Opal, Virginia
Census-designated place
Sheetz gas station in Opal
Opal Location within Fauquier county Show map of Northern Virginia Opal Opal (Virginia) Show map of Virginia Opal Opal (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°37′15″N 77°48′00″W / 38.62083°N 77.80000°W / 38.62083; -77.80000
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Fauquier
Area
• Total	3.16 sq mi (8.19 km2)
• Land	3.14 sq mi (8.12 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	449 ft (137 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	691
• Density	220/sq mi (85.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	20186
FIPS code	51-59416
GNIS feature ID	1499824

Opal (formerly Fayettesville) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. It is on U.S. Highway 15/U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 29, at an elevation of 449 feet (137 m).^[1] The population as of the 2010 census was 691.^[2]

Geography

Opal is in western Fauquier County, 7 miles (11 km) south of Warrenton, the county seat, and 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Culpeper. US Route 17 diverges from Route 15 and 29 at Opal, leading southeast 31 miles (50 km) to Fredericksburg. Bealeton is directly south of Opal.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Opal CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.2 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km²), or 0.81%, is water.^[2] The north and east sides of the community are part of the Potomac River watershed via Licking Run, Cedar Run, and the Occoquan River, while the west and south sides are part of the Rappahannock River watershed, via Tinpot Run and Bowens Run.

History

Opal was chartered in 1798 as Fayettesville.^[3]