Herdon in Fairfax, VA

Located in Fairfax County Virginia, Herndon was once a hub of Dairy Farms and a popular vacation spot for city dwellers.  The town is named after Commander William Lewis Herndon, a naval explorer and captain of the SS Central America.  Commander Herndon saved 150 passengers and crew before going down with his ship.  His selfless act impressed the town’s people and they voted to name their town in honor of him. Today historic downtown Herndon is a lovely place to visit and shop while the surrounding area of Herndon has grown and developed from dairy farms to housing developments and businesses. Another main attraction in Herndon is the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, formerly the W&OD Railroad, runs right through town. This popular 44.8 mile long trail is suitable for walking, running, cycling and roller skating for a majority of its length and runs from the Shirlington area of Arlington County to Purcellville in Western Loudoun County.

With the introduction of the railroad in the 1850’s, Herndon grew in popularity amongst city dwellers looking for a country vacation spot that was easily accessible.  The railway provided transportation for the area dairy farm’s milk into the city. At the beginning of the Civil War, the Union army seized control of the railroad all the way to Vienna and destroyed most of the tracks and bridges. As time went on and transportation progressed, the railway was soon rendered obsolete and the last train left the Herndon Depot in 1968 after supplying the materials for the Dulles Airport runways. The tracks were paved over to create the W&OD Trail. After a devastating fire in 1917 destroyed much of Herndon’s downtown, it was quickly rebuilt with sturdier brick construction and much of it remains today. The residents of this small town are passionate about preserving and celebrating the history of Herdon.

Herdon, VA Homes and Subdivisions

See Homes For Sale in Herndon, VA

Franklin Farm – a large community spanning Herndon and Oak Hill of 1,777 homes on 850 acres built in the 1980’s. (703) 620-6230 www.franklinfarm.org

Fox Mill Estates – a community of 1,144 single family homes built between 1972 and 1985 with amenities. HOA Info. – American Management of VA (703) 771-3995 www.fmeha.org

McNair Farms – a planned community of townhomes, single family homes, condominiums and apartment complexes on 264 acres. HOA Info. – Capitol Property management (703) 713-6111 www.mcnairfarms.org

Rock Hill – a small community of 127 townhomes built in 1998. HOA Info. – Cardinal Management Group (703) 591-1818 www.rockhillhoa.com

Herdon, VA Schools

Elementary Schools:  Clearview Elementary, Crossfield Elementary, Dranesville Elementary, Floris Elementary, Fox Mill Elementary, Herndon Elementary, Hutchison Elementary, Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary, McNair Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary

Middle Schools:  Carson Middle and Herndon Middle

High Schools:  Herndon High