; Whereas, in 1964, using funds from donations by the community, the Prince William Medical Center (now the University of Virginia Prince William Medical Center) was established to aid in the health care of Manassas area residents; Whereas, as early as 1897, town father George Carr Round recognized the strength of Manassas diverse population and its newcomers, writing of the town It is especially cosmopolitan. ; Whereas today the city is the fifth most diverse locality in Virginia, with a 60.4 percent non-White population, a 26.5 percent foreign-born population, and where Manassas City Public Schools serve students whose families speak more than 27 different languages in the home; Whereas IBM moved into the town of Manassas in 1968, creating jobs and housing, such as Georgetown South; Whereas the city of Manassas is a regional employment center and has a robust history of major corporate investment and job creation beginning in the 1970s with IBM and most recently exemplified by Micron Technologies Inc., making the largest capital investment in Virginia history; Whereas the Manassas Museum opened in its first location in 1974, documenting the city’s history and culture and providing free cultural exhibits to residents and visitors alike; Whereas the town of Manassas became an independent city in 1975, one of only 41 independent cities in the United States with a population of at least 12,800 at the time; Whereas the Virginia Railway Express began operations in Manassas on June 22, 1992, providing commuter rail service to the city generating access for all of northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, as well as a stop on Amtrak’s Cardinal, Crescent, and Northeast Regional trains; Whereas the Loy E. Harris Pavilion was completed as a town square -like facility for gatherings and concerts in 2000, and has grown to become the event center for the area, hosting concerts, events, and even weddings in the warmer months and ice skating in the winter months, making Manassas a destination for events and festivals