Lorton, Virginia

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Lorton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 17,786 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Lorton is located at 38°42′18″N, 77°14′1″W (38.704915, -77.233573)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 32.3 km² (12.5 mi²). 32.1 km² (12.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.72%) is water.

To the north is the Historic Port City of Alexandria, Virginia and several landmarks connected with the life of George Washington including Mount Vernon. Its southern border is the Occoquan River with Historic Old Town Occoquan. To the east a peninsula known s Mason Neck defines Pohick Bay on the north and Occoquan Bay on the south where the tidal Occoquan merges with the tidal Potomac as it meanders over to the Chesapeake Bay. The surrounding tidal water makes this a convenient boating area. Significant land on the tip of Mason Neck is State and Federal Wildlife preserve. Here is a regular population of Bald Eagles. To the west, South Run Park and Ox Road roughly define the Community beyond which an extensive wooded horse farm area separates Lorton. Three Highways pass through the Lorton Community crossing the Occoquan river. U.S. routes 1 and 95 connecting Alexandria and Washington, D.C. as well as Virginia Route 123 or Ox Road connecting the Town of Occoquan. The Amtrak Auto-Train from Florida has Lorton as it's only Northern Terminal.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 17,786 people, 5,663 households, and 3,884 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 554.7/km² (1,436.6/mi²). There were 5,892 housing units at an average density of 183.8/km² (475.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 48.95% White, 34.66% African American, 0.29% Native American, 7.63% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 3.92% from other races, and 4.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.74% of the population.

There were 5,663 households out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 45.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 2.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 125.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,150, and the median income for a family was $63,821. Males had a median income of $43,586 versus $36,694 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,146. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

From the early 20th century until November 2001, Lorton was the site of a District of Columbia correctional facility—the Lorton Reformatory.

A Nike missile site was built at Lorton in 1955, and remained until 1973.

Lorton is also is one of the two stations that serves Amtrak's Auto-Train which carries passengers and their vehicles non-stop to central Florida. The Lorton and Occoquan Railroad once operated between the Lorton Reformatory and Occoquan, Virginia, with connection to the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.

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Lorton, Virginia

Lorton is named for the little town in the Lake District Park, Cumbria in merry old England, the hometown of Mr. Joseph Plaskett who settled in the area running a general store and opened the Lorton Valley, Virginia Post Office on November 11, 1875.

Before the identity of Lorton, the commercial center was Colchester. If not the geographical center, certainly the spiritual and historical center of the community around which the leading citizens of he time revolved is Pohick Church.

A couple more landmark Plantations on the Potomac in Lorton are the Belvoir Plantation, (means beautiful view) and Gunston Hall homes to Lord George Fairfax and George Mason respectively.

The actual community of Lorton, mostly zip code 22079, is included by South Run and Mason Neck from west to east and by Newington and Occoquan form north to south compass points.

Some historic landmarks include Gunston Hall, George Mason's Home on Pohick Bay; Pohick Church with George Washington's box; Belvoir, George Fairfax's home, now Fort Belvoir Army Corps of Engineer base; and Cranford Church on Mason Neck. Woodlawn Plantation and Mt. Vernon, George Washington's Home on the Potomac River lie just to the North by Rt. 1. The town of Occoquan is to the south off Route 123, Ox Road.

Considerable development has taken place in Lorton during the last few years. Gunston Plaza Shopping Center is the largest shopping center in the vicinity. The plaza includes a medical clinic, space for several business offices, a senior citizen's center, and a number of shops and the post office. Library services in the area have expanded from bookmobile service to a store front library and now to a 10,000 square foot building. The Lorton Heritage Society has developed the Lorton History Garden on the library's south side.

Lorton also has 3 main parks and one golf course. Occoquan Regional Park, offers batting cages, picnic shelters, boating, waling trails, ball fields and fishing. Pohick Bay Regional Park offers boating, picnicking, pool trails and camping facilities. And Sandy Run Regional Park is a typical roadside park. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Golf Course is a beautiful 18-hole golf course that is open to the public. Also located nearby is the South Run Recreation Center which hosts racquetball, handball, squash, room rental, indoor swimming pool and weight room.

Lorton is part of the the Fairfax Public School System. There are two elementary schools to serve Lorton residents, Gunston Elementary and Halley. Hayfield Secondary used to be the public high school for Lorton teens, but they now attend South County Secondary (open in 2005). The Greentree Pre-School is ready to serve Lorton's smallest students while Minnieland Private Day School offers classes for those that would like to have a private school for their children to attend.