City of Falls Church: History and Today
Information gleamed from the City of Falls Church, Virginia Visitor’s Guide 2005.
History of Falls Church
As far back as 12,000 years ago, before the English came to Jamestown in 1607, the gently rolling landscape of Falls Church was traversed by Native American hunter-gatherers. As they moved inland from the north and east, they traveled two trails that intersected within the present boundaries of Falls Church. After a series of wars ending in 1677, they left the region and settlers gradually moved in. With each building and landmark that appeared after settlement began, a sentence was added to the narrative of Falls Church's history.
The City's history dates back to the late 1600's when it was an early colonial settlement shared with native Indians. The community grew up around The Falls Church, which was founded in 1734 and whose congregation has included President George Washington and Virginia statesman George Mason. Falls Church slowly grew around the intersection of two Indian trails leading to the lower Potomac River falls, not far from the current intersection of Leesburg Pike and Lee Highway. By 1875 it gained township status.
Falls Church became an independent City in 1948 led by parents determined to improve the quality of local schools. In addition to establishing an excellent independent school system, a responsive council-manager form of government was formed. Citizens are served by their own council-manager form of government with its own Police Department, water system, public library, Recreation and Parks Department, Public Works Department and a Volunteer Fire Department. Refuse and recycling collection services are each provided once a week.
Named an All-America City in 1962, Falls Church has also earned the Tree City USA award for 17 consecutive years from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The Falls Church Tricentennial Committee published this information in a brochure titled "The City of Falls Church Virginia: An Historical Guide and Map" in March 1995. Copies are available from the Communications Office, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22046-3332.
This brochure was prepared to honor Falls Church's heritage as the city celebrates its 300th anniversary of its settlement. The sites and structures described below illustrate how the community has grown and developed since 1699.
Falls Church is an independent city lying just a few miles from the national capital. This proximity has been a major influence on its development, especially over the last century. Falls Church is small in area (now 2.2 square miles) and population (10,377 in 2000), but its heritage predates America's colonial era.
1699: Settlers move into area now known as Falls Church
1733: New Church built
1745: New Church becomes known as the Upper Church
1769: The Falls Church completed
1799: Oakwood Cemetery founded
1838: Alexandria-Leesburg Turnpike completed
1845: Cherry Hill Farmhouse built
1856: Groot Hall built for Falls Church's Presbyterian congregation; Cherry Hill Barn built
1859: Washington and Old Dominion Railroad links Falls Church and Alexandria
1860: Railroad links Falls Church and Leesburg
1861: Union troops occupy Taylor's Tavern and surrounding area
1869: Dulin Chapel built
1873: Riley family purchases Cherry Hill Farm
1875: Falls Church incorporated as a town; public school established
1884: Falls Church Presbyterian Church built
1896: Railroad links Falls Church and Bluemont
1897: Falls Church begins electric trolley service into Washington, DC
1910: Falls Church becomes largest town in Fairfax County
1911: Railroad links Falls Church and Washington, DC
1925: Groot Hall torn down
1926: Dulin Church builds Sunday School addition and stuccoes exterior
1935: The State Theatre opens
1936: Falls Church assumes its current boundaries
1939: Cars replace electric trolley service
1948: Falls Church becomes an independent city
1949: Falls Church establishes independent school system
1952: Railroad ceases passenger service
1959: Additions made to the Falls Church
1968: Railroad ceases operations
1992: Additions made to the Falls Church
1999: Falls Church celebrates its three-hundred-year anniversary
Note: This timeline is derived from information contained in City of Falls Church, Virginia: An Historical Guide and Map, published by the City of Falls Church, Virginia, in March 1995.
Historical Guide
Colonial settlement to independence (1699-1775)
The village (1776-1875)
The town (1875-1948)
The city (1948 - present)
Population
Approximately 10,377 residents (2000 Census)
Income
Median Family Income $97,224
Per Capita Income $41,051
Geographical Size
2.2 square miles
Location
Falls Church City is part of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Statistical Area. The City is located approximately six miles from the nation's capital and is inside the Capital Beltway. The City's downtown is located at the intersection of Virginia’s Route 7 and U.S. Route 29 and can be easily accessed via Interstate 66 or via its East or and West Falls Church Metro stations, and its GEORGE local transit system.
Housing
A mix of single-family homes and multi-family units:
- 2,350 single-family detached (average assessment - $527,026)
- 566 townhouses (average assessment - $449,996)
- 564 condominiums (average assessment - $191,435)
- 1,441 apartments
Taxes
- Real estate – $1.08 per $100 assessed value
- Personal property - $4.71 per $100 assessed value
- Vehicle decals – $25 for most vehicles