Lorton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population is 27,709 as of the 2008 census estimate.
History
Lorton is named for a village in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria in England, the hometown of 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 and the spiritual and historical center of the community around which the leading citizens of the time revolved was Pohick Church.
From the early 20th century until November 2001, Lorton was the site of a District of Columbia correctional facility called the Lorton Reformatory which, among other things, detained approximately 168 women from the women's suffrage movement from the Washington D.C. area from June to December 1917.
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.
The actual community of Lorton is included by South Run and Mason Neck from west to east and by Newington and Occoquan.
Historic landmarks include Gunston Hall, George Mason's Home, Pohick Church with George Washington's box, Belvoir which was George Fairfax's home, and now Fort Belvoir Army Corps of Engineer base and Cranford Church. Woodlawn Plantation and Mt. Vernon, George Washington's Home on the Potomac River lie just to the North.
Education
Lorton is part of the Fairfax Public School System. There are five elementary schools to serve Lorton residents, Gunston Elementary, Lorton Station, Silverbrook, Laurel Hill and Halley. Hayfield Secondary School used to be the only public high school for Lorton teens, but they now also may attend South County Secondary School (opened in 2005).
Fairfax County Public Library operates the Lorton Library in the CDP.[3][4]
Economics
Considerable development has taken place in Lorton during the last few years, including on the former prison grounds. Gunston Plaza Shopping Center is no longer the largest shopping center in the vicinity. The plaza includes a medical clinic, space for several business offices, grocery, restaurants, gymnasium, 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 (929.03 m2) building. The Lorton Heritage Society has developed the Lorton History Garden on the library's south side. Several new town centers have now opened up in Lorton over the past few years. They include new grocery stores, coffee shops, salons, and several hip restaurants.
Lorton is also the home to the Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant. The Noman Cole facility is the largest advanced waste water treatment plant in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Geography
Lorton is located at 38°42′18″N 77°14′1″W / 38.705°N 77.23361°W / 38.705; -77.23361 (38.704915, -77.233573)[5].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.5 square miles (32.3 km²), of which, 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.72%) is water. Additionally, Lorton can be considered low-lying as compared to most of Fairfax County.
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 as Mason Neck defines Pohick Bay on the north and Belmont 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. US-1 and I-95 connect Alexandria and Washington, D.C. and Virginia Route 123 or Ox Road connect the Town of Occoquan. The Amtrak Auto Train to and from Florida has Lorton as its northern terminal.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2008 estimate, there were 27,709 people, 9,055 households, and 6,308 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,436.6 people per square mile (554.7/km²). There were 5,892 housing units at an average density of 475.9/sq mi (183.8/km²). 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. Of the 2,616 people residing outside households (i.e. in group quarters), the vast majority were inmates at Lorton Reformatory, which was located within the CDP's bounds and would close the year following the 2000 census.
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 are $96,550 as of a 2008 estimate[6].The per capita income for the CDP was $32,799. 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.
Notable people
Sabrina Harman - U.S. Soldier
Irma Clifton-Historian, foremost authority on Women's Suffrage and D.C. Reformitory located at Lorton.
Marica Hanson-Citizen Activist, Founder and first president Federation of Lorton Communites, now known as South County Federation
Neal McBride-Citizen Activist, Served on numerous boards to better the life for the citizens of Lorton.
Linwood Gorham-Citizen Activist, Major accomplishments include negotitaions with builders to bring about changes in site development for the benefit of the community.
Laurie Frost Wilson-Citizen Activist, Former Planning Commissioner at large, utilizing her law experience to faclitate positive change in Lorton.
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Library Branches." Fairfax County Public Library. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.
- ^ "Lorton CDP, Virginia." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ U. S. Census
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