Virginia school systems had practiced resistance following the United States Supreme Court ruling in "Brown v. Board of Education" (1954) that segregated public schools were unconstitutional. The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia ordered Frederick County schools desegregated (including those serving Stephens City) in "Brown v. County School Board" (1964). In 1994, Virgil E. Watson was elected as the first African American to serve on the Stephens City Town Council. Watson served for one term, from 1994 until 1998.