During the American Civil War the junction was of strategic importance, as it afforded a direct connection between the Shenandoah Valley and the Washington-Richmond Railroad. Confederate forces won the nearby battles of Bull Run (Bull Run, battles of), or First and Second Manassas (July 21, 1861, and August 29–30, 1862, respectively). Following the war, Manassas remained the trade centre for an agricultural area until after 1950, when transportation improvements resulted in an influx of residents commuting to Washington, D.C., as well as to Quantico Marine Corps Base and other government installations. The city's downtown area has been revitalized, and tourism has been growing in importance. Manassas National Battlefield Park (established 1940), just north of the city and encompassing about 8 square miles (21 square km), preserves the sites of the two Civil War engagements. Inc. city, 1938. Pop. (1990) 27,957; (2000) 35,135.