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Loudoun County 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 capitol 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. 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. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Loudoun County has a total area of 521 square miles, of which, 520 square miles of it is land and 1 square miles of it (0.24%) is water. 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)  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. 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. 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. 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. Loudoun County schools recently ranked 11th in the United States. Loudoun County is home to six private schools. 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). Incorporated towns Hamilton, Hillsboro, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, Round Hill Unincorporated communities Airmont, Aldie, Arcola, Ashburn, Belmont, Bloomfield, Bluemont, Brambleton, Britain, Broadlands, Conklin, Dover, Dulles, Elvan, Eubanks, Gleedsville, Georges Mill, Gilberts Corner, Howardsville, Lansdowne, Leithtown, Lenah, Lincoln, Loudoun Heights, Lucketts, Morrisonville, Mount Gilead, Neersville, Oak Grove, Oatlands, Paeonian Springs, Paxson, Philomont, Potomac Falls, Potomac Green, Randolph Corner, River Creek, Ryan, Saint Louis, Scattersville, Silcott Spring, South Riding, Sterling, Sterling Park, Stewartown, Stone Ridge, Stumptown, Sycolin, Taylorstown, Telegraph Spring, Trapp, Unison, Virts Corner, Waterford, Watson, Waxpool, Wheatland, Willard, Willisville,Woodburn Check out these other sites to learn more about Loudoun County: Loudoun County, VA (official website) Loudoun County Public Schools Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Loudoun County, VA weather The Commonwealth of Virginia Loudoun County VA real estate, Loudoun County real estate, Loudoun County homes for sale, Loudoun County, VA real estate, Greater Washington real estate, Loudoun County homes, Loudoun County properties, Loudoun County property, single family homes in Loudoun County |
