Nokesville is a census-designated place in Prince William and Fauquier counties, Virginia. The community was originally the center of a farming area with cattle and dairy farms, and became a town and intermediate stop on the Orange & Alexandria Railway in 1865.
The community takes its name from Norvel Lane Nokes (April 3, 1841 – October 7, 1883), a United States Marine Corps officer. Nokes was born in Washington, D.C., and in 1859 purchased one of the first parcels of land in what is now Nokesville. His half brothers, James and George Nokes, also purchased land in the area during the same period.
Nokes served during the Civil War aboard the USS Vincennes and USS Pensacola, was commissioned as a First Lieutenant by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, and rose to the rank of Captain in 1872. He served as Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., from 1875 to 1878. John Philip Sousa dedicated his 1879 Resumption March to Nokes.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Nokesville was home to the German Baptist Brethren — later the Church of the Brethren. Union and Confederate forces passed through repeatedly during the Civil War, and Federal units pursuing Stonewall Jackson camped here in August 1862.
Today, with a population of 1,619 (2020 census), Nokesville retains its beloved rural character. Several sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including The Lawn, the Nokesville Truss Bridge, Brentsville Historic District, Park Gate, and Pilgrim's Rest.
