LOUDOUN COUNTY
County Offices
One Harrison Street SE
Leesburg, VA 703-777-0100
https://www.loudoun.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
5 Loudoun Street SW
Leesburg, VA 703-777-2176
https://www.loudounchamber.org/
Nestled in the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in the western quadrant of Metropolitan Washington, DC, historic Loudoun County is one of the fastest-growing business centers in one of the nation’s largest markets. However, Loudoun County remains primary rural in flavor with more than 50% of its land devoted to horse or dairy farms and other agriculturally related farming use. With growth spurred by the completion of Dulles International Airport, the history and tradition of Loudoun County began to meet the progressive attitude and high-tech prowess of a dynamic future.
Achieving this fine balance has created a quality of life treasured by the residents in a comfortable community of exciting business and living opportunities set against the backdrop of historic legacy and natural beauty. Both housing prices and real estate taxes are generally lower in Loudoun county than those within the inner-circle suburbs. This reason alone has compelled many people to settle into one of the county’s incorporated towns or beautiful planned residential communities and commute to employment centers to the east such as the District of Columbia or Tysons Corner.
Services
Newcomers to Loudoun County can look forward to efficient services that enhance the convenience of daily living. Loudoun Healthcare serves as the guiding force in ensuring the availability of progressive care, anchored by the Loudoun Hospital Center. Other facilities within the system include the Loudoun Cancer Care Center, the Country Side Ambulatory Surgery Center, and the Loudoun Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Loudoun Hospital Center is known for it family-centered medical care and health education programs. The main campus is located at Lansdowne, just east of Leesburg on a 50-acre site campus that features fiber optic technology.
Education is another point of pride in the county, and public schools enjoy an excellent reputation. A percentage of Loudoun County’s students are eligible to attend Northern Virginia’s regional magnet school of science and technology with advanced subjects such as telecommunications, computer systems, and material sciences. Special education classes as well as gifted and talented programs are offered at every grade level. Nearly 85 percent of the graduates who continue their formal education are able to do so close to home. Within the University Center are extensions for The George Washington University, Marymount University, Northern Virginia Community College, Shenandoah University, and Strayer College. Vocational training and adult education classes are offered at several locations around the county.
Quality of Life
Loudoun County’s panoramic open spaces create a natural environment that encourages a wide variety of outdoor activity and exploration. The 500 acres of the Algonkian Regional Park along the Potomac River feature an 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, pavilion and vacation cottages. The 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr. golf course at the Lansdowne Conference Resort offers golf memberships to county residents. Nearly 45 miles of hiking, biking, and bridle trails of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park reach into the county.
Loudoun County’s historical sites draw together friends, family and neighbors to a full calendar of special events, but they also attract throngs of tourists. Among these celebrated sites are Morven Park, Waterford, Oatlands, Oak Hill, Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery, and Upperville. Those who appreciate the performing arts will find a wealth of venues and special events throughout the metropolitan area, from world-class symphony to Broadway hits and live stage productions.
Housing styles and prices vary throughout the county, offering an attractive selection of neighborhoods and settings. Newer detached single-family homes blend with elegant Victorians and handsome executive estates set on ample acreage. Within the eastern section of Loudoun County, master-planned communities are filled with neighborhoods that surround premier amenities from golf courses to scenic walking paths and full-service recreation centers. Home styles represent a mixture of colonials, farmhouses, small carriage houses and townhomes.
Private bus lines provide transportation to the many commuters who live in the area, while Route 7 serves as the region’s primary artery. Retail destinations like Loudoun Valley Shopping Center, Tysons Corner, Fair Oaks and Town Center Mall are convenient to most sections of the county. From its historic legacy and superb recreational opportunities to comfortable neighborhoods, Loudoun County attracts new residents to an exceptional quality of life.
Ashburn Farms & Village, Broad Run
Two of Loudoun County’s newest planned residential communities are situated on the south side of the Route 7 corridor. These adjoining communities offer a wide selection of new homes in a variety of traditional styles by major builders. Some of these beautiful homes feature lake frontage with exceptional views. Residents can choose from an abundance of sports, recreational, and leisure activities. Many of these amenities revolve around the 32,000-square-foot Sports Pavilion nestled in the heart of Ashburn Village. Other highlights include miles of jogging paths and bike trails, baseball and soccer fields, lighted tennis courts — and bordering the Sports Pavilion — a lake and marina. Ashburn Village and Ashburn Farm are only minutes from Leesburg to the west and Countryside Towncenter to the east, both of which offer retail opportunities that are not found in the village itself.
Cascades, Countryside
One of the newest planned residential communities, Cascades, along with the neighboring Countryside, provide beautiful neighborhoods covering thousands of acres on the north side of the Route 7 corridor. Both Cascades and Countryside offer an attractive variety of housing styles and prices. These carefully planned communities blend parks, schools, office and retail space, as well as a full spectrum of sports, recreational, and leisure time activities. Cascades adjoins Algonkian Regional Park, although the community has developed a country club in Lowes Island, one of its three neighbors. Resale homes are plentiful in Countryside, while newer homes are more readily available in Cascades. Residents of both communities rely on the Sterling Commuter Bus Service to the District of Columbia. Medical facilities are available nearby at the Dulles International Medical Center, and Sterling also offers an immediate care center. Several smaller shopping plazas filled with shops and services are located in the area.
Hamilton, Purcellville, Round Hill
All three of these small rural communities are located in the rolling terrain of Western Loudoun County. Hamilton, first settled by Quakers, served a tranquil summer retreat in the late 1800s. Less than 1,000 people reside in this small town, known for its collection of stately single-family homes and townhouses. Round Hill, a Victorian-era village with only a few hundred residents, is the last incorporated town in Loudoun County before reaching the mountains. Steeped in history, Round Hill was settled in 1735. The community has been greatly influenced by the growth surrounding nearby Purcellville but has been able to maintain its original character. Many of the homes in Purcellville that date back to Quaker and pre-Civil War settlements have been beautifully restored or renovated.
Leesburg
Leesburg, the county seat, was named for Francis Lightfoot Lee who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Originally a frontier fort, this quiet, residential community claims a number of fascinating historic sites. The Loudoun County Museum and the American Work Horse Museum are located in this community, and antique shops are numerous. Many of Leesburg’s residents are commuters to the District of Columbia, which is 35 miles away via Route 7. Leesburg’s Historic District showcases many beautifully restored 18th and 19th-century buildings embellished by wrought iron fences and lined with quaint brick walkways. Most of the homes in town have the elegance of Victorian styling, whether single-family residences or townhouses. Newer homes in a variety of architectural styles can be found on the outskirts of town for a full complement of housing options.
Middleburg
The town of Middleburg is best known as the Capital of Virginia’s famous “Hunt Country.” Many cattle farms are located in this area as well, and these two points of interest dominate the town’s activities. Middleburg holds fall and spring horse meets and thoroughbred horses are raised here for hunting, breeding and racing. Homes in this quaint, unspoiled community are typically colonial in style, within the higher price ranges, and set on generous acreage. The District of Columbia is about 40 miles from home, so commuting via Route 50 requires at least one hour. Residents can access quality healthcare at the hospital in Leesburg when advanced diagnostics and treatment are required. Antique shops and specialty stores can be found in this “gem of a small town,” whose origin can be traced back to 1731.
Sterling, Sterling Park
Formerly a rural crossroads, Sterling is now home to several suburban communities that were developed just off Route 7. Commuter bus service is available to the District of Columbia located about 25 miles away. Sterling Park is one of the area’s newer communities, established in 1963. The community was actually constructed by U.S. Steel Corporation and serves as home to about 20,000 residents. Housing styles tend to be mixed and most fall into relatively affordable price ranges. A number of active civic and social groups in the area add to the quality of life and offer newcomers a chance to become immediately involved and feel at home in their new surroundings. Sterling Park features a community center and 70 acres of recreational facilities.
Sugarland Run
The unincorporated community of Sugarland Run is situated just north of Sterling and is distinguished as one of the oldest of Loudoun County’s planned residential developments. The architecture styles tend to be primarily contemporary in flavor, blending comfortable single-family homes with townhouses and condominiums that offer maintenance-free living. Many residents are employed in the District of Columbia and travel into the nation’s capital city via commuter bus service. Sugarland Run’s local community center offers a variety of programs and sports facilities that include an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The added attraction of a private six-acre lake has the advantage of being reserved for use by Sugarland residents and their guests only.
