Broad Run (Loudoun County, Virginia) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Broad Run
Broad Run passes through an increasingly suburbanized environment in eastern Loudoun County
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Region	Loudoun County
Physical characteristics
Main source	Aldie 38°59′10″N 77°35′11″W / 38.9862207°N 77.586381°W / 38.9862207; -77.586381
River mouth	Potomac River Sterling 184 ft (56 m) 39°04′16″N 77°26′38″W / 39.0712187°N 77.4438770°W / 39.0712187; -77.4438770
Basin features
Basin size	91.3 sq mi (236 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Beaverdam Run Right: Lenah Run, South Fork (Shenandoah River), Cabin Branch (Arcola), Horsepen Run, Cabin Branch (Sterling)

Broad Run is a stream, also called a "creek," located in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is a tributary of the Potomac River. A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. Broad Run mainly collects water from eastern Loudoun County and a small part of western Fairfax County.

The stream begins about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Aldie. It then flows generally eastward near Arcola. Broad Run continues its journey northeast until it reaches the Potomac River. This meeting point is near the southern end of Seldon's Island, north of Sterling. It is also about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Leesburg.

The area of land that Broad Run drains, called its watershed, covers about 67.5 square miles (175 km²) in Loudoun County. It also drains about 23.8 square miles (62 km²) in Fairfax County.

For much of its length, Broad Run forms the boundary between the areas of Ashburn and Sterling. Both of these are unincorporated communities. The Broad Run Magisterial District in Loudoun County and Broad Run High School are named after this waterway. The historic Broad Run Bridge and Tollhouse is also a famous landmark connected to the creek.

It's important not to confuse this Broad Run with another nearby stream. There is a different Broad Run that flows into the Occoquan River. That one is located in Fauquier and Prince William Counties.

What Are Broad Run's Smaller Streams?

Broad Run has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are also called tributaries. They add water to Broad Run as it flows towards the Potomac River. Here is a list of these tributaries, starting from the ones closest to Broad Run's source and moving downstream towards its mouth:

• Lenah Run
• South Fork Broad Run
• Cabin Branch 1
• Horsepen Run
  • Indian Creek
  • Stallion Branch
• Cabin Branch 2
• Beaverdam Run
  • Russell Branch