrounds it on all sides, so at first glance, it looks like a city within the county.

But administratively, they are completely separate.

Fairfax City has its own City Council and administrative organization, and its school system operates independently.

Taxes and various city administrative services are handled by Fairfax City, not Fairfax County.

In contrast, Fairfax County is much larger in scale.

Areas familiar to the Korean community, such as Annandale, Centreville, McLean, and Reston, are included in Fairfax County.

The county is divided into nine Supervisor Districts, and the Board of Supervisors makes major policy decisions.

Fairfax City is not included in this structure. Therefore, it's essential to check this difference when looking for a home.

This is especially important for Korean families with children.

When we look for a home in the U.S., we often consider school districts first. Just because the address says Fairfax doesn't mean you will automatically attend Fairfax County Public Schools.

Students living in Fairfax City are part of the city's school system, and the actual school operations and some services are provided through a unique contract relationship with Fairfax County Public Schools.

The same goes for property taxes, vehicle-related taxes, and various permits. If you search for Fairfax tax online and go to any site, you might wonder, "Why isn't my address showing up?" It turns out you were looking on the County site while being a City resident.

Be cautious about making judgments based solely on the mailing address.

While 22030 and 22031 are commonly used in the Fairfax area, the ZIP Code does not exactly match the administrative boundaries. In particular, 22031 can be used for addresses in both Fairfax City and Fairfax County. So, don't assume that "22030 or 22031 means it's definitely Fairfax City."

When buying or renting a home, it's most accurate to verify whether the address is actually in Fairfax City or Fairfax County through official address lookup or property tax records.

Especially for those coming from Korea and looking for a home based on school districts, be sure to check whether it's a City or County before signing a contract.