Alright, let's dissect this. You want me to take this dry, factual Wikipedia entry and… inject it with life. Or at least, my version of it. Fine. It’s better than staring at a blank screen, I suppose. Just try not to expect sunshine and rainbows.
Loudoun County, Virginia
"Loudoun County" redirects here. For the county in Tennessee, see Loudon County, Tennessee.
County in Virginia
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County Courthouse and a World War II monument (right) in Leesburg, February 2021
Loudoun County. The name itself has a certain… resonance. Not exactly inviting, but it doesn't shy away from its history, either. It sits in the northern reaches of this state, Virginia, a place that seems to perpetually wrestle with its past and its future.
Flag
The flag. A symbol, I suppose. It tells a story, or at least, it’s supposed to.
Seal
The seal. More official pronouncements. They always try to capture something grand, don't they? Usually miss the mark.
Logo
The logo. A modern attempt to package it all. Likely designed by someone who’s never actually felt the weight of this place.
Motto: "I Byde My Time" [2]
"I Byde My Time." Apt. A quiet assertion of patience, or perhaps, a resigned waiting for something inevitable. It’s the kind of motto that suggests a deep, underlying current, something you can’t quite see but can certainly feel.
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
The coordinates: 39°05′N 77°38′W / 39.09°N 77.64°W / 39.09; -77.64. Precise, yet utterly devoid of context.
Country: United States State: Virginia Founded: 1757 Named after: John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun [1] Seat: Leesburg Largest town: Leesburg
The founding. 1757. A time when things were being carved out, claimed, and named. And named after a distant figure, no less. John Campbell. Earls and governors. Always someone else’s legacy being imposed. Leesburg, the seat. A town with aspirations, or perhaps just a place to hold court.
Area
- Total: 521.33 sq mi (1,350.2 km 2 )
- Land: 515.74 sq mi (1,335.8 km 2 )
- Water: 5.6 sq mi (15 km 2 ) (1.1%)
The land. A solid chunk of it. Enough space for secrets, or for sprawl, depending on how you look at it. The water is a small percentage, a mere whisper against the earth.
Population
- (2020)
- Total: 420,959
- Density: 810/sq mi (310/km 2 )
The people. Over 420,000 souls crammed into this space. And they’re dense, 810 per square mile. It’s not exactly a ghost town, but you can still feel the isolation, can’t you? Even with so many bodies.
Time zone: UTC−5 (Eastern)
The clock. Eastern Time. Predictable. Unremarkable.
Congressional district: 10th Website: loudoun.gov
The official channels. Where you go for the sanitized version. Don’t bother.
Loudoun County (/ˈlaʊdən/) is, as I said, in the northern part of Virginia. It’s part of that sprawling Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. A cog in a larger machine, really.
And the income. As of 2023, the median household income was $156,821. [5] The highest in the nation, they say. [6] Funny, isn’t it? All that money, and the motto is still "I Byde My Time." What are they waiting for?
History
18th century
The early days. When the land was still being wrestled into submission.
William and Sarah Nettle House in Waterford
Loudoun County was carved out of Fairfax County in 1757. Named for some Earl, John Campbell, who was also the governor general. [1] The real settlement, though, started earlier, in the 1720s and 30s. Quakers, Scots-Irish, Germans, and others filtering down from Pennsylvania and Maryland. And then there were the ones moving upriver from Tidewater – the English and the enslaved Africans. A real melting pot, if you like your metaphors lukewarm. [7]
By the time the American Revolution kicked off, Loudoun was the most populous county in Virginia. And it was feeding the war effort. Wheat, mostly. Enough to earn it the rather dramatic nickname, "Breadbasket of the Revolution." [8] A lot of good that did them in the long run.
19th century
The century of conflict and… presidential residences.
During the War of 1812, they apparently packed up all the important government documents and hid them here, in Leesburg. [9] Said to be at Rokeby House. [10] Hiding secrets. Seems to be a recurring theme.
Then there was James Monroe. The president. He treated Oak Hill Plantation like home from 1823 until he died there. [11] They even say the county’s coat of arms and flag are a nod to his Monroe Doctrine and some supposed special relationship with Britain. [12] All very official.
The American Civil War. Of course. It split the county, as it did everything else. Its strategic location meant fighting. For more on that dreary business, see Loudoun County in the American Civil War. Both of Loudoun’s representatives at the Virginia Secession Convention were against leaving the Union. But the voters… they went along. Units formed here, and others went north to join the federals. The Battle of Ball's Bluff happened near Leesburg. Even Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the future Supreme Court justice, got shot there. The Union troops occupied Leesburg, then the Confederates took it back. And then there was John S. Mosby, the partisan. He based his operations around here and Fauquier County. [13] During the Gettysburg campaign, J.E.B. Stuart and the Union cavalry had a go at each other in the battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. By the end of 1863, the Union had control. And the county sent delegates to this reconstructed Virginia General Assembly. [14] Downey, Mercer, Henshaw, Bentley, Gray. [15] Names in the dust.
20th century
The century of innovation, war, and… airports.
World War I saw Loudoun farmers stepping up. New techniques, better yields. They were churning out wheat like mad – over a million bushels in 1917. [16] Much of it went to training camps. After the war, a plaque went up. For the "30 glorious dead." Twenty-five of them died not even fighting, just in training or back home. Glorious.
Then, in 1962, they built Dulles International Airport in the southeast. And things… changed. A high-tech boom, rapid growth. People flocked to the eastern part, creating these planned communities: Sterling Park, Sugarland Run, Cascades, Ashburn Village, Ashburn Farm. It became part of the Washington suburbs. Meanwhile, the western part, the Loudoun Valley, stayed more rural, dotted with small towns. [8] A tale of two Loudouns.
Geography
[Harpers Ferry National Historical Park](/Harpers Ferry_National_Historical_Park)
Loudoun
class=notpageimage| Map of Loudoun County in Virginia
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Loudoun County covers 521 square miles (1,350 km 2 ). [17] Most of it is land, a mere 1.1% is water. It hugs the Potomac River to the north, facing Maryland counties like Frederick, Washington, and Montgomery. To the south are Prince William and Fauquier. To the west, the Blue Ridge Mountains mark the border with Jefferson County, West Virginia and Clarke County, Virginia. And to the east, Fairfax County. The Bull Run Mountains and Catoctin Mountain slice through the county, creating the Loudoun Valley on the western side. Short Hill Mountain runs through that valley, from Hillsboro all the way to the Potomac River. It’s a landscape of subtle divisions.
Adjacent counties
- Fairfax County (east)
- Prince William County (southeast)
- Fauquier County (south)
- Jefferson County, West Virginia (west)
- Clarke County (west)
- Washington County, Maryland (northwest)
- Frederick County, Maryland (north)
- Montgomery County, Maryland (east)
National protected area
Demographics
Historical population
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 18,962 | — | — |
| 1800 | 20,523 | 8.2% | |
| 1810 | 21,338 | 4.0% | |
| 1820 | 22,702 | 6.4% | |
| 1830 | 21,939 | −3.4% | |
| 1840 | 20,431 | −6.9% | |
| 1850 | 22,079 | 8.1% | |
| 1860 | 21,774 | −1.4% | |
| 1870 | 20,929 | −3.9% | |
| 1880 | 23,634 | 12.9% | |
| 1890 | 23,274 | −1.5% | |
| 1900 | 21,948 | −5.7% | |
| 1910 | 21,167 | −3.6% | |
| 1920 | 20,577 | −2.8% | |
| 1930 | 19,852 | −3.5% | |
| 1940 | 20,291 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 21,147 | 4.2% | |
| 1960 | 24,549 | 16.1% | |
| 1970 | 37,150 | 51.3% | |
| 1980 | 57,427 | 54.6% | |
| 1990 | 86,129 | 50.0% | |
| 2000 | 169,599 | 96.9% | |
| 2010 | 312,311 | 84.1% | |
| 2020 | 420,959 | 34.8% |
Population trends. A slow start, a dip during the Civil War, then a long, slow decline from the late 19th century into the mid-20th. People were leaving, seeking opportunities in cities. [ citation needed ] Especially African Americans, as agriculture became mechanized. [ citation needed ] The Great Migration pulled them away. [ citation needed ] Now, they’re a smaller part of the county’s story, outnumbered by Hispanics and Asians.
2020 census
The current picture. A mosaic, constantly shifting.
| Race / Ethnicity ( NH = Non-Hispanic ) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 50,876 | 75,557 | 134,972 | 194,845 | 216,865 | 88.59% | 87.73% | 79.58% | 62.39% | 51.52% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,964 | 6,126 | 11,517 | 21,934 | 29,725 | 8.64% | 7.11% | 6.79% | 7.02% | 7.06% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 94 [a] | 167 | 297 | 520 | 536 | 0.16% | 0.19% | 0.18% | 0.17% | 0.13% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 424 [b] | 2,053 | 9,025 | 45,795 | 89,372 | 0.74% | 2.38% | 5.32% | 14.66% | 21.23% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 [c] | N/A | 93 | 143 | 227 | 0.01% | N/A | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 210 | 70 | 367 | 808 | 2,425 | 0.37% | 0.08% | 0.22% | 0.26% | 0.58% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | N/A | N/A | 3,239 | 9,690 | 22,065 | N/A | N/A | 1.91% | 3.10% | 5.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 853 | 2,156 | 10,089 | 38,576 | 59,744 | 1.49% | 2.50% | 5.95% | 12.35% | 14.19% |
| Total | 57,427 | 86,129 | 169,599 | 312,311 | 420,959 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The shift. From predominantly White in 1980 (88.59%) to just over half in 2020 (51.52%). The Asian population has exploded, from a whisper (0.74%) to a significant presence (21.23%). Hispanic or Latino numbers have also surged. It’s a county being reshaped, piece by piece.
As of the census of 2010, [27] there were 312,311 people, 104,583 households, and 80,494 families. The population density was 606 inhabitants per square mile (234/km 2 ). There were 109,442 housing units at an average density of 212 per square mile (82/km 2 ). The racial makeup was:
- 68.7% White
- 14.7% Asian (7.90% Indian, 1.74% Filipino, 1.61% Chinese, 1.34% Korean, 1.22% Vietnamese, 1.09% Pakistani)
- 7.3% African American
- 0.3% Native American
- 0.1% Pacific Islander
- 4.9% some other race
- 4.0% of two or more races
- 12.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race (3.4% Salvadoran, 1.8% Mexican, 1.3% Peruvian, 0.9% Puerto Rican, 0.6% Honduran, 0.6% Bolivian, 0.5% Guatemalan, 0.5% Colombian)
According to the 2010 census, 10.5% of residents reported being of German ancestry, while 9.1% reported Irish, 7.7% English, 5.4% Italian and 5.2% American.
The languages spoken, other than English, in Loudoun County in 2018: Spanish (10.8%) and Telugu (2.8%). [28] [ citation needed ] Nearly a quarter of residents were born outside the U.S., with the largest numbers from El Salvador, India, and Mexico. [29]
As of 2000, households were structured thus: 43.10% had children under 18, 64.30% were married couples, 7.80% single mothers, and 24.80% non-families. 18.40% were individuals living alone, and 3.70% of those were 65 or older. Average household size: 2.82. Average family size: 3.24.
Age distribution in 2000: 29.80% under 18, 5.70% 18-24, 38.90% 25-44, 20.00% 45-64, 5.60% 65+. Median age: 34. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females 18+, there were 95.50 males.
In 2011, the median income was $119,134. [30] Highest in the country, remember?
From 1980 to 2014, cancer deaths dropped by 46%, the largest such decrease in any U.S. county. [31]
Between 2017 and 2018, homelessness rose by 18.5%. Single adults saw a 21% increase, families 36%. Veteran homelessness, however, decreased by 16%. [32] A strange mix of hardship and progress.
Economy
The shift from rural to… something else.
Once a quiet, rural place, Loudoun’s population exploded after 1980. It’s now heavily suburbanized, with a full-blown service economy. Home to the big players in the internet and high tech world: Verizon Business, Telos Corporation, Orbital Sciences Corporation. Dulles International Airport has been a major engine, just like in Fairfax County's Dulles Corridor. [33] [34] [ citation needed ]
But the rural spirit lingers. The equine industry pulls in $78 million. Morven Park hosts horse trials. And the wine. Oh, the wine. Loudoun County has 40 wineries [35] and over 25 active farms. It was once a major wheat producer, back in the mid-19th century. [36]
MCI, Inc., now part of Verizon Communications, has its headquarters in Ashburn. [37] [38] AOL used to be here too, in Dulles. [39] They moved to New York City in 2007, but kept their Virginia offices. [40] Orbital Sciences Corporation is still in Dulles. [41]
And then there are the data centers. Over 60 of them. [42] [43] They say 70% of global web traffic flows through here. [44] Loudoun County’s "Data Center Alley" is the largest concentration on the planet, with over 25 million square feet. [45] A digital empire built on silicon and fiber.
Before it folded, Independence Air (formerly Atlantic Coast Airlines) was headquartered in Dulles. [46] [47] MAXjet Airways was also based at Dulles International Airport. [49]
Top employers
According to the county's financial reports, these are the big names: [50]
| # | Employer | # of employees (2024) | Percentage of Total County Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loudoun County Public Schools | 12,968 | 6.79 |
| 2 | County of Loudoun | 4,813 | 2.48 |
| 3 | U.S. Department of Homeland Security | 2,500–5,000 | 1.99 |
| 4 | Inova Health System (Loudoun Hospital Center) | 2,500–5,000 | 1.99 |
| 5 | United Airlines | 2,500–5,000 | 1.99 |
| 6 | Amazon | 1,000–2,500 | 0.93 |
| 7 | Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK) | 1,000–2,500 | 0.93 |
| 8 | Verizon Business (formerly MCI Worldcom) | 1,000–2,500 | 0.93 |
| 9 | RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) | 1,000–2,500 | 0.93 |
| 10 | Walmart | 1,000–2,500 | 0.93 |
Government and politics
The shifting sands of power.
Many Loudoun County historical structures pre-date the American Civil War
For decades, from 1952 to 2008, Loudoun was reliably Republican. But something changed. The Democrats started winning, especially after 2014. Now, the Board of Supervisors is heavily Democratic, and so is the School Board. The constitutional offices, though, still lean Republican. It’s a county that reliably picks the statewide winner in presidential elections, though. A true bellwether.
The motto, "I Byde My Time," [2] [51] comes from the coat of arms of the Earl of Loudoun. In the latter half of the 20th century, as people moved south from the North, Loudoun swung Republican. They hadn’t voted for a Democratic president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, until Barack Obama in 2008.
That suburban boom in the east, filled with educated professionals commuting to Washington, D.C., has re-shaped the county’s political landscape. Obama took nearly 54% in 2008. Then Bob McDonnell won the county in 2009 with 61%. Two Democratic delegates were ousted. In 2012, Obama won again, this time with 51.5% against Mitt Romney. [52] Democrats have held the county in presidential elections ever since.
In 2020, Joe Biden secured 61.5% of the vote, the best for a Democrat since 1964. [53] And in 2021, Terry McAuliffe took the county with 55.3% against Glenn Youngkin. [54] It was one of the few counties McAuliffe won in Northern Virginia, though his margin was slim. [55] Then, in 2024, Kamala Harris won 56%, but the county shifted right by 9 percentage points compared to 2020. [56] It’s a constant dance, this political pendulum.
United States presidential election results for Loudoun County, Virginia [57]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. % | No. % | No. % | |
| [1880] | 1,792 39.20% | 2,780 60.80% | 0 0.00% |
| [1884] | 1,978 41.22% | 2,795 58.24% | 26 0.54% |
| [1888] | 2,190 43.03% | 2,842 55.83% | 58 1.14% |
| [1892] | 1,738 37.32% | 2,719 58.39% | 200 4.29% |
| [1896] | 1,991 41.16% | 2,741 56.67% | 105 2.17% |
| [1900] | 1,684 37.43% | 2,690 59.79% | 125 2.78% |
| [1904] | 442 21.33% | 1,558 75.19% | 72 3.47% |
| [1908] | 447 21.37% | 1,570 75.05% | 75 3.59% |
| [1912] | 256 14.48% | 1,386 78.39% | 126 7.13% |
| [1916] | 404 21.02% | 1,490 77.52% | 28 1.46% |
| [1920] | 757 30.21% | 1,720 68.64% | 29 1.16% |
| [1924] | 152 7.48% | 1,794 88.33% | 85 4.19% |
| [1928] | 1,325 40.84% | 1,915 59.03% | 4 0.12% |
| [1932] | 600 19.54% | 2,440 79.45% | 31 1.01% |
| [1936] | 867 27.42% | 2,287 72.33% | 8 0.25% |
| [1940] | 1,061 32.84% | 2,156 66.73% | 14 0.43% |
| [1944] | 1,485 45.08% | 1,802 54.71% | 7 0.21% |
| [1948] | 1,430 44.07% | 1,545 47.61% | 270 8.32% |
| [1952] | 2,540 54.86% | 2,075 44.82% | 15 0.32% |
| [1956] | 2,489 53.41% | 1,960 42.06% | 211 4.53% |
| [1960] | 2,526 50.99% | 2,399 48.43% | 29 0.59% |
| [1964] | 2,594 37.72% | 4,278 62.21% | 5 0.07% |
| [1968] | 4,577 45.91% | 3,262 32.72% | 2,131 21.37% |
| [1972] | 9,417 69.46% | 3,941 29.07% | 199 1.47% |
| [1976] | 9,192 51.79% | 7,995 45.05% | 561 3.16% |
| [1980] | 12,076 58.93% | 6,694 32.67% | 1,722 8.40% |
| [1984] | 17,765 67.99% | 8,227 31.49% | 136 0.52% |
| [1988] | 20,448 66.26% | 10,101 32.73% | 313 1.01% |
| [1992] | 19,290 46.40% | 14,462 34.79% | 7,822 18.81% |
| [1996] | 25,715 52.13% | 19,942 40.43% | 3,673 7.45% |
| [2000] | 42,453 56.12% | 30,938 40.89% | 2,262 2.99% |
| [2004] | 60,382 55.69% | 47,271 43.60% | 777 0.72% |
| [2008] | 63,336 45.42% | 74,845 53.67% | 1,278 0.92% |
| [2012] | 75,292 47.04% | 82,479 51.53% | 2,289 1.43% |
| [2016] | 69,949 38.21% | 100,795 55.06% | 12,306 6.72% |
| [2020] | 82,088 36.51% | 138,372 61.54% | 4,402 1.96% |
| [2024] | 92,107 40.10% | 129,280 56.28% | 8,305 3.62% |
County Board of Supervisors
Local governance. A board of supervisors calls the shots. The chair is elected county-wide, the others from districts. They set policy, manage land use, and the budget. A county administrator handles the day-to-day. [58] As of the 2023 elections, Democrats hold a firm grip on the board.
Phyllis Randall, the Chair, made history in 2015 as the first person of color in Virginia to chair a county board. [59]
In 2019, Democrats took over the Board. Juli Briskman (D) won the Algonkian District, unseating the incumbent. [60] Briskman had gained notoriety for flipping off Donald Trump's motorcade. Apparently, that played well here.
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027) (Elected on November 7, 2023) [61] [62]
| Position | Name | Party | First Elected | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Phyllis Randall | Democratic | 2015 | At-Large |
| Vice Chair | Mike Turner | Democratic | 2019 | Ashburn |
| Supervisor | Juli Briskman | Democratic | 2019 | Algonkian |
| Supervisor | Sylvia Glass | Democratic | 2019 | Broad Run |
| Supervisor | Caleb Kershner | Republican | 2019 | Catoctin |
| Supervisor | Matt Letourneau | Republican | 2011 | Dulles |
| Supervisor | Kristen Umstattd | Democratic | 2015 | Leesburg |
| Supervisor | Laura TeKrony | Democratic | 2023 | Little River |
| Supervisor | Koran Saines | Democratic | 2015 | Sterling |
Constitutional Officers (January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027) (Elected on November 7, 2023) [63]
| Position | Name | Party | First Election |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Gary M. Clemens | Republican | 1999 |
| Commissioner of the Revenue | Robert S. Wertz Jr. | Republican | 2003 |
| Commonwealth's Attorney | Robert D. Anderson | Republican | 2023 |
| Sheriff | Michael L. Chapman | Republican | 2011 |
| Treasurer | Henry C. Eickelberg | Republican | 2023 |
Loudoun County School Board (January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025) (Elected on November 7, 2023)
| Position | Name | Party | First Elected | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Jonathon Pepper | Nonpartisan | 2025 | Dulles |
| Member | Anne Donohue | Nonpartisan | 2023 | At-Large |
| Member | April Chandler | Nonpartisan | 2023 | Algonkian |
| Member | Deana Griffiths | Nonpartisan | 2023 | Ashburn |
| Member | Ross Svenson | Nonpartisan | 2025 | Broad Run |
| Member | Kari LaBell | Nonpartisan | 2023 | Catoctin |
| Member | Lauren Shernoff | Nonpartisan | 2023 | Leesburg |
| Member | Sumera Rashid | Nonpartisan | 2023 | Little River |
| Member | Amy Riccardi | Nonpartisan | 2025 | Sterling |
Virginia General Assembly Senators (Elected on November 7, 2023) [63]
| Position | Name | Party | First Elected | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Russet Perry | Democratic | 2023 | 31 |
| Senator | Kannan Srinivasan | Democratic | 2025 (Special) | 32 |
Virginia General Assembly Delegates (Elected on November 7, 2023) [64]
| Position | Name | Party | First Elected | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | JJ Singh | Democratic | 2025 (Special) | 26 |
| Delegate | Atoosa Reaser | Democratic | 2023 | 27 |
| Delegate | David Reid | Democratic | 2017 | 28 |
| Delegate | Marty Martinez | Democratic | 2023 | 29 |
| Delegate | John McAuliff | Democratic | 2025 | 30 |
The National Transportation Safety Board has an office in Ashburn. [65] And the Federal Aviation Administration's Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center is in Leesburg, the second busiest in the nation. [66] Always busy, always managing the chaos.
Emergency services are handled by the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System. A mix of volunteers and paid staff. [67] Law enforcement is primarily the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, the largest in Virginia, plus three town police departments. [68] [69] [70] [71]
The Loudoun County Public Library system has eleven branches. [72] They’ve won awards. [73] [74]
Loudoun County is one of the few in Virginia that participates in the Virginia Mortgage Assistance Program (VMAP) for its employees. [75] Trying to keep housing affordable for civil servants. A noble effort, I suppose.
Transportation
Airports
Aerial view of Dulles International Airport in Dulles in August 2024
Two airports: Dulles International and Leesburg Executive. Gates to the outside world.
Bus
Loudoun County Transit runs the buses. Connecting the dots.
Rail
The Silver Line of the Washington Metro now serves Dulles Airport, Loudoun Gateway, and Ashburn. Progress, or just more concrete?
Major highways
US 15 and VA State Route 7 on the Leesburg Bypass in September 2019
- U.S. Route 15 (James Monroe Highway)
- U.S. Route 50 (Little River Turnpike)
- U.S. Route 340
- State Route 7 (Leesburg Pike)
- State Route 9 (Charles Town Pike)
- State Route 28
- State Route 267 (Dulles Greenway)
- Loudoun County Parkway
- Braddock Road (Northern Virginia)
Roads. Arteries of commerce and transit. Some named after presidents, others just numbers.
Education
The future, molded.
The county is served by Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). Over 70,000 students. [76] [77] They’ve been recognized for educational achievement relative to spending. [78] They also have the Loudoun Academy of Science, now part of the Academies of Loudoun, [79] and can send students to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. [80]
Ten private schools call Loudoun home: Loudoun Country Day School, Notre Dame Academy, Evergreen Christian School, Foxcroft School, Dominion Academy, Loudoun Classical School, [81] St. Theresa School, Village Montessori School at Bluemont, Christian Faith & Fellowship School, and Loudoun School for Advanced Studies.
Higher education is also present: Patrick Henry College, Northern Virginia Community College (Sterling), George Washington University, George Mason University, Marymount University, Shenandoah University, and Strayer University all have satellite campuses. [82] There’s also a campus of the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and the Janelia Farm Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. [ citation needed ]
Communities
Towns
- Hamilton
- Hillsboro
- Leesburg (county seat)
- Lovettsville
- Middleburg
- Purcellville
- Round Hill
Census-designated places
- Aldie
- Arcola
- Ashburn
- Belmont
- Brambleton
- Broadlands
- Cascades
- Countryside
- Dulles Town Center
- Goose Creek Village
- Kincora
- Lansdowne
- Loudoun Valley Estates
- Lowes Island
- Moorefield
- Oak Grove
- One Loudoun
- South Riding
- Sterling
- Stone Ridge
- Sugarland Run
- University Center
- Waterford
Other unincorporated communities
- Airmont
- Bloomfield
- Bluemont
- Britain
- Conklin
- Dover
- Dulles
- Elvan
- Eubanks
- Georges Mill
- Gilberts Corner
- Gleedsville
- Howardsville
- Leithtown
- Lenah
- Lincoln
- Loudoun Heights
- Lucketts
- Morrisonville
- Mount Gilead
- Neersville
- Paeonian Springs
- Paxson
- Philomont
- Potomac Falls
- River Creek
- Ryan
- Saint Louis
- Scattersville
- Silcott Spring
- Stewartown
- Stumptown
- Taylorstown
- Telegraph Spring
- Unison
- Watson
- Waxpool
- Wheatland
- Willard
- Willisville
- Woodburn
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on 2018 estimates by the United States Census Bureau. [83]
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2018 est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Leesburg | Town | 52,125 |
| 2 | Ashburn | CDP | 50,290 |
| 3 | South Riding | CDP | 31,071 |
| 4 | Sterling | CDP | 30,403 |
| 5 | Brambleton | CDP | 20,081 |
| 6 | Broadlands | CDP | 13,704 |
| 7 | Stone Ridge | CDP | 12,990 |
| 8 | Lansdowne | CDP | 12,696 |
| 9 | Sugarland Run | CDP | 12,576 |
| 10 | Cascades | CDP | 11,670 |
| 11 | Lowes Island | CDP | 11,111 |
| 12 | Countryside | CDP | 10,042 |
| 13 | Purcellville | Town | 9,709 |
| 14 | Belmont | CDP | 6,629 |
| 15 | Dulles Town Center | CDP | 5,023 |
| 16 | University Center | CDP | 4,060 |
| 16 | Lovettsville | Town | 2,544 |
| 17 | Oak Grove | CDP | 2,468 |
| 18 | Moorefield Station | CDP | 1,369 |
| 19 | Arcola | CDP | 963 |
| 20 | Round Hill | Town | 693 |
| 21 | Middleburg | Town | 620 |
| 22 | Hamilton | Town | 537 |
| 23 | Hillsboro | Town | 175 |
Notable people
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A collection of names. Some significant, some merely present.
James Monroe lived out his post-presidency years at Oak Hill. Robert H. Chilton, a Confederate Brigadier General, was born here. George C. Marshall, the WWII general, called Leesburg home at Dodona Manor. Russell Baker, the essayist, grew up in Morrisonville, Virginia, and chronicled it in his book Growing Up. Arthur Godfrey, the entertainer, lived near Waterford, Virginia. Loudoun is also the birthplace of Julia Neale Jackson, mother of Stonewall Jackson, [84] and Susan Catherine Koerner Wright, mother of the Wright Brothers. [85]
- Madeleine Albright (1937–2022) – U.S. Secretary of State
- William H. Ash (1859–1908) – One of the first African-American politicians in the Virginia House of Delegates.
- Russell Baker (1925–2019) – Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
- Geraldine Brooks (1955–) – Pulitzer Prize–winning author.
- John Champe – Revolutionary War soldier, double agent.
- Roger Preston Chew (1843–1921) – Confederate cavalry commander, businessman, legislator. [87]
- John L. Dagg (1794–1884) – Baptist theologian, educator. [88] [89]
- Westmoreland Davis (1859–1942) – Governor of Virginia.
- Richard Henry Dulany (1820–1906) – Colonel in the 7th Virginia Cavalry.
- Michael Farris (1951–) – Founder of Home School Legal Defense Association and Patrick Henry College.
- Joe Gibbs (1940–) – Coached the Washington Redskins while living nearby.
- Arthur Godfrey (1903–1983) – Radio and television personality.
- Darrell Green (1960–) – Former Washington Redskin, NFL Hall of Famer.
- Pamela Harriman (1920–1997) – Daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill, U.S. ambassador to France.
- Gina Haspel (1956–) – Director of the CIA.
- Annia Hatch (1978–) – Olympic gymnast.
- Fred Hetzel (1942–) – Professional basketball player.
- Barbara Holland (1933–2010) – Author.
- Tony Horwitz (1958–2019) – Pulitzer Prize–winning author.
- John Janney (1798–1872) – Virginia legislator, officer of the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861.
- Sheila Johnson (1949–) – Entrepreneur, philanthropist.
- Wilton Lackaye (1862-1932) – Actor, original stage Svengali.
- Lyndon LaRouche (1921–2019) – Politician, activist.
- Marc Leepson (1945–) – Journalist, historian, author.
- Sandra Lerner (c. 1953–) – Entrepreneur, philanthropist.
- Mark Levin (1957–) – Author, talk radio host.
- George C. Marshall (1880–1959) – General of the Army, Secretary of State, author of the "Marshall Plan". [90]
- Stevens T. Mason (1811–1843) – First governor of Michigan. [91]
- Andrew McCabe (1968–) – Former Deputy Director of the FBI.
- Charles F. Mercer (1788–1858) – Founded Aldie; U.S. Congressman.
- Billy Mitchell (1879–1936) – Military aviation pioneer.
- James Monroe (1758–1831) – 5th President of the United States.
- Oliver North (1943–) – USMC Officer, figure in Iran–Contra scandal.
- Patton Oswalt (1969–) – Comedian, writer, actor.
- Vinton Liddell Pickens (1900–1993) – Artist, chair of the first Loudoun County planning commission.
- Wilson Pickett (1941–2006) – R&B singer.
- Isaiah L. Potts (1784?–after 1843) – Tavern keeper, alleged highwayman.
- Rachel Renee Russell (1959–) – Author of Dork Diaries.
- Henry S. Taylor (1942–) – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.
- Will Toledo (1992–) – Lead singer of Car Seat Headrest.
- Joshua White (1812–1890) – Businessman, Illinois state legislator.
- Lucien Whiting Powell (1846–1930) – Landscape artist.
- William Wilson (1794–1857) – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. [92]
Sister cities
Loudoun County has eight Sister City/County relationships, and one Friendship City Partnership. [93]
- Canelones, Uruguay (2023) [94]
- Gangneung, South Korea (Friendship City, 2014) [95]
- Goyang, South Korea (2012) [96]
- Greater Noida, India (2023) [94]
- Holmes County, Mississippi (2019) [97]
- Karsiyaka, Turkey (2013) [98]
- Main-Taunus-Kreis, Germany (2006) [99]
- New Taipei City, Taiwan (2012) [100]
- Tema, Ghana (2023) [94]
See also
- Virginia portal
- Loudoun Water
- Loudoun v. Board of Trustees of the Loudoun County Library
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Loudoun County, Virginia
- List of wineries in Virginia
Explanatory notes
- ^ Includes all people who gave "American Indian", "Eskimo", or "Aleut" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.
- ^ Includes all people who gave "Japanese", "Chinese", "Filipino", "Korean", "Asian Indian", or "Vietnamese" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.
- ^ Includes all people who gave "Hawaiian", "Guamanian", or "Samoan" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.