Loudoun County, Virginia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Loudoun County
state = Virginia




map size = 225
founded = 1757
seat = Leesburg
motto = "I Byde My Time" | area_total_sq_mi =521
area_land_sq_mi =520
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.24%
census yr = 2000
pop = 169599
density_km2 =126
web = www.loudoun.gov
|

Loudoun County (pronEng|ˈlaʊdən "LOUD-un") is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of July 2006, the county is estimated to be home to 268,817 people, [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2006-01-51.xls] ] a 58 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fastest growing in the United States during that period. Its county seat is LeesburgGR|6. As of 2007, the town had been county seat for 249 of the last 250 years ["Loudoun Times-Mirror", "Leesburg says county should stay", September 12 2007, Page A1] .

Loudoun County has the highest per capita income of any other county in the United States [Express (Washington Post), August 28, 2008] , with average household median income at over $107,207, beating neighboring Fairfax County at -$105,241. [http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/acs-09.pdf] ] Loudoun County had held this honor briefly in 2005 when household median income surpassed $98,000, exceeding neighboring Fairfax County at $94,610. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/29/AR2006082901543.html "D.C. Suburbs Top List Of Richest Counties"] , The Washington Post, 30 August, 2006] Loudoun fell back to second next year when Fairfax County's household median reached $100,318 compared to Loudon's $99,371 [http://www.examiner.com/a-905204~Fairfax_County_s_median_income_breaks_six_figure_mark__tops_nation.html?cid=rss-Washington_DC"Fairfax County’s median income breaks six-figure mark, tops nation"] , The Examiner, 29 August, 2007] .

History

Loudoun County was established in 1757 from Fairfax County. The county is named for John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun and Governor of Virginia from 1756–59. Western settlement began in the 1720s and 1730s with Quakers, Scots-Irish, Germans and others moving south from Pennsylvania and Maryland and by English and African slaves moving upriver from Tidewater.

By the time of the American Revolution, it was the most populous county in Virginia. During the War of 1812, important Federal documents and government archives were evacuated from Washington and stored at Leesburg for safe keeping. Local tradition holds that these documents were stored at Rokeby House and thus that Leesburg was briefly the capital of the United States.

Early in the American Civil War, the Battle of Balls Bluff took place near Leesburg on October 21, 1861. Future jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was critically wounded in that battle along the Potomac River. During the Gettysburg Campaign in June 1863, Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart and Union cavalry clashed in the battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. Confederate partisan John S. Mosby based his operations in Loudoun and adjoining Fauquier County (for a more in-depth account of the history of Loudoun County during the Civil War, see Loudoun County in the American Civil War).

Notable people from Loudoun County

James Monroe constructed and resided at Oak Hill near Aldie after his presidency. American Civil War Brigadier General Robert H. Chilton (Chief of Staff under Robert E. Lee) was a native of Loudoun County. World War II general George C. Marshall resided at Dodona Manor in Leesburg. Entertainer Arthur Godfrey lived near historic Waterford, Virginia. Loudoun County is also notable for being the birthplace of Julia Neale Jackson, mother of Stonewall Jackson, and Susan Catherine Koerner, Steven Spielberg. [ [http://www.vmi.edu/ARCHIVES/jackson/tjgenea3.html Virginia Military Institute Archives, Jackson Genealogy] ] [ [http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-2-095x.html "Happy Mother's Day, Ms Wright"] , Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association]

Law and government

Like all counties in Virginia, Loudoun is governed by a board of supervisors. The Chairman of the Board is elected by the voters at-large while the remaining supervisors are elected from each of eight election districts in the county. All nine members serve concurrent terms of four years. While the board handles policy issues and sets the budget, day-to-day operations of the county government are handled by a County Administrator appointed by the board. The 2003 board, among other officials in Loudoun, was the subject of a federal investigation of possible corruption relating to a land deal involving the Royal Saudi Academy. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020602056.html "Loudoun Land Deals Subject of U.S. Probe"] , The Washington Post, 7 February, 2007]

In November 2007, county voters removed four incumbent Republicans from the existing Board of Supervisor's. The make-up of the board following the election was five Democrats, two Republicans, and two Independents. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR2007110602651.html "Slow-Growth Board Candidates Win"] , The Washington Post, 7 November, 2007]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Loudoun County has a total area of 521 square miles (1,350 km²), of which, 520 square miles (1,346 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.24%) is water. It is bounded on the North by the Potomac River; across the river are Frederick and Montgomery Counties in Maryland; it is bounded on the south by Prince William and Fauquier Counties, on the west by watershed of the Blue Ridge Mountains across which are Jefferson County, West Virginia and Clarke County, and on the east by Fairfax County. The Bull Run Mountains and Catoctin Mountain bisect the county. To the west of the range is the Loudoun Valley. Bisecting the Loudoun Valley from Hillsboro to the Potomac River is Short Hill Mountain.

treet addresses

Block numbers in the unincorporated areas of Loudoun County, with the exception of older Sterling Park and the community of CountrySide, are assigned in the following manner: on north-south streets, block numbers increase from north to south and range from 10000 to 29900; on east-west streets, block numbers increase from west to east and range from 30000 to 49900.

Adjacent counties

*Fairfax County (east)
*Prince William County (southeast)
*Fauquier County (south)
*Jefferson County, West Virginia (west)
*Clarke County (west)
*Washington County, Maryland (northwest, across the Potomac River)
*Frederick County, Maryland (north, across the Potomac River)
*Montgomery County, Maryland (northeast, across the Potomac River)

Major Highways

*
*
*
*
* (Dulles Greenway)
*

National protected area

* Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (part)

Economy

Traditionally a rural county, Loudoun's population has grown dramatically since the 1980s. Having undergone heavy suburbanization in the past few decades, Loudoun has a full-fledged service economy. It is home to world headquarters for several Internet-related and high tech companies, including Verizon Business, Telos, and Orbital Sciences Corporation. Like Fairfax County's Dulles Corridor, Loudoun County has economically benefited from the existence of Washington Dulles International Airport, the majority of which is located in the county along its border with Fairfax. Loudoun does retain a strong rural economy in the western part of the county. The Equine Industry has an estimated revenue of $78 Million. It is home to the Morven Park International Equestrian Center which hosts national horse trials. Loudoun has 19 wineries [ [http://www.visitloudoun.org/visitors-guide/wineries/ Wine Country] , Visit Loudoun] and over 25 active farms. Loudoun has rich soil and was in the late 1800s the fourth-largest wheat producer in the U.S. [ [http://www.loudounhistory.org/history/agriculture-mills-and-wheat.htm "Early 19th-Century Milling and Wheat Farming"] , Loudoun History]

Recent development

In recent years, Loudoun has become one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. The once rural county now has a mecca of industry centered around Washington Dulles International Airport. $1,000,000+ homes are springing up throughout the countryside. In light of this, the county has placed many building restrictions in an attempt to retain the rural feel.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900 = 21948
1910 = 21167
1920 = 20577
1930 = 19852
1940 = 20291
1950 = 21147
1960 = 24549
1970 = 37150
1980 = 57427
1990 = 86129
2000 = 169599
estimate=278797
estyear=2007

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 169,599 people, 59,900 households, and 45,044 families residing in the county. The population density was 326 people per square mile (126/km²). There were 62,160 housing units at an average density of 120 per square mile (46/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.79% White, 6.89% Black or African American, 5.35% Asian, 0.21% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.26% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 5.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.0% were of German, 11.8% Irish, 10.9% English, 9.0% American and 6.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

According to the 2006 American Community Survey 72.0% of Loudoun County's population was white; 7.6% of the population was African-American. 0.1% were Native Americans; Asians were 13.1%. 4.9% of the population was of some other race and 2.3% of people reported being of two or more races. Latinos of any race were 9.7% of the population. 21.0% of the population was foreign born, up from 11.27% in 2000 and 5.67% in 1990. As of 2000 there were 59,900 households out of which 43.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 18.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.80% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 38.90% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 5.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

In August 2008, Census survey data concluded that Loudoun County has the highest median income in the country at just over $107,000.

Towns

Incorporated towns

Unincorporated communities

Education

The county is served by Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). LCPS currently serves over 50,000 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade and is currently the fifth largest school system in Virginia. [ [http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/50975427144147/site/default.asp About Loudoun County Public Schools] , Loudoun County Public Schools] [ [http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Publications/schcensus/2005/Census2005_sum.htm 2005 Triennial school census] , Virginia Department of Education] While there is a growing trend towards home schooling in the county, the vast majority of school age children in Loudoun County attend LCPS schools.Fact|date=February 2007 Loudoun County schools recently ranked 11th in the United States in terms of educational achievement versus funds spent. [cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/2007/07/05/schools-taxes-education-biz-beltway_cz_cs_0705schools_2.html |title=Best And Worst School Districts For The Buck |accessdate=2008-07-17 |work= |publisher=Forbes |date=07.05.07 ] Loudoun County also sends students to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a Virginia Governor's School in Alexandria, Virginia.Fact|date=May 2008

Loudoun County is home to six private schools: Loudoun Country Day School, a Pre-K–8 independent school located in Leesburg; Notre Dame Academy, a Catholic day high school in Middleburg; the Foxcroft School, a boarding school for girls located in Middleburg; Dominion Academy, a Non-denominational Christian school, K–8 located in Leesburg; Leesburg Christian School, a K–12 school located in Leesburg; and Christian Faith & Fellowship School, a PreK–12 non-denominational Christian school and Loudoun County's only private school accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.Fact|date=May 2008

In terms of post-secondary education, Loudoun County is home to a variety of colleges and universities, including: Patrick Henry College; a branch of Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling; George Washington University (satellite campus); George Mason University (satellite campus); Marymount University (satellite campus); Old Dominion University (satellite campus); Shenandoah University (satellite campus); and Strayer University (satellite campus). [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Loudoun Guide 2006: Higher Education at Your Fingertips | work = | publisher = The Washington Post | date = 2006 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/usersguides/loudoun/HighEd.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = ] . Loudoun is also home to the Janelia Farm Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Famous people from Loudoun County

* John L. Dagg (1794-1884) – Baptist theologian, pastor, educator, and president of Mercer University, GA (1844-54) [ [http://www.founders.org/library/dagg_sketch.html "Biographical Sketch of John L. Dagg"] ] [ [http://tarver.mercer.edu/archives/MercerPresidents/ "John Leadley Dagg 1844-1854 Mercer University Presidents"] ]
* Stevens Thomson Mason (1811-1843) – First governor of Michigan (Democrat, 1837-40) [ [http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9401895 "Stevens Thomson Mason Biography (1811–43)"] ]
* Russell Baker (1925- ) – Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Growing Up" (1983, Autobiography) [ [http://www.pulitzer.org/cyear/1983w.html "Pulitzer Prize Winners 1983"] ]
* Colin Dunning – Production Assistant to Christopher Nolan [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2030029/ IMDB profile] ]
* Linda Tripp – One-time confidante to Monica LewinskiFact|date=June 2007
*Lyndon LaRouche – A political candidate who has resided near Hamilton since 1983.
*Patton Oswalt – A noted comedian and actor who graduated from Broad Run High School in Loudoun Co.
*Hilarie Burton Actress on One Tree Hill

References

External links

* [http://www.co.loudoun.va.us/ Loudoun County Government Site]
* [http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/ Loudoun County Public Schools]
* [http://www.lcpl.lib.va.us/ Loudoun County Public Library]
* [http://www.loudounchamber.org/ Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.visitloudoun.org/ Travel Information: Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association]
* [http://www.loudounfarms.org/ Loudoun Valleys Office of Rural Economic Development]
* [http://www.balchfriends.org/bhmap.htm# African American Communities of Loudoun County]
* [http://www.loudounfarmmuseum.org/ Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum]
*Gutenberg|no=17485|name=History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, Virginia, by James W. Head, 1908