Falls Church, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Falls Church | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Falls Church inVirginia | |
 Falls Church highlighted red in the Commonwealth ofVirginia | |
  Falls Church  Falls Church  Falls Church | |
| Coordinates:38°53′09″N77°10′20″W / 38.88583°N 77.17222°W /38.88583; -77.17222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Settled | c. 1699 |
| Incorporated (town) | 1875 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1948 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Letty Hardi[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.05 sq mi (5.30 km2) |
| • Land | 2.05 sq mi (5.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,658 |
| • Density | 7,160/sq mi (2,770/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 22040, 22042, 22044, 22046 |
| Area codes | 703 and571 |
| FIPS code | 51-27200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1495526[3] |
| Website | fallschurchva |
| Sister city isKokolopori,Democratic Republic of Congo | |
Falls Church is anindependent city in theCommonwealth ofVirginia, United States.[3] As of the2020 census, the population was 14,658.[4] Falls Church is part of bothNorthern Virginia and theWashington metropolitan area. As of 2020, it has a median household income of $146,922, thesecond-highest household income of any county in the nation behindLoudoun County, Virginia.
Taking its name fromthe Falls Church, an 18th-century parish of theChurch of England, later theEpiscopal Church, Falls Church gained township status withinFairfax County in 1875.
In 1948, it seceded from Fairfax County and was incorporated as the City of Falls Church, an independent city with county-level governance status although it is not nominally a county.[5]
The city's corporate boundaries do not include all of the area historically known as Falls Church; these areas include portions ofSeven Corners and other portions of the current Falls Church postal districts in Fairfax County andArlington County, known asEast Falls Church, which was part of the town of Falls Church from 1875 to 1936.[6] For statistical purposes, theU.S. Department of Commerce'sBureau of Economic Analysis combines the City of Falls Church withFairfax City and Fairfax County.
At 2.11 square miles (5.5 km2), Falls Church is the smallest incorporated municipality in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the smallest county-equivalent municipality in the United States.
Theindependent city of Falls Church is named forthe Falls Church, a parish founded in 1734 under theChurch of England (laterEpiscopal Church). The Falls Church was founded at the intersection of importantNative American trails that were later paved and named Broad Street, Lee Highway and Little Falls Street.[7] The church's name was derived from its proximity to the Little Falls of thePotomac River, a set of rapids located several miles to the northeast. These "falls" were a well-known landmark to early colonists and surveyors in the 18th century, and the church became associated with them despite being some distance inland.[8]
Over time, the community surrounding the church near the falls came to be identified simply as "Falls Church", and the name persisted as civic and administrative structures developed. When the area was incorporated as anindependent city in 1948, the name was officially retained, reflecting both the continuity of local identity and the long-standing influence of the church.[9]
The first known government in the area was theIroquois Confederacy.[10] After exploration byCaptain John Smith, England began sending colonists to what they called Virginia.[11] While no records have yet been found showing the earliest colony settlement in the area, a cottage demolished between 1908 and 1914, two blocks from the city center, bore a stone engraved with the date "1699" set into one of its two large chimneys.[12]
During theAmerican Revolution, the area is most known for the Falls Church vestrymenGeorge Washington andGeorge Mason.[13] A copy of theUnited States Declaration of Independence was read to citizens from the steps of the Falls Church during the summer of 1776.[14]
During theAmerican Civil War, Falls Church voted 44–26 in favor of secession.[15] The Confederate army occupied the then village of Falls Church as well asMunson's andUpton's hills to the East, probably due to their views ofWashington.[16] On September 28, 1861, Confederate troops withdrew from Falls Church and nearby hills, retreating to the heights atCentreville. Union troops took Munson's and Upton's hills, yet the village was never entirely brought under Union rule.[17]Mosby's Raiders made several armed incursions into the heart of Falls Church to kidnap and murder suspected Northern sympathizers in 1864 and 1865.[18]
Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn, an 1845Greek-Revival farmhouse and 1856 barn, owned and managed by the city of Falls Church, are open to the public on select Saturdays in summer.[19]Tinner Hill Arch and Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation represent a locus of early African American history in the area, including the site of the first rural chapter of theNAACP.[20]
Two of the District of Columbia's original 1791 boundary stones are located in public parks on the boundary between Falls Church andArlington County. The west cornerstone stands inAndrew Ellicott Park at 2824 Meridian Street, Falls Church and N. Arizona Street, Arlington, just south of West Street.[21] Stone number SW9 stands inBenjamin Banneker Park on Van Buren Street, south of 18th Street, near theEast Falls Church Metro station. Most of Banneker Park is in Arlington County, across Van Buren Street from Isaac Crossman Park at Four Mile Run.[22]
| Site | Year built | Address | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch House (Joseph Edward Birch House) | 1840 | 312 East Broad Street | 1977 |
| Cherry Hill (John Mills Farm) | 1845 | 312 Park Avenue | 1973 |
| The Falls Church | 1769 | 115 East Fairfax Street | 1970 |
| Federal District Boundary Marker, SW 9 Stone | 1791 | 18th and Van Buren Streets | 1976 |
| Federal District Boundary Marker, West Cornerstone | 1791 | 2824 Meridian Street | 1991 |
| Mount Hope | 1790s | 203 South Oak Street | 1984 |
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all land.[23] Falls Church is the smallest independent city by area in Virginia. Since independent cities in Virginia are considered county-equivalents, it is also thesmallest county-equivalent in the United States by area.
The center of the city is the crossroads ofVirginia State Route 7 (Broad St./Leesburg Pike) andU.S. Route 29 (Washington St./Lee Highway).
Tripps Run, a tributary of theCameron Run Watershed, drains two-thirds of Falls Church, while theFour Mile Run watershed drains the other third of the city. Four Mile Run flows at the base ofMinor's Hill, which overlooks Falls Church on its north, andUpton's Hill, which borders the area to its east.[24]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 660 | — | |
| 1890 | 792 | 20.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,007 | 27.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,128 | 12.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,659 | 47.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,019 | 21.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,576 | 27.6% | |
| 1950 | 7,535 | 192.5% | |
| 1960 | 10,192 | 35.3% | |
| 1970 | 10,772 | 5.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,515 | −11.7% | |
| 1990 | 9,578 | 0.7% | |
| 2000 | 10,377 | 8.3% | |
| 2010 | 12,332 | 18.8% | |
| 2020 | 14,658 | 18.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1790–1960[26] 1900–1990[27] 1990–2000[28] 2010[29] 2020[30] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[29] | Pop 2020[30] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 9,093 | 9,955 | 73.73% | 67.92% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 523 | 554 | 4.24% | 3.78% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 23 | 12 | 0.19% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,150 | 1,494 | 9.33% | 10.19% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 10 | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 20 | 117 | 0.16% | 0.80% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 410 | 987 | 3.32% | 6.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,109 | 1,529 | 8.99% | 10.43% |
| Total | 12,332 | 14,658 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2011, Falls Church was named the richest county (or county equivalent) in the United States, with a median annual household income of $113,313.[31] WhileFortune 500 companiesGeneral Dynamics andNorthrop Grumman have headquarters with mailing addresses in Falls Church, they are physically inFairfax County.[32]
According to the city's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[33] the top employers in the city are:
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Falls Church City Public Schools | 500-700 |
| Falls Church City Government | 300-500 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 200-300 |
| Markon Solutions | 200-300 |
| Koons Ford | 100-200 |
| Tax Analysts | 100-200 |
| Giant Food | 100-200 |
| Harris Teeter | 100-200 |
| Don Beyer Volvo | 100-200 |
| BJ's Wholesale Club | 100-200 |
The city has broken ground on several redevelopment projects to be completed in the next few years, including theWest Falls Church Economic Development Project andFounders Row along Route 7/Broad street.
The city holds an annual Memorial Day Parade with bands, military units, civic associations, and fire/rescue stations, in recent years the event has featured a street festival with food, crafts, and non-profit organization booths, and a 3K fun run (the 2009 race drew some 3,000 runners).[34] the Falls ChurchFarmer's Market is held Saturdays year-round, Jan 3 – April 25 (9 am – Noon), May 2 – Dec 26 (8 am – Noon), at the City Hall Parking Lot, 300 Park Ave. In addition to regional attention,[35] in 2010 the market was ranked first in the medium category of the American Farmland Trust's contest to identify America's Favorite Farmers' Markets.[36]
The Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society was founded in 1885 by Arthur Douglas and re-established in 1965 to promote the history, culture, and beautification of the city. The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation was founded in 1997 by Edwin B. Henderson II to preserve the Civil Rights and African American history and culture. Falls Church is where the first rural branch of the NAACP was established stemming from events that took place in 1915, when the town passed a segregation ordinance by creating segregated districts in the town. The ordinance was not enforced after the U. S. Supreme Court ruling inBuchanan v. Warley in 1917. The Mary Riley Styles Public Library is Falls Church's public library; established in 1899, its current building was constructed for the purpose in 1958 and expanded in 1993 and 2021.[37] In addition to its circulating collections, it houses a local history collection, including newspaper files, local government documents, and photographs. TheState Theatre stages a wide variety of live performances. Built as a movie house in 1936, it was reputed to be the first air-conditioned theater on the east coast. It closed in 1983; after extensive renovations in the 1990s, including a stage, bar, and restaurant, it re-opened as a music venue.[38]
Like most cities near theDistrict of Columbia, Falls Church is a Democratic powerhouse, most notably in recent elections. It has not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1984. With the exception of 2012 and 2024, the Democratic share of the vote in the city has increased in every election since 1988, peaking in 2020 whenJoe Biden broke 80% of the vote, the best Democratic performance since the city's incorporation.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1952 | 1,386 | 59.82% | 930 | 40.14% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1956 | 1,462 | 53.13% | 1,233 | 44.80% | 57 | 2.07% |
| 1960 | 1,525 | 48.18% | 1,629 | 51.47% | 11 | 0.35% |
| 1964 | 1,329 | 35.85% | 2,371 | 63.96% | 7 | 0.19% |
| 1968 | 2,005 | 45.76% | 1,860 | 42.45% | 517 | 11.80% |
| 1972 | 2,967 | 60.02% | 1,895 | 38.34% | 81 | 1.64% |
| 1976 | 2,323 | 50.63% | 2,202 | 47.99% | 63 | 1.37% |
| 1980 | 2,485 | 52.23% | 1,703 | 35.79% | 570 | 11.98% |
| 1984 | 2,684 | 52.62% | 2,398 | 47.01% | 19 | 0.37% |
| 1988 | 2,470 | 49.51% | 2,484 | 49.79% | 35 | 0.70% |
| 1992 | 1,912 | 35.38% | 2,864 | 53.00% | 628 | 11.62% |
| 1996 | 1,644 | 38.38% | 2,375 | 55.44% | 265 | 6.19% |
| 2000 | 2,131 | 38.10% | 3,109 | 55.59% | 353 | 6.31% |
| 2004 | 2,074 | 34.01% | 3,944 | 64.68% | 80 | 1.31% |
| 2008 | 1,970 | 29.19% | 4,695 | 69.56% | 85 | 1.26% |
| 2012 | 2,147 | 29.51% | 5,015 | 68.93% | 114 | 1.57% |
| 2016 | 1,324 | 17.07% | 5,819 | 75.02% | 614 | 7.92% |
| 2020 | 1,490 | 16.90% | 7,146 | 81.03% | 183 | 2.08% |
| 2024 | 1,620 | 17.88% | 7,200 | 79.45% | 242 | 2.67% |
Falls Church is governed by a seven-member city council, each elected at large for four-year, staggered terms.[40] Council members are typically career professionals holding down full-time jobs.[40] In addition to attending a minimum of 22 council meetings and 22 work sessions each year, they also attend meetings of local boards and commissions and regional organizations (several Council Members serve on committees of regional organizations as well).[40] Members also participate in the Virginia Municipal League and some serve on statewide committees.[40] Themayor is elected by members of the council.[40] The city operates in a typicalcouncil–manager form of municipal government, with acity manager hired by the council to serve as the city's chief administrative officer.[40] The city's elected Sheriff is Metin "Matt" Cay.[41] Candidates for city elections typically do not run under a nationally affiliated party nomination.[40]
City services and functions include education, parks and recreation, library, police, land use, zoning, building inspections, street maintenance, and storm water and sanitary sewer service. Often named aTree City USA, the city has one full-time arborist. Some public services are provided by agreement with the city's county neighbors of Arlington and Fairfax, including certain health and human services (Fairfax); and court services, transport, and fire/rescue services (Arlington). The city provided water utility service to a large portion of eastern Fairfax County, including the dense commercial areas ofTysons Corner andMerrifield, until January 2014, when the water utility was sold to theFairfax County Water Authority.[42]
The city is served byFalls Church City Public Schools:
Of the four Falls Church City Public Schools, one (Mount Daniel Elementary School) is located outside city limits in neighboring Fairfax County.[43]Falls Church High School is not part of the Falls Church City Public School system, but rather theFairfax County Public Schools; it does not serve the city of Falls Church.
Falls Church City is eligible to send up to three students per year to the Fairfax County magnet school,Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.[44]
The city is home to Saint James Catholic School, a parochial school serving grades K–8, and Grace Christian Academy,[45] a Pre-K to 8th grade Christian parochial school of theWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
TheFalls Church News-Press is a free weekly newspaper founded in 1991 that focuses on local news and commentary and includes nationally syndicated columns.[46] The area is also served by national and regional newspapers, includingThe Washington Times andThe Washington Post. The city is also served by numerous citizen- and corporate-sponsored Internet blogs.WAMU Radio 88.5 produces news and opinion programs with a local focus.
Although two stations on theWashington Metro'sOrange Line have "Falls Church" in their names, neither lies within the City of Falls Church:East Falls Church station is inArlington County andWest Falls Church station is inFairfax County.
_at_Virginia_State_Route_7_(Broad_Street)_in_Falls_Church%2c_Virginia.jpg)
The primary roads serving Falls Church directly areU.S. Route 29 andVirginia State Route 7. The portion of US 29 through Falls Church is also coincident withVirginia State Route 237. Most ofVirginia State Route 338 is also within Falls Church.Interstate 66 passes just north of the city, whileInterstate 495 passes a few miles to the west.
In 2006, Falls Church entered into asister city relationship withKokolopori,Democratic Republic of the Congo.[73]
...In daytime serials, "All My Children" took the prize for its writers — Agnes Nixon ... Hal Corley,....
... You are a five time Emmys and two WGA Awards winner....
1999 AWARDS WINNERS ...Daytime Serials ... ALL MY CHILDREN, ABC, Written by Agnes Nixon ... Hal Corley, ... 1997 AWARDS WINNERS ... ALL MY CHILDREN, ABC, Written by Agnes Nixon ... Hal Corley ...
Falls Church travel guide from WikivoyagePlaces adjacent to Falls Church, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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