Great Falls, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Great Falls is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Fairfax County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 15,427 at the 2010 census.
Although primarily a bedroom community for Washington, D.C.
, one major attraction is Great Falls Park
which overlooks the Great Falls of the Potomac River
, for which the community and the park are named. George Washington
was involved with building a canal
around the falls on the southwest, or Virginia, side, called the Patowmack Canal
, which did not become commercially viable. Remnants of the canal and of a village around the canal named Matildaville are still visible in the park.
The Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad
extended along Old Dominion Drive to Great Falls Park in 1906.
River Bend County Park is another gathering area in Great Falls, as is the Village Green, which hosts community celebrations around Easter (Spring Festival, including an Egg Hunt), Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (Tree Lighting), as well as concerts in the summer.
(Leesburg Pike) and Virginia State Route 193
(Georgetown Pike).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.22%) is water.
Early on, the village was known as Forestville (unofficially, since there was already a Forestville with a Post Office), but was named Great Falls in 1955.
of 2000, there were 8,549 people, 2,785 households, and 2,464 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 478.5 people per square mile (184.7/km²). There were 2,852 housing units at an average density of 159.6/sq mi (61.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.83% White, 1.20% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.
There were 2,785 households out of which 44.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.4% were married couples
living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.5% were non-families. 8.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $159,695 and the median income for a family was $170,618. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $62,206 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $78,149. About 0.9% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
operates public schools.
Great Falls students attend either Great Falls Elementary School, Forestville Elementary School or Colvin Run Elementary School. The students then go on to Cooper Middle School and Langley High School.
Fairfax County Public Library
operates the Great Falls Library in the CDP.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 15,427 at the 2010 census.
Although primarily a bedroom community for Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, one major attraction is Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park is a small National Park Service site in Virginia, United States. Situated on 800 acres along the banks of the Potomac River in northern Fairfax County, the park is a disconnected but integral part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway...
which overlooks the Great Falls of the Potomac River
Great Falls of the Potomac River
The Great Falls of the Potomac River are located at the fall line of the Potomac River, upstream from Washington, D.C. Great Falls Park, operated by the National Park Service, is located on the southern banks in Virginia, while Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parkland is located along the northern banks...
, for which the community and the park are named. George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
was involved with building a canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
around the falls on the southwest, or Virginia, side, called the Patowmack Canal
Patowmack Canal
The Patowmack Canal is an inoperative canal located in Virginia, United States, that was designed to bypass rapids in the Potomac River upstream of the present Washington, D.C. area...
, which did not become commercially viable. Remnants of the canal and of a village around the canal named Matildaville are still visible in the park.
The Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad
Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad
The Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad was an interurban trolley line that ran in Northern Virginia during the early 20th century.-History:...
extended along Old Dominion Drive to Great Falls Park in 1906.
River Bend County Park is another gathering area in Great Falls, as is the Village Green, which hosts community celebrations around Easter (Spring Festival, including an Egg Hunt), Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (Tree Lighting), as well as concerts in the summer.
Geography
Great Falls is located at 38°59′53"N 077°17′18"W (38.9981653, -77.2883157). The area is sparsely populated due to the vast tracts of land. The main roads serving Great Falls are Virginia State Route 7Virginia State Route 7
State Route 7 is a major primary state highway and busy commuter route in Northern Virginia, United States. It travels southeast from downtown Winchester to State Route 400 in downtown Alexandria...
(Leesburg Pike) and Virginia State Route 193
Virginia State Route 193
Virginia State Route 193 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Georgetown Pike, the state highway runs from SR 7 in Dranesville east to SR 123 in Langley. SR 193 passes through Great Falls and meets Interstate 495 in McLean...
(Georgetown Pike).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.22%) is water.
Early on, the village was known as Forestville (unofficially, since there was already a Forestville with a Post Office), but was named Great Falls in 1955.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,549 people, 2,785 households, and 2,464 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 478.5 people per square mile (184.7/km²). There were 2,852 housing units at an average density of 159.6/sq mi (61.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.83% White, 1.20% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.
There were 2,785 households out of which 44.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.5% were non-families. 8.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $159,695 and the median income for a family was $170,618. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $62,206 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $78,149. About 0.9% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Fairfax County Public SchoolsFairfax County Public Schools
The Fairfax County Public Schools system is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax...
operates public schools.
Great Falls students attend either Great Falls Elementary School, Forestville Elementary School or Colvin Run Elementary School. The students then go on to Cooper Middle School and Langley High School.
Fairfax County Public Library
Fairfax County Public Library
The Fairfax County Public Library is a public library system headquartered in Suite 324 in the Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States....
operates the Great Falls Library in the CDP.