Richard Ratcliffe was a prominent local businessman and public-spirited property owner whose efforts helped the City of Fairfax, then known as the Town of Providence, begin to grow and prosper in the late 18th century. In 1799, he sold four acres of property for one dollar to build the Fairfax County Courthouse, which became the keystone of further development of Fairfax City. His interest in promoting settlement in the area helped shape the community’s growth.