Herndon, Virginia
| Herndon, Virginia | ||
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| — Town — | ||
| Town of Herndon | ||
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| Coordinates: 38°58′17″N 77°23′19″W / 38.97139°N 77.38861°WCoordinates: 38°58′17″N 77°23′19″W / 38.97139°N 77.38861°W | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | Fairfax | |
| Settled | 1858 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Town | |
| • Mayor | Lisa Merkel | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) | |
| Elevation | 361 ft (112 m) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 23,292 | |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP codes | 20170 | |
| Area code(s) | 703, 571 | |
| FIPS code | 51-36648[1] | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1495675[2] | |
| Website | http://www.herndon-va.gov | |
Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 23,292 at the 2010 census, which makes it the largest of three towns in the county.[3]
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History [edit]
Herndon was named for Commander William Lewis Herndon, American naval explorer and author of Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon. Commander Herndon captained the ill-fated steamer SS Central America, going down with his ship while helping to save over 150 of its passengers and crew. The settlement was named Herndon in 1858. In the 1870s, many Northern soldiers and their families came to settle in the area, taking advantage of moderate climate and low land prices. Herndon also offered a group of friendly and local native Americans who helped the town to prosper via trade and instruction.[4]
Originally part of the rural surroundings of the Washington, D.C. area, the town of Herndon developed into a hub of dairy farming and vacationing for area residents, aided by its presence along the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad (later to become the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad).[4] When the railroad was converted into a hike-and-bike trail, Herndon capitalized on history and small-town feel (in a major metropolitan region) by converting its train station into a museum and visitors center by relocating a Norfolk Southern Railway caboose to a nearby site and repainting it in W&OD livery.[5]
Although the caboose itself never traveled through Herndon, it remains an iconic part of the downtown area that both locals and tourists visit daily.[5] The caboose and station offer a glimpse of the original downtown's historic charm, which residents are passionate about preserving.[5]
On January 14, 2004, the Town of Herndon commemorated its 125th anniversary.[6]
The town of Herndon was part of a nationally reported controversy involving illegal immigration beginning in 2005.[7] The controversy revolved around a day labor center called the Herndon Official Worker Center (HOW Center), constructed by the town and operated by Reston Interfaith's Project Hope and Harmony under a grant from surrounding Fairfax County.[8] The HOW Center was created in response to daily gatherings of Hispanic workers at a local 7-Eleven store.[7] .[9]
The 2006 election for Mayor and Town Council revolved mainly around the issue, and resulted in unseating the pro-center Mayor and two councilmembers.[10] The center closed after less than two years of operation, in September 2007.
Geography [edit]
Herndon is located at 38°58′17″N 77°23′19″W / 38.97139°N 77.38861°W (38.971478, -77.388675)[11].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 795 |
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| 1900 | 692 | −13.0% | |
| 1910 | 802 | 15.9% | |
| 1920 | 953 | 18.8% | |
| 1930 | 887 | −6.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,046 | 17.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,461 | 39.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,960 | 34.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,301 | 119.4% | |
| 1980 | 11,449 | 166.2% | |
| 1990 | 16,139 | 41.0% | |
| 2000 | 21,655 | 34.2% | |
| 2010 | 23,292 | 7.6% | |
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As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 23,292 people, 7,472 households, and 5,357 families residing in the town. The population density was 5,129.9 people per square mile (1,981.3/km²). There were 7,190 housing units at an average density of 1,703.3 per square mile (657.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.7% White, 9.5% Black, 0.7% Native American, 17.9% Asian (8.5% Indian, 1.6% Vietnamese, 1.5% Chinese, 1.2% Filipino, 0.7% Korean, 0.1% Japanese, 4.2% Other Asian), 0.0% Pacific Islander, 16.0% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.6% of the population.
There were 6,962 households, of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.54.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 38.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 3.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $72,912, and the median income for a family was $79,140 (these figures had risen to $92,947 and $108,446 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[12]). Males had a median income of $44,197 versus $35,548 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,941. About 4.7% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy [edit]
Herndon is part of the Dulles Technology Corridor, which Fortune magazine named the "Netplex" because of the presence of the headquarters of such companies as AOL, XO Communications, Verizon Business (formerly MCI, formerly WorldCom, originally UUNET), and Network Solutions, which began as the INTERNIC — the registry where every domain name was once administered.
Some of those companies are within Herndon. Others have Herndon mailing addresses, but are located in unincorporated Fairfax or Loudoun counties, e.g., south of the Dulles Toll Road. These include Deltek and K12.
Top employers [edit]
According to the Town's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the Town are:[13]
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Booz Allen Hamilton | 500+ |
| 2 | SCORE Association | 500+ |
| 3 | ITT Exelis | 249-499 |
| 4 | Northwest Federal Credit Union | 249-499 |
| 5 | REI Systems | 249-499 |
| 6 | Boeing | 249-499 |
| 7 | Worldgate Sport & Health | 249-499 |
| 8 | Air Line Pilots Association | 100-250 |
| 9 | MTS Transportation | 100-250 |
| 10 | Parsons Brinckerhoff | 100-250 |
Government [edit]
The town is organized as an incorporated town by the Commonwealth of Virginia,[14][15] and is governed by an elected Mayor and Town Council[16] who serve on a part-time basis. The current Mayor is Lisa C. Merkel, who was first elected to Council in 2010 and served as Vice Mayor until her election as Mayor in 2012. The Mayor chairs the Council and heads the executive branch of the town government. The Police Department, independent of the county police department, is headed by Colonel Maggie DeBoard. and consists of 56 sworn officers along with the assistance of the Herndon Police Citizen Support Team. The Herndon Police Department achieved national recognition on November 8, 1986 by becoming the 7th police agency in Virginia and the 42nd police agency in the United States to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.[17]
Downtown Master Plan [edit]
At its public hearing on February 22, 2011, the Herndon Town Council adopted a master plan for its downtown that, in the words of the adopted resolution, provides a “community vision for future downtown development.”
Among its features, the adopted Downtown Master Plan includes recommendations concerning the type and location of future structures in the downtown; methods of ensuring quality development; and potential methods of financing necessary for desirable public infrastructure.
The adopted plan limits future downtown development to a maximum of four stories with a mix of three- and four-story buildings; denotes locations of semi-public plazas; and envisions future buildings that reflect the massing and scale of traditional small town downtowns. The desire for the downtown to build upon its reputation as a place for entertainment and recreation is evident in the plan, as is the commitment to incorporate pedestrian and bicycle-friendly improvements.
The Downtown Master Plan’s adoption by the Herndon Town Council follows months of public review and input. A Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee, appointed by the council at the project’s onset in 2009, worked with the town’s planning staff and its team of project consultants, led by Urban Design Associates (UDA), to create a process that allowed for significant public input into the plan. UDA hosted public workshops, at which renderings were evaluated in detail; the Planning Commission held public hearings throughout the planning process; and the Town Council held public hearings to ensure that all citizen input was collected and considered. The planning effort incorporated the many facets of planning and development including urban design, architecture, engineering, land economics, public infrastructure, traffic impacts and historic preservation.
The adopted Downtown Master Plan resolution, as well as block-by-block renderings of the plan, is available for review on the “Planning/Zoning” page of the website. [18]
Metro Area Station Plan [edit]
In March 2012, the Herndon Town Council adopted an amendment to the town’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan that outlines a vision for transit-oriented development adjacent to the future stop on Metrorail’s Silver Line, slated for completion in 2017.
The Herndon Metro Area Station Plan was developed as a result of significant input from Herndon residents as well as the town’s commercial sector, through a series of public meetings, Planning Commission and Town Council public hearings, and other outreach. The plan focuses on 38 acres of land located south of the Herndon Parkway and immediately adjacent to the future Metro stop, which will be constructed in the median of the Dulles Toll Road and connected to the town on its north side via a pedestrian bridge. The land is privately owned and is currently developed.
The consulting firm of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) worked with the town on development of the Herndon Metro Area Station Plan. During the process, roadway improvements were identified and transportation impact studies were performed to ensure that the proposed future redevelopment would meet current town standards for intersection operations. The planning effort included extensive financial and feasibility modeling to ensure that the cost of any necessary and desired public improvements could be paid for by the developers of the envisioned redevelopment.
The plan provides the vision and guidance necessary to ensure that private redevelopment meets the expectations, desires and needs of the town as well as the property owners, and that it complements and enhances the town’s existing character. It will be further refined by formal design guidelines to be crafted for the plan area.
The plan envisions a mix of retail, hotel, office and residential space, to include 3.2 million net square feet of additional commercial floor area and 2,400 dwellings by 2035. A promenade, pedestrian/bicycle-friendly trails and enhancements, and recreational facilities for residents and employees are included in the plan area. High-quality design and materials providing premier office space to attract top level corporations and agencies are also included. Parking will be provided in garages designed into, and hidden by, buildings. Short-term parking spaces in the garages will serve as kiss-and-ride facilities for Metro passengers. Pull-offs along Herndon Parkway will prevent buses from blocking traffic as they transport Metro riders to and from the station.
The adopted Herndon Metro Area Station Plan (CPA #11-02) is available for review on the “Planning/Zoning” page of the website. [19]
Brand Identity [edit]
The Herndon Town Council in September 2012 approved a resolution adopting a brand identity for the town that, in the words of the resolution, will further the growth of the town’s commercial sector as well as its desirability as a place to live and visit.
Creation of a brand identity for Herndon was among the recommendations of the town’s Economic Development Task Force, convened in 2011 to develop strategies for enhancing the town’s commercial sector and its relationship with town businesses. Subsequently, a Brand Advisory Committee was appointed by Town Manager Art Anselene to offer direction and counsel throughout the brand strategy project; members of the committee included Mayor Lisa C. Merkel, former Mayor Stephen J. DeBenedittis, and a group of marketing executives, organizational representatives, town residents and others who dedicated time and expertise to the project.
Washington, DC-based Trialogue Studio conducted the brand strategy project on behalf of the town. Prior to development of a brand positioning, Trialogue conducted extensive research that included focus groups, interviews, psychographic analysis and online surveying. From the research and in consultation with the Brand Advisory Committee, Trialogue recommended a brand positioning that identifies Herndon as a “next generation small town,” a place that welcomes “innovators, risk-takers, history seekers and family keepers.” The town’s brand attributes were defined as “open, focused and caring.”
Again in consultation with the advisory committee, Trialogue developed a logo for the town’s new brand.
Variations on the logo, to include an approved alternate color palette as well as approved uses, have also been developed. Additionally, the new brand strategy incorporates an element by which the “on” in Herndon may be highlighted to extend usage to town businesses, organizations and other entities that have a vested interest in promoting the town.
The town is developing materials to support the brand and working on projects that reflect the brand’s positioning. Additionally, the town is working with its businesses and organizations to develop ways the brand may be incorporated into their marketing strategies.
More information on the town’s brand is provided on the "Business" "Town Brand" page of the website. [20]
Attractions [edit]
Herndon boasts a wide variety of diversions and celebrations year round. Among the community events are:
| May | Friday Night Live! (free concerts May–August), Farmers' Market (May–October), Towne Square Singers, Big Truck Days, Public Works Forest and Meadow Wildflower Walk |
|---|---|
| June | Herndon Festival, held for four days |
| July | Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks |
| September | Labor Day Jazz Festival, Annual Motorcycle Poker Run (Fraternal Order of Police), Annual NatureFest Celebration |
Herndon contains the Herndon Depot Museum, the site of "Mosby's Raid on Herndon Station", which was a Civil War skirmish that took place on St. Patrick's Day, 1863. Also within the town is a golf course, the Herndon ArtSpace (a community art gallery), community center with basketball and racquetball courts, and an aquatic center. Adjacent to the community center is Bready Park, with indoor tennis courts. Additionally, every residence within the town borders is within a mile or less of a public park.
Nearby attractions include the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum (which houses the Enola Gay B-29 Superfortress, a Concorde supersonic passenger airplane, an SR-71A Blackbird plane and the Space Shuttle Discovery), Frying Pan Park, Sully Plantation, Reston Town Center, Mount Vernon, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Colvin Run Mill, Aldie Mill, Oatlands Plantation, Manassas National Battlefield Park and the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (which runs through the town).
Education [edit]
Primary and secondary schools [edit]
Herndon is within the Fairfax County Public Schools district.
Public schools serving students within the Herndon town limits are:[21][22][23]
- Clearview Elementary School
- Dranesville Elementary School
- Herndon Elementary School
- Hutchison Elementary School
- Herndon Middle School
- Herndon High School
Public libraries [edit]
Fairfax County Public Library operates the Herndon Fortnightly Library in Herndon.[24]
Famous residents [edit]
- Jeremy Barlow, professional soccer player
- Neil Barlow, professional soccer player
- Jon Carman, former professional American football player
- Jerome Cornfield, statistician
- Albert Scott Crossfield, American naval officer and test pilot
- Jay A. DeLoach, American naval officer
- Ronnie Dove, pop and country musician
- Wesley L. Fox, USMC Colonel Retired, Medal of Honor recipient, and former Deputy Commandant Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
- Angie Goff, broadcast journalist
- Ferenc Nagy, former Prime Minister of Hungary
- Štefan Osuský, Slovak politician and diplomat
- Sean Parker, founder of Napster and former president of Facebook
- Scottie Reynolds, former Villanova Wildcats basketball player
- Thomas Davis Rust, Virginia Delegate and former Mayor of Herndon
Sister cities [edit]
Its sister city is Runnymede, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.[25]
See also [edit]
- Northern Virginia
- Reston, Virginia
- Washington Dulles International Airport
- Washington Metropolitan Area
References [edit]
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Virginia by Place - GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010". US Census Bureau. April 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Herndon History". Town of Herndon, Virginia. January 18, 2006. Archived from the original on September 26, 2006. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ^ a b c Munro, Charles V. (October 19, 2005). "A history of Herndon through the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.". Herndon Connection (Alexandria, Virginia: Connectionnewspapers.com). Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ "HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 327". Virginia Legislative Assembly. January 29, 2004.
- ^ a b Brush, Silla (October 24, 2005). "Local Labor Pains: America's immigration debate lands on Main Street". US News & World Report. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
- ^ Project Hope and Harmony (archived 2006-09-07; 2006-12-29; 2007-04-15; 2007-06-11)[dead link]
- ^ Gilbert, Daniel (15 December 2005). "Day laborer center opens in Herndon". Potomac News (Media General).
- ^ "'Minutemen' Open New Front in Fight Against Illegal Immigration: Citizen Group Targets Illegal Laborers Where They Work". ABC News. November 2, 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Herndon town, Virginia - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder". Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ "Town of Herndon CAFR". Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "Code of Ordinances - Town of Herndon, Virginia; Charter, Chapter 2, Powers". Town of Herndon. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ^ "Code of Virginia, Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns, Chapter 11 - Powers of Cities and Towns". Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ^ "Code of Ordinances - Town of Herndon, Virginia; Charter, Chapter 3, Mayor and Council". Town of Herndon. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ^ "Special News Release" (Microsoft Word) (Press release). Herndon Police Department. February 22, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ^ "Town Council Adopts Downtown Master Plan" (PDF) (Press release). Herndon Public Information Office. February 23, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Town Council Adopts Metro Area Station Plan" (PDF) (Press release). Herndon Public Information Office. March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Town of Herndon Adopts Brand Identity" (PDF) (Press release). Herndon Public Information Office. September 27, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Schools and Centers Directory". Fairfax County Public Schools. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "About Herndon >> Herndon Public Schools". Town of Herndon. January 18, 2006. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
- ^ "Coates Elementary School". Fairfax County Public Schools. June 22, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ^ "Library Branches." Fairfax County Public Library. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.
- ^ "Runnymede's Town Twinning Association". Runnymede Borough Council. Retrieved October 4, 2006.
External links [edit]
- Official website
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Fact-Finder: Herndon,
- ArtSpace Herndon
- Herndon Council for the Arts
- Elden Street Players
- List of Restaurants in Herndon (A wide variety, sorted by ethnicity and location)
- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
- Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian Annex)
- Friends of the W&OD Trail
- Herndon Historical Society
- May 2, 2006 election results
- Final Voyage of the SS Central America Klare, Normand - Historian The Final Voyage of the Central America. Exhaustive research documentation of the tragedy from actual accounts by the survivors of the Central America. A further indepth biography of William Lewis Herndon' s life and US naval career.
- Herndon and Gibbon, Lieutenants, United States Navy Klare, Normand - Historian Herndon and Gibbon. The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley. Lieutenant William Lewis Herndon's and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon's expedition to map the Amazon river from its source to the Atlantic Ocean. Stories from their actual reports to Secretary of the Navy John P. Kennedy, President Millard Fillmore and the House of Representatives of the United States.
- Herndon, William Lewis; Lardner Gibbon (1854). Exploration of the valley of the Amazon. Washington: United States Navy.
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