Our Story
A neighborhood that sits atop history
About SRCA and
Our Neighborhood
Seminary Ridge is located in Alexandria, Virginia. It was developed in the 1970s and today, the neighborhood has many long-time residents as well as newcomers and young families, all drawn to the convenience and friendly neighborhood.
The Seminary Ridge Civic Association (SRCA) consists of 237 homes in the covenant section, which are subject to the Seminary Ridge Constitution, Bylaws, Deeds of Restriction and Covenants. The SRCA connects neighbors, serves the community, and amplifies the voices of Seminary Ridge residents.
All covenant and non-covenant members are welcome to participate in various Seminary Ridge activities, which generally include an annual yard sale, movie on the green, picnic/annual meeting, seasonal yard decoration contest, Halloween party, and winter party. SRCA also provides a directory of residents that includes both covenant and non-covenant members.
Residents in neighboring streets are also welcome to join the SRCA as non-covenant, non-voting members. Both St. Stephen’s Road and Fort Williams Parkway have covenant and non-covenant households. The other streets included in the non-covenant section are: Carson Place, Chelsea Court, Dearborn Place, Malvern Court, N. Clarens Street, N. Quaker Lane (502 - 504), Seminary Road (3730 - 4000), Sylvan Court, Trinity Drive (3550 – 3663) and Tupelo Place.
There is one school in our neighborhood, St. Stephens’s and St. Agnes School, and they welcome Seminary Ridge residents to cheer on the athletic teams as they play. Check the school athletics calendar for the most up-to-date game schedules.
Even if you are not interested in membership, please feel free to view all the information on our website. Our Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes and our email communications provide more in-depth details on local and City events and issues affecting our entire area. Sign up here to get on the SRCA email distribution list.
Seminary Ridge:
The History of Fort Worth
The Seminary Ridge neighborhood is unusual in that its homes sit atop history. Within days of Virginia's succession, Federal troops entered Alexandria and began occupying the high ground around the city. Following the Union defeat at Bull Run, General McClellan ordered the construction of a series of forts (ultimately 68) to protect Washington. Four forts in what is now Alexandria were constructed beginning in September, 1861.
Fort Worth, a timber and earthwork fort, was built on the Fairfax family’s Vaucluse estate. The house was torn down and bricks from the house used to construct powder magazines. The fort had a perimeter of 463 yards with 25 gun emplacements. Trees were cleared to Cameron Run and used to make an abatis on the lower slopes.
Today, Hardee Place is where the entrance to the fort was located. The houses surrounding the cul-de-sac were built near the bastions. 4010 Harris Place was built on the south magazine. Fort Worth Avenue follows the dry moat at the base of the fort.
The fort itself was destroyed in 1970 and much of the land around it bull-dozed to make way for development of the present Seminary Ridge community. A visit to Fort Ward will show how the fort was constructed.