Welcome to Loudoun County, Virginia
Just a short drive from our nation's capital
is an area in which the past and the present blend in unique harmony. Loudoun
County, located 30 miles from Washington, D.C., at the foothills of the scenic
Blue Ridge Mountains, is at once contemporary and traditional. History shares
priority with progress. In fact, Loudoun's blend of the old and new is at the
heart of this county's charm; it is what makes living and working here so
rewarding.
Loudoun's diversity serves all who live and work here well. We boast
one of the highest median incomes in the country and have one of the lowest
unemployment rates in the state. Loudoun County is synonymous with treasured
history, scenic beauty, cutting-edge business opportunity and a wealth of
recreational attractions. Residents, business owners, and visitors enjoy an
uncommon but rich diversity in Loudoun. We offer the best in terms of the past,
present and future, and we have bridged the best of two very different worlds
successfully. The eastern portion of Loudoun gives us business, progress, high
technology and modern, suburban conveniences; it serves as our image of the
future. In contrast, Loudoun's western region gives us natural beauty, history,
rustic and romantic accommodations and recreational activities that add to the
overall quality of life that attracted us to Loudoun in the first place.
History and
Heritage
Loudoun
County's heritage is rich and well-preserved. While the county has been growing
and changing for some 250 years, evidence of our earliest settlers is still
very much a part of our landscape. In fact, Loudoun's identity has been formed,
in a large part, by the historic significance of our earliest residents and
events. Our past is one that today's residents and business owners alike
cherish, maintain, and are eager to share.
Long
before European settlers made their way to what is now Loudoun County, Native
Americans worked the land, hunted and fished, and made their homes here.
Arrowheads and pottery gathered from modern farm fields and from the banks of
the Potomac River have helped preserve the early history of our region.
Europeans began arriving in the mid-1720s, after the Native American
community was pushed west by the Treaty of Albany. Quakers, Germans, Irish, and
Scot-Irish settlers were the first to arrive, coming primarily from
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland to establish farms and communities. In
addition, Virginians from the Tidewater area migrated here to establish large
and thriving tobacco farms.
When the
Virginia House of Burgesses divided Fairfax County in 1757, leaders named the
western land "Loudoun" for John Campbell, fourth Earl of Loudoun and
then-titular Governor of Virginia. Leesburg, Ashburn and Sterling was designated the county seat
shortly thereafter; it remains so today.
Cultural Arts and
Entertainment
In terms
of entertainment, arts and culture, Loudoun County is in an enviable position.
Not only do we enjoy the invaluable benefit of being part of the culture-rich
Washington metropolitan region, but we have access to a wide range of cultural
and artistic programs, organizations and opportunities right here in our own
backyard. From music, theater and wine tastings to festivals and home and
garden tours, Loudoun certainly offers plenty to tickle your arts and culture
fancy.
Music
lovers of all ages with every taste in melody will be delighted by what Loudoun
has to offer. Treat yourself to concerts and performances given regularly
throughout the year by the Loudoun Community Band, the Loudoun Concert
Orchestra, Loudoun Chorale and the Loudoun Symphony. Take in a performance by
Purcellville's Neal Concert Series, which features local classical musicians.
Loudoun
is home to many community theater groups and dance troupes, which take
advantage of both professionals and amateurs and continue to delight audiences
with top-quality performances at affordable prices. Loudoun Ballet Company, for
example, complements its professional, salaried dancers with apprentices and
dancers chosen from among the Loudoun School of Ballet's students. Theatergoers
from around the region continue to enjoy the Company's popular "Nutcracker" and
"Peter and the Wolf" productions.
Shopping and Dining
Delightful
A few
short years ago, Loudoun residents had to plan shopping excursions carefully,
for beyond specialty stores and antique shops, the county offered little more
in the way of retail choices. Today residents enjoy shopping options that make
traveling outside Loudoun a choice, not a necessity. Whether you're looking for
convenience, price or high quality-or all of these-Loudoun's shopping options
have what you want.
Community shopping centers have sprouted across the county. These
centers offer convenience to nearby residents, with discount stores, specialty
stores, national chains and warehouse stores all in one location. We now also
boast two malls, where just a couple of years ago the closest mall was a
30-minute drive away. Leesburg, Ashburn and Sterling Corner Premium Outlets offers shoppers values on
clothing, furniture, housewares, personal items and gifts, all in an open and
airy outdoor center that continues to expand. We also boast Dulles Town Center,
our own regional mall, which gives shoppers several national department stores
and more than 100 specialty shops under one roof.
If
shopping works up an appetite, you couldn't be in a better place than Loudoun.
From fast-food and casual, family-style restaurants to period cafes and
romantic, candlelit dining rooms, we have culinary delights to suit every
taste. Menus and offerings are varied and include some of the metropolitan
area's best ethnic and American cuisine.
Parks and Recreation
Loudoun
County's residents and visitors are never at a loss for things to do.
Recreation and leisure-time activities are diverse and widely available.
Whether you are looking for hiking; biking; canoeing or kayaking; tennis; golf;
swimming or boating; hunting; fishing or horseback riding, Loudoun has
something for everyone!
The
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority provides 19 parks in the Northern
Virginia area, with six in Loudoun County. These parks offer a unique variety
of facilities and activities that leave no one at a loss for things to do. Take
yourself back to the Civil War at Ball's Bluff Regional Park and National
Cemetery. Get a round of golf in before sundown at Brambleton Regional Park or
Algonquian Regional Park. Stroll the nature trails at Red Rock Wilderness
Overlook or take a 45-mile bike ride on the famed Washington and Old Dominion
trail, which runs from Arlington to Purcellville. Or, sit and relax by the
Potomac River and enjoy a picnic and a good book. Request my Free Loudoun County Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Leesburg, Virginia area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out...
First Time Buyers >A Matter of Timing
Buying real estate can sometimes involve tricky timing. For example, you may have found the perfect house and are thinking about making an offer, but are feeling pressured to make a decision just when you want time to consider the matter. The agent tells you that another party is thinking about making an offer, so you shouldn't hesitate if you really want the house. What should you do? Trust your agent!
It is natural to feel some pressure from even the most easy-going real estate agent--and some uncertainty about making an offer. If you really like a house, there is always the possibility that someone else will share your enthusiasm for it. Whether your local market is active or sluggish, it is sensible to assume that another offer is likely to come in. Perhaps you can afford to "sleep on it", but moving as quickly as possible will minimize the possibility that the house will go to another buyer.
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| Q |
What is the world's longest wall?
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| A |
The Great Wall of China, at a length of 2,150 miles, nearly three times the length of Britain. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
