Purcellville, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley
of Loudoun County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley. Today, many of the older structures remaining in Purcellville reflect the Victorian architecture popular during the turn-of-the-century. The small town character of the Town and its setting in the scenic Loudoun Valley countryside make it a welcoming place to live.
Facts
Population: 6200 (January, 2006)
Households: 2216 (January, 2006)
Square Miles: 2.6
The western end of the WO&D Trail is in Purcellville, see map of WO&D trail: http://bikewashington.org/trails/wad/wad.htm,
The Great Road became an authorized turnpike in 1785 and extended the turnpike system westward from Alexandria to Snicker's Gap, and beyond to Berryville and Winchester.2 With the construction of this Turnpike in 1832, travel through Purcellville began to increase—the first stagecoach arrived in 1841. A railroad link was built to Leesburg prior to the Civil War, and travel to points further west were continued by stagecoach through Purcellville. When the railroad was extended to Purcellville in 1874, The Town took Leesburg's place as the beginning of the stage route until the railroad was extended to Round Hill in 1875. (This railroad ceases operation in 1968.)
Although there were several marches and chases through Purcellville during the Civil War, the town sustained no major damage. However, a series of disastrous fires, the first in 1900 and then two more in 1914, virtually wiped out the business district, depriving the Town of much of its earliest architectural heritage. Despite the fires, many of the old blocks have been rebuilt and the business district has been extended considerably.
From its very beginning, the Town's dependence upon transportation links to the more populous eastern sections of Northern Virginia has remained strong, and is now more important than ever. Since the Virginia Department of Transportation has widened Route 7 and extended the Toll Road to western Loudoun County, all within the past five years, Purcellville's moderate growth during this period should not be seen as indicative of its future growth. Furthermore, Purcellville's traditional dependence upon agriculture as its primary source of income has diminished as more and more residents are employed outside of the community. The challenge is to accept this change without the Town losing its historic identity and those everyday, small town amenities which have developed over its long history.
1 Town history is summarized from The Story of Purcellville by Eugene M. Scheel, reprinted in Commemoration of its 75th anniversary 1908-1983.
2 Historic Roads of Virginia, Nathaniel Mason Pawlett, Virginia Highway Research Council, 1977.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
Purcellville lies in western Loudoun County, Virginia
, in the heart of the Loudoun Valley
, approximately 9 miles west of the County Seat of Leesburg, Virginia
. Just to the west are the Blue Ridge Mountains
(visible from many areas of town) and the town Round Hill
, 4 miles (6.4 km) away. Philomont is 5 miles (8 km) miles south, and Middleburg, Virginia
is approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) to the southeast. Lovettsville
is approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) to the north.
of 2000, there were 3,584 people, 1,253 households, and 956 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,512.2 people per square mile (583.9/km²). There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of 545.1 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.92% White, 7.45% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races
, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
There were 1,253 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $62,108, and the median income for a family was $69,211. Males had a median income of $50,815 versus $34,808 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,112. About 2.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
operates public schools. Public schools covering kindergarten to twelfth grade include Loudoun Valley High School
, Woodgrove High School, Blue Ridge Middle School, Harmony Middle School, Emerick, Kenneth W. Culbert, and Mountain View Elementary Schools. Patrick Henry College
, a private Christian school, is located just inside the eastern border of Purcellville. The town also houses the office of administration of St. Elias Seminary and Graduate School, offering theological training for Orthodox clergy and professional undergraduate and graduate theological programs.
Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad Company 14, established in 1969, is a 100% volunteer organization in partnership with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. The organization operates three ambulances and provides both Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) to the citizens and community of Purcellville and its surrounding areas.
Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company 2 is a separate organization and is staffed by career Loudoun County personnel from 6AM to 6PM and volunteers from 6PM to 6AM. During the day, the career staff have first-pull on any emergency call for the station, but volunteers must staff the second-out fire apparatus on a call, and any remaining calls while the career staff are out of the station. Their apparatus currently includes a class A attack pumper/medium duty squad (Rescue Engine 602), class A attack pumper(Engine 602) , 3000 gallon tanker (Tanker 602), 102 ft ladder truck (Tower 602), a brush truck (Brush 602), a jeep designed in house for off road fires (Jeep 602), a Ford Excursion for transportation of personnel (SERV 602), a 2011 Ford F250 for transporting equipment and snowplow during the winter (Utility 602) and a 2011 Chevy Tahoe designated Command 602.
Purcellville Fire and Purcellville Rescue moved into their new building at 500 N. Maple Ave. in early June 2009. While they reside under one roof they will still retain their independent company names and numbers. Purcellville Fire's side opens onto Hirst Road, while Purcellville Rescue opens on to Maple Ave.
Loudoun County Battalion Chief 602, also operates out of Station 2 24/7.
Loudoun Valley
The Loudoun Valley is a small, but historically significant valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains located in Loudoun County in northwestern Virginia in the United States.-Geography:...
of Loudoun County
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, 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 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley. Today, many of the older structures remaining in Purcellville reflect the Victorian architecture popular during the turn-of-the-century. The small town character of the Town and its setting in the scenic Loudoun Valley countryside make it a welcoming place to live.
Facts
Population: 6200 (January, 2006)
Households: 2216 (January, 2006)
Square Miles: 2.6
The western end of the WO&D Trail is in Purcellville, see map of WO&D trail: http://bikewashington.org/trails/wad/wad.htm,
History
Although the first land grant in the area was issued by Lord Fairfax in 1740 it was not until 1764 that Purcellville's first known settler, James Dillon from Buck's County, Pennsylvania, arrived.1 As might be expected, it would take a road to make a town; the early ox cart track which wound westward from Leesburg, known later as the "Great Road," served the purpose. The first recorded business, an ordinary (a combined store and inn), was established by Abraham Vickers in 1799. This was followed by a second ordinary, established by Stacey Taylor in 1804, and later by "Purcel's Store" and Post Office, Established by Valentine Vernon Purcell (from whom the Town's name is derived). A blacksmith's shop, established around 1848, was also among the Town's earliest businesses. The Town's first public school was built in 1883. On July 9, 1853 the village officially adopted the name Purcellville and on March 14, 1908 the Town was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly.The Great Road became an authorized turnpike in 1785 and extended the turnpike system westward from Alexandria to Snicker's Gap, and beyond to Berryville and Winchester.2 With the construction of this Turnpike in 1832, travel through Purcellville began to increase—the first stagecoach arrived in 1841. A railroad link was built to Leesburg prior to the Civil War, and travel to points further west were continued by stagecoach through Purcellville. When the railroad was extended to Purcellville in 1874, The Town took Leesburg's place as the beginning of the stage route until the railroad was extended to Round Hill in 1875. (This railroad ceases operation in 1968.)
Although there were several marches and chases through Purcellville during the Civil War, the town sustained no major damage. However, a series of disastrous fires, the first in 1900 and then two more in 1914, virtually wiped out the business district, depriving the Town of much of its earliest architectural heritage. Despite the fires, many of the old blocks have been rebuilt and the business district has been extended considerably.
From its very beginning, the Town's dependence upon transportation links to the more populous eastern sections of Northern Virginia has remained strong, and is now more important than ever. Since the Virginia Department of Transportation has widened Route 7 and extended the Toll Road to western Loudoun County, all within the past five years, Purcellville's moderate growth during this period should not be seen as indicative of its future growth. Furthermore, Purcellville's traditional dependence upon agriculture as its primary source of income has diminished as more and more residents are employed outside of the community. The challenge is to accept this change without the Town losing its historic identity and those everyday, small town amenities which have developed over its long history.
1 Town history is summarized from The Story of Purcellville by Eugene M. Scheel, reprinted in Commemoration of its 75th anniversary 1908-1983.
2 Historic Roads of Virginia, Nathaniel Mason Pawlett, Virginia Highway Research Council, 1977.
Geography
Purcellville is located at 39°8′4"N 77°42′40"W (39.134530, -77.711177).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 town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
Purcellville lies in western Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, in the heart of the Loudoun Valley
Loudoun Valley
The Loudoun Valley is a small, but historically significant valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains located in Loudoun County in northwestern Virginia in the United States.-Geography:...
, approximately 9 miles west of the County Seat of Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
. Just to the west are the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
(visible from many areas of town) and the town Round Hill
Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia
Round Hill is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. Its population was estimated at 639 in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The town is located at the crossroads of Virginia routes 7 and 719 , approximately 50 miles northwest of Washington, D.C...
, 4 miles (6.4 km) away. Philomont is 5 miles (8 km) miles south, and Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per...
is approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) to the southeast. Lovettsville
Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 853 at the 2000 census. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimated the population at 1187.-History:Following the 1722 Treaty of St...
is approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) to the north.
Government
Purcellville is governed by a town council with six seats and a mayor. Three of the seats, and the mayor's seat go before the voters every two years. The Purcellville Town Council is currently composed of Bob Lazaro Jr. as Mayor, Vice Mayor Dr. James Wiley, Council members Greg Wagner, Christopher J.(CJ)Walker III, Tom Priscilla, Joan Lehr,and Newly elected Council member Keith Melton.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 3,584 people, 1,253 households, and 956 families residing in the town. 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 1,512.2 people per square mile (583.9/km²). There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of 545.1 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.92% White, 7.45% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% 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 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
There were 1,253 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $62,108, and the median income for a family was $69,211. Males had a median income of $50,815 versus $34,808 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 town was $24,112. About 2.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The town's educational institutions include public and private institutions. Loudoun County Public SchoolsLoudoun County Public Schools
Loudoun County Public Schools is a branch of the Loudoun County, Virginia, United States government, and administers public schools in the county...
operates public schools. Public schools covering kindergarten to twelfth grade include Loudoun Valley High School
Loudoun Valley High School
Loudoun Valley High School is a public secondary school in Purcellville, Virginia. The school is part of Loudoun County Public Schools and is located at 340 North Maple Avenue in the Town of Purcellville...
, Woodgrove High School, Blue Ridge Middle School, Harmony Middle School, Emerick, Kenneth W. Culbert, and Mountain View Elementary Schools. Patrick Henry College
Patrick Henry College
Patrick Henry College is a private, independent college with Evangelical Christian basis that focuses on teaching classical liberal arts and government, located in Purcellville, Virginia, United States The first college in the United States founded specifically for Christian home-schooled...
, a private Christian school, is located just inside the eastern border of Purcellville. The town also houses the office of administration of St. Elias Seminary and Graduate School, offering theological training for Orthodox clergy and professional undergraduate and graduate theological programs.
Public safety
The Town of Purcellville Police Department is a 24 hour law enforcement VA State Accredited agency, comprising 14 officers and 1 civilian personnel. The Police Department is located at 125 Hirst Road in Purcellville, and is one of many law enforcement agencies in Loudoun County.Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad Company 14, established in 1969, is a 100% volunteer organization in partnership with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. The organization operates three ambulances and provides both Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) to the citizens and community of Purcellville and its surrounding areas.
Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company 2 is a separate organization and is staffed by career Loudoun County personnel from 6AM to 6PM and volunteers from 6PM to 6AM. During the day, the career staff have first-pull on any emergency call for the station, but volunteers must staff the second-out fire apparatus on a call, and any remaining calls while the career staff are out of the station. Their apparatus currently includes a class A attack pumper/medium duty squad (Rescue Engine 602), class A attack pumper(Engine 602) , 3000 gallon tanker (Tanker 602), 102 ft ladder truck (Tower 602), a brush truck (Brush 602), a jeep designed in house for off road fires (Jeep 602), a Ford Excursion for transportation of personnel (SERV 602), a 2011 Ford F250 for transporting equipment and snowplow during the winter (Utility 602) and a 2011 Chevy Tahoe designated Command 602.
Purcellville Fire and Purcellville Rescue moved into their new building at 500 N. Maple Ave. in early June 2009. While they reside under one roof they will still retain their independent company names and numbers. Purcellville Fire's side opens onto Hirst Road, while Purcellville Rescue opens on to Maple Ave.
Loudoun County Battalion Chief 602, also operates out of Station 2 24/7.
External links
- Purcellville government website
- Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad website
- Purcellville Police Department webpage
- Purcellville Volunteer Fire Department website
- Purcellville Poem with historical reference
- St. Elias Seminary and Graduate School website
- Patrick Henry College website
- Loudoun County Public Schools website