Sterling, Virginia
Sterling, Virginia | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 51-75376 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 2584925 |
Sterling, Virginia, refers most specifically to a
A much wider region has a preferred mailing address of "Sterling, Virginia", per the
The following includes information covering both the CDP and the wider "Greater Sterling" region.
History
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (August 2010) |
In the beginning of 1962, large farms made up the 1,762 acres (713 ha) of what today is called Sterling Park. Route 7, also known as Leesburg Pike, bordered what used to be Jesse Hughes's dairy farm. Hughes arrived in Loudoun County in the early 20th century and was a longtime head of the county's Democrats. Fred Franklin Tavenner, who was somewhat related to Benjamin Franklin, operated vast stretches of Sterling Farm at the southwest fringes of Sterling Park. Tavenner had purchased land from Albert Shaw Jr., who had inherited it from his father Albert B. Shaw, editor and publisher of the American Review of Reviews. One of Shaw's spreads, totaling 1,640 acres (660 ha), was called "The Experimental Farm" because it was one of the first area farms to receive a U.S. grant for applying "scientific methods", as Tavenner called them. According to Tavenner, refugees from the Soviet Union ran the farm while Shaw remained in New York City.[5]
Dulles International Airport and the extension of water and sewer lines to the airport began to change the landscape when construction started in 1959. Land prices rose from an average $125 per acre ($310/ha) to $500 per acre ($1,200/ha). During the same year, Marvin T. Broyhill Jr. and his father made plans to develop land in the airport area under the company M.T. Broyhill & Sons Corporation. In late 1961, they decided to buy and incorporated Sterling Park Development Corporation with his son Marvin T. Broyhill as president, and cousin Thomas J. Broyhill as vice president. Between April 28 and December 29 of 1961, they purchased 1,762 acres (713 ha) in 14 parcels for $2,115,784. For the 226-acre (91 ha) Hughes farm along Route 7, they paid $1,700 per acre ($4,200/ha).[5]
M.T. Broyhill & Sons Corporation learned where the right-of-way for Route 28 (Sully Road) would be, and hoped to develop Sterling Park on both sides of it, so they would not have to build a road through Sterling Park. However, Powell B. Harrison, who was instrumental in planning Route 28, insisted that the road be kept generally free of development, for easy access to the airport. Therefore, the Broyhills developed Sterling Park east of Route 28, and had to build their own through road, today's Sterling Boulevard.[5]
Marvin Broyhill, Jr.'s marketing thoughts were to "put together a prefabricated home marketed by
Initially, Sterling Park residents had to be of the "
The Broad Run Bridge and Tollhouse, Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District, and Arcola Elementary School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7][8]
Geography
According to the
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | 27,822 | — | |
2020 | 30,337 | 9.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[10] |
2020 Census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
11,631 | 9,025 | 41.81% | 29.75% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
2,149 | 2,080 | 7.72% | 6.86% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
46 | 32 | 0.17% | 0.11% |
Asian alone (NH) | 3,897 | 4,414 | 14.01% | 14.55% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 17 | 8 | 0.06% | 0.03% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 110 | 231 | 0.4% | 0.76% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 742 | 1,050 | 2.67% | 3.46% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,230 | 13,497 | 33.18% | 44.49% |
Total | 27,822 | 30,337 | 100% | 100% |
Communities
- Broad Run Farms is a residential area north of U.S. Senate lawyer bought the Miskel farm in 1950 and later subdivided it, founding Broad Run Farms. The Civil War Skirmish at Miskel Farm propelled Confederate Captain John S. Mosby to fame. The community banded together in 1995, with state and county help, to finance and install its own sewer service, in part through an added property tax. The lien was paid off several years early and the tax has now been retired.[13]
- Cascades is a 2,500-acre (1,000 ha) planned community within the 20165 ZIP code. The area is located in the northeasternmost part of Loudoun County, between the Fairfax County line to the east, the Potomac River to the north, and Algonkian Parkway to the south. Located just north of Route 7, along the Algonkian Parkway, approximately 6500 homes comprise the community.
- town homes, and 102 condominium units. Countryside contains a shopping center. The shopping center is within the mixed-use Countryside Commercial and Professional Center, which contains various office buildings. Countryside is governed by the CountrySide Proprietary, the community's homeowners association.[14]
- Orbital ATK (on Warp Drive), ODIN Technologies, the former headquarters of MCI Inc., and AOL are located in Dulles. The usage of Dulles as a community name began in the mid-1980s when Loudoun County economic development officer Pam Treadwell successfully lobbied the United States Postal Service to allow Sterling businesses and residents to use Dulles as an alternate address.[15] Dulles Town Center is a census-designated place located within Dulles, which contains the Dulles Town Centershopping mall.
- Lowes Island is an advertised portion of the legal subdivision of Cascades, but is not a legal subdivision itself. While newer residents use the city address "Potomac Falls, VA", the post office will recognize either "Potomac Falls, VA" or "Sterling, VA" as a correct mailing address. Almost 50% of the Lowes Island geography is occupied by club grounds and a golf course.[16]
- Potomac Falls is another name for the unincorporated area along the Potomac River in the northernmost portion of Sterling with the ZIP code of 20165, bordering Maryland. It contains the census-designated places of Countryside, Cascades, and Lowes Island. The name for Potomac Falls came from a competition to name the second new post office in Sterling.[17] Alternately called Potomac Falls or Sterling,[18] the village consists of the communities of Glen Heather, Calvert's Glen, Cascades, Countryside, Lowes Island, Rivercrest, Potomac Hunt, Great Falls Forest and Great Falls Chase. Great Falls Chase is a new addition to what was previously known as Great Falls Forest.[citation needed] Development of Potomac Falls began in the late 1980s, and is essentially complete today. Potomac Falls borders Great Falls and Fairfax County to the southeast and has several shopping areas, schools, and community centers. Potomac Falls is also home to three 18-hole golf courses and is home to the Potomac Falls High School Panthers.[19]
- Sterling Park is a portion of Sterling with the ZIP code of 20164. The land where Sterling Park was built was mainly made up of a few very large farms. When construction of Dulles International Airport began in 1959, land prices began to rise. In 1961, Marvin T. Broyhill Sr. saw this as a great investment opportunity and decided to buy the 1,762 acres (713 ha) that now make up Sterling Park for $2,115,783.86[Park View High School Patriots.[20]
- Sugarland Run is a portion of Sterling with the ZIP code of 20164. Built in the 1970s in the style of Sterling Park. The housing around Sugarland Elementary School consists of town houses, apartments and single-family homes, while the housing around Meadowland Elementary is predominantly single-family homes. Sugarland Run also has a community center, which is situated near the preconstructed Willow Lake,[citation needed] and over 26 miles (42 km) of walking paths. There is also a community swimming pool and playground situated across from the lake. The swimming pool is 75 feet (23 m) by 160 feet (50 m), with a large diving well and a separate baby pool. Sugarland Run also is a geographical feeder to Dominion High School.[21]
Economy
Sterling is home to many businesses and also serves as branch offices for many major companies. According to Manta, the following companies, with annual revenues of $20 million or more, have headquarters in Sterling, Virginia: Neustar and Electronic Instrumentation and Technology. Companies that have a branch office or headquarters in Sterling, with a total number of employees over 1,000 or more are as follows: Alcatel-Lucent, Geo Trans, HR Solutions LLC, M.C. Dean, Inc., National Electronics Warranty Corp, N E W Customer Service Companies Inc, and Orbital Science.[22]
Federal agencies with offices in Sterling include U.S. Customs and Border Protection,[23] the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement,[24] and the Drug Enforcement Administration.[25]
At one time, Atlantic Coast Airlines had its headquarters in Sterling.[26]
Education
Currently, Sterling is home to three public high schools serving grades 9-12:
Higher education
Transportation
The main arterial roads serving Sterling are
Recreation
Claude Moore Park occupies 357 acres (144 ha) in Sterling and offers activities for people of all ages, with three main areas. Claude Moore Recreation Center contains an Olympic-size indoor pool, a children's pool with water features, an exercise area, gymnasium, and several event and meeting rooms.
Sterling offers the following parks and clubs as recreational areas: Algonkian Regional Park, Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park, and Sterling Golf Club.[35][36]
Public works and services
Notable people
Famous people who were born in or who lived in Sterling include:
- United States President James Buchanan had his summer home near what is now Ruritan Circle.[37]
- Hilarie Burton, actress from the television programs One Tree Hill and White Collar[38]
- Billy King, former general manager for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA
- Patton Oswalt, stand-up comedian[39]
- Pg. 99, a screamo band formed in 1999
- Conor Shanosky, a former United States men's national under-20 soccer team football player, who operated commonly as midfielder and defender, who was a D.C. United player; currently plays for Richmond Kickers
- Austin St. John, actor and martial artist from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series, who left acting to work as a paramedic and study martial arts[40]
- Cameron Whitten, community activist
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Climate data for Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Virginia (1991−2020 normals,[a] extremes 1960−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
80 (27) |
89 (32) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
99 (37) |
96 (36) |
84 (29) |
79 (26) |
105 (41) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.6 (18.7) |
67.1 (19.5) |
76.5 (24.7) |
85.8 (29.9) |
89.9 (32.2) |
94.1 (34.5) |
96.7 (35.9) |
95.4 (35.2) |
91.3 (32.9) |
84.4 (29.1) |
74.4 (23.6) |
66.1 (18.9) |
97.7 (36.5) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.6 (5.9) |
46.1 (7.8) |
54.8 (12.7) |
66.8 (19.3) |
75.0 (23.9) |
83.1 (28.4) |
87.6 (30.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
79.3 (26.3) |
67.8 (19.9) |
56.5 (13.6) |
46.5 (8.1) |
66.0 (18.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.9 (1.1) |
36.4 (2.4) |
44.2 (6.8) |
55.0 (12.8) |
64.0 (17.8) |
72.5 (22.5) |
77.2 (25.1) |
75.7 (24.3) |
68.6 (20.3) |
56.6 (13.7) |
46.0 (7.8) |
37.7 (3.2) |
55.7 (13.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.2 (−3.8) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
33.6 (0.9) |
43.2 (6.2) |
53.0 (11.7) |
61.9 (16.6) |
66.8 (19.3) |
65.2 (18.4) |
57.9 (14.4) |
45.3 (7.4) |
35.6 (2.0) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 6.6 (−14.1) |
9.6 (−12.4) |
16.8 (−8.4) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
37.0 (2.8) |
48.3 (9.1) |
55.4 (13.0) |
54.4 (12.4) |
43.0 (6.1) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
20.6 (−6.3) |
13.4 (−10.3) |
3.8 (−15.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−14 (−26) |
−1 (−18) |
17 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
41 (5) |
38 (3) |
30 (−1) |
15 (−9) |
9 (−13) |
−4 (−20) |
−18 (−28) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.94 (75) |
2.61 (66) |
3.50 (89) |
3.47 (88) |
4.72 (120) |
4.30 (109) |
4.15 (105) |
3.53 (90) |
3.94 (100) |
3.65 (93) |
3.13 (80) |
3.30 (84) |
43.24 (1,098) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.9 (18) |
7.0 (18) |
3.9 (9.9) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
2.8 (7.1) |
21.0 (53) |
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 4.3 (11) |
4.3 (11) |
2.5 (6.4) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.9 (4.8) |
7.5 (19) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.3 | 9.1 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 12.7 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 10.2 | 121.1 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.1 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 9.7 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
68.1 | 66.0 | 63.9 | 62.6 | 70.4 | 72.3 | 73.0 | 74.8 | 75.4 | 73.0 | 70.0 | 69.6 | 69.9 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 20.7 (−6.3) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
38.7 (3.7) |
51.4 (10.8) |
60.6 (15.9) |
64.9 (18.3) |
64.0 (17.8) |
57.6 (14.2) |
45.0 (7.2) |
35.1 (1.7) |
25.7 (−3.5) |
43.0 (6.1) |
Source: National Weather Service (relative humidity and dew point 1962–1990)[42][43][44] |
See also
- Willard, Virginia, adjacent village displaced for construction of Dulles Airport
- Algonkian Writers Conference, at Algonkian Park in Sterling
References
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files –Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Total Population: 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts Sterling CDP, Virginia". www.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ "Cities by ZIP Code". U.S. Postal Service. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ "TIGERweb". Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Scheel, Eugene; Broyhill, Marvin T. III (June 16, 2002). "With 'The Park,' County's Growth Battles Were Just Beginning". The History of Loudoun County, Virginia. Thomas Balch Library. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- from the original on October 9, 2014.
' . . . put together a prefabricated home marketed by U.S. Steel and sell it for about $17,000 – $3,000 less than a comparable Fairfax County home', the developer wrote in his marketing plan. 'All homes to have air‑conditioning. Homeowners to have access without membership fees to golf and tennis courts and pools'.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/03/13 through 6/07/13. National Park Service. June 14, 2013.
- ^ "GNIS Detail: Sterling". usgs.gov. August 17, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sterling CDP, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sterling CDP, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "Broad Run Farms, VA Community Profile". hometownlocator.com. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sterling, VA Community Profile". hometownlocator.com. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Dulles, Clearly On Tech's Radar". The Washington Post. December 13, 2004.
- ^ Roberts, Roxanne (February 14, 2009). "Trump Buys Lowes Island Golf Club in VA". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ Washington Post Archives
- ^ [1] Archived June 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Potomac Falls, VA Community Profile". hometownlocator.com. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sterling Park, VA Community Profile". hometownlocator.com. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sugarland Run VA Community Profile". hometownlocator.com. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sterling, Virginia (VA) companies & businesses". manta.com. June 15, 2010. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Written testimony of CBP for a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security hearing titled "A Dangerous and Sophisticated Adversary: The Threat to the Homeland Posed by Cartel Operations"". Department of Homeland Security. February 16, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "First Potomac Realty Trust nabs Department of the Interior bureau". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "Inside the DEA: A Chemist's Quest to Identify Mystery Drugs". Forensic Magazine. December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Standard & Poor's, 1998. 1012. Retrieved January 31, 2011. "Atlantic Coast Airlines Inc., One Export Dr., Sterling, VA 20164"
- ^ "Loudoun County Public Schools' Official Website". loudoun.k12.va.us. June 15, 2010. Archived from the original on August 16, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ "The George Washington University: Virginia Science and Technology Campus: About the Campus". gwu.edu. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sterling, VA Community Profile". hometownlocator.com. August 17, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ "Claude Moore Recreation Center". Loudoun County. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ "Claude Moore Park". Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ The Vestal's Gap Road Marker
- ^ Vestal's Gap Road
- ^ "Claude Moore Park". loudoun.gov. 2007. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ "SuperPages search results for "Recreation in Sterling, VA"". superpages.com. August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Algonkian Regional Park". novaparks.com. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "Heritage Conservation Plan." Loudoun County, Virginia. 272 (18/22). Retrieved September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Hilarie Burton: Biography". Internet Movie Database. 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ISSN 1540-3106.
- ^ "Power Morphicon 2007- Where are they Now? Part 1 of 6". YouTube. July 3, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ Climate Summary for Sterling, Virginia
- ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Station: Washington DC DULLES AP, VA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for WASHINGTON DC/DULLES INT'L AR, VA 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
External links
- Sterling, Virginia travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Dulles International Airport History