Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located 49 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 58 miles north of Richmond. As of 2009, the city had a population of 22,902. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County for statistical purposes. It is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Located near where the Rappahannock River crosses the Fall Line, during the colonial era, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia. During the American Civil War, the town, located halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and Second Battle of Fredericksburg. Many Fredericksburg-area residents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Richmond, Fairfax, Prince William County, and Arlington, as well as Washington, D.C.