Place Information
|
Lorton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 17,786 at the 2000 census. 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.
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 the 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. Unfortunately a very large sewage treatment plant in the valley of Lorton causes an unpleasant odor on many nights, especially during the summer. Research Tips
|
