Lake Barcroft, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Lake Barcroft is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Fairfax County
, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,906 at the 2000 census. It is also the name of the privately-owned lake around which this population is located. The lake is named for Dr. John W. Barcroft, who owned and operated a mill on Holmes Run during the mid-19th century.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (8.15%) is water.
Lake Barcroft is located in a suburb of Washington, D.C. The local high school is J.E.B. Stuart
.
, 4.35% from two or more races, 0.26% Native American, and 0.07% Pacific Islander.
Hispanics or Latinos (who may be of any race) were 14.72% of the population.
There were 3,589 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $83,593, and the median income for a family was $101,562. Males had a median income of $62,882 versus $52,284 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $46,293. About 2.7% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.
that also gives them rights to use the lake. For homeowners who do not own riparian land, there are several private beaches that are open to people who live within the boundaries of the association.
The residents organize occasional aquatic festivals, most notably Independence Day
fireworks every July 4. Fireworks are fired from one of the beaches, and residents crowd the water in their electric-powered or paddled boats to watch.
Gas and diesel engines are prohibited on the lake to prevent noise and pollution. Only the lifeguards have access to gas-powered motorboats. Most residents own a small sailboat
, canoe
, or an electrically powered boat.
were introduced to the lake decades ago, and now the population is self-sustaining. Catfish
and bluegill
also live in the lake in large numbers. Semi-aquatic species such as muskrat
, duck
s, Canada Geese
and kingfishers are also common.
The lake receives large amounts of runoff
from adjacent parts of Fairfax County, Virginia
. These cause occasional algal blooms. The microbiology of the lake is monitored, and it is considered safe for fishing and swimming.
In 1949, the City of Alexandria began to draw its drinking water from the Occoquan Reservoir. A year later, Colonel Joseph Barger and Associates purchased the reservoir, dam, and 680 adjacent acres of land for $1 million from the Alexandria Water Company. A year later, Barger and Associates began developing the 680 acres (2.8 km²) into a residential community. During the early 1950s, residents formed a home owners association called Lake Barcroft Community Association (LABARCA). In 1970, community residents purchased the lake, dam, and common grounds for $300,000, and established Barcroft Lake Management Association (BARLAMA).
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes passed over the area. The hurricane caused so much rain that the lake level rose above the top of the dam by three feet. This resulted in the lake overflowing, and eroding the western, earthen shoulder of the dam. The rush of water deepened the washout, but the slow erosion protected downstream interests from the wall of water that would have resulted from a total dam collapse. In order to restore the dam and lake, residents voted to establish the Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District (LBWID) in order to set up a taxing authority to fund repairs. The LBWID is a quasi governmental entity headed by three state-appointed trustees who are residents of Lake Barcroft. The lake was dry for two years during the early 1970s while the damaged dam was rebuilt. A new gate improved the operation of the dam and is now fully automatic. The dam meets all Commonwealth dam safety requirements.
The Lake Barcroft Association (LBA) came into being in 1992 when LABARCA and BARLAMA joined up into one private entity. Lake Barcroft has excellent fishing. Osprey, fishing birds of prey, are now on the lake as well. Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Sunfish and a rare (non-stinging) fresh water Jellyfish all inhabit Lake Barcroft. The biggest largemouth bass caught in Lake Barcroft was 9.75lbs by Ross M. Brown in 1984.
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, United States. The population was 8,906 at the 2000 census. It is also the name of the privately-owned lake around which this population is located. The lake is named for Dr. John W. Barcroft, who owned and operated a mill on Holmes Run during the mid-19th century.
Geography
Lake Barcroft is located at 38°51′5"N 77°9′20"W (38.851412, −77.155654).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 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (8.15%) is water.
Lake Barcroft is located in a suburb of Washington, D.C. The local high school is J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart High School
J.E.B. Stuart High School is a high school in Fairfax County, Virginia named after the famous Confederate cavalry leader J. E. B. Stuart. The school is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools district...
.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,906 people, 3,589 households, and 2,415 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,602.5 people per square mile (1,392.2/km²). There were 3,673 housing units at an average density of 1,485.7/sq mi (574.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.98% White, 9.59% Asian, 4.92% African American, 4.84% from other racesRace (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...
, 4.35% from two or more races, 0.26% Native American, and 0.07% Pacific Islander.
Hispanics or Latinos (who may be of any race) were 14.72% of the population.
There were 3,589 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $83,593, and the median income for a family was $101,562. Males had a median income of $62,882 versus $52,284 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $46,293. About 2.7% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.
Management of the lake
Lake Barcroft itself is privately owned, and managed by a homeowners' association. Property owners on the lake and the immediate areas are bound by a restrictive covenantRestrictive covenant
A restrictive covenant is a type of real covenant, a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property...
that also gives them rights to use the lake. For homeowners who do not own riparian land, there are several private beaches that are open to people who live within the boundaries of the association.
The residents organize occasional aquatic festivals, most notably Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
fireworks every July 4. Fireworks are fired from one of the beaches, and residents crowd the water in their electric-powered or paddled boats to watch.
Gas and diesel engines are prohibited on the lake to prevent noise and pollution. Only the lifeguards have access to gas-powered motorboats. Most residents own a small sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
, canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
, or an electrically powered boat.
Ecology of the lake
Lake Barcroft is home to many freshwater species of fish and invertebrate. Largemouth bassLargemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
were introduced to the lake decades ago, and now the population is self-sustaining. Catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
and bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
also live in the lake in large numbers. Semi-aquatic species such as muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
, duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s, Canada Geese
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
and kingfishers are also common.
The lake receives large amounts of runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
from adjacent parts of Fairfax County, Virginia
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...
. These cause occasional algal blooms. The microbiology of the lake is monitored, and it is considered safe for fishing and swimming.
History
In 1913, the Alexandria Water Company began construction of the Lake Barcroft Dam to create a drinking water reservoir for the city of Alexandria. Construction of the dam was completed in 1915, putting a 620 million-gallon reservoir is into service. In 1942, the company installed 24 gates at the top of the dam to raise the spillway elevation five feet, increasing the reservoir size to 800 million gallons.In 1949, the City of Alexandria began to draw its drinking water from the Occoquan Reservoir. A year later, Colonel Joseph Barger and Associates purchased the reservoir, dam, and 680 adjacent acres of land for $1 million from the Alexandria Water Company. A year later, Barger and Associates began developing the 680 acres (2.8 km²) into a residential community. During the early 1950s, residents formed a home owners association called Lake Barcroft Community Association (LABARCA). In 1970, community residents purchased the lake, dam, and common grounds for $300,000, and established Barcroft Lake Management Association (BARLAMA).
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes passed over the area. The hurricane caused so much rain that the lake level rose above the top of the dam by three feet. This resulted in the lake overflowing, and eroding the western, earthen shoulder of the dam. The rush of water deepened the washout, but the slow erosion protected downstream interests from the wall of water that would have resulted from a total dam collapse. In order to restore the dam and lake, residents voted to establish the Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District (LBWID) in order to set up a taxing authority to fund repairs. The LBWID is a quasi governmental entity headed by three state-appointed trustees who are residents of Lake Barcroft. The lake was dry for two years during the early 1970s while the damaged dam was rebuilt. A new gate improved the operation of the dam and is now fully automatic. The dam meets all Commonwealth dam safety requirements.
The Lake Barcroft Association (LBA) came into being in 1992 when LABARCA and BARLAMA joined up into one private entity. Lake Barcroft has excellent fishing. Osprey, fishing birds of prey, are now on the lake as well. Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Sunfish and a rare (non-stinging) fresh water Jellyfish all inhabit Lake Barcroft. The biggest largemouth bass caught in Lake Barcroft was 9.75lbs by Ross M. Brown in 1984.