Dumfries, VA

Dumfries is a town in and the county seat of Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,814 at the 2010 census. Dumfries is located in central Virginia on U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 58, about midway between Lynchburg to the west and Charlottesville to the east.

The town was founded in 1772 by Scots-Irish immigrants who had settled in what is now western Virginia during the early colonial period. Dumfries was named for Robert Burns' home village of Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The first settler in what would become Dumfries was James Robertson, who arrived from Pennsylvania in 1772 with his wife and four children; Robertson's son James Jr., became one of the town's leading citizens and served as its first mayor (1802-1806).

The economy of Dumfries has traditionally been based on agriculture (especially tobacco), although since the late 20th century it has diversified into other industries such as tourism and information technology services. In recent years, Dumfries has experienced significant growth due to its proximity to major metropolitan areas such as Richmond and Charlottesville; as a result, many new businesses have opened up in the town over the past few years.