Herndon, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herndon
Town
Central Herndon
Seal
Location within Fairfax county
Herndon Location in Northern Virginia Show map of Northern Virginia Herndon Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Herndon Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Fairfax
Area
• Total	4.29 sq mi (11.12 km2)
• Land	4.29 sq mi (11.10 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	361 ft (110 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,655
• Density	5,747.1/sq mi (2,221.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	20170
Area code(s)	703, 571
FIPS code	51-36648
GNIS feature ID	1495675
Website	http://www.herndon-va.gov

Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. It's part of the larger Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In 2020, about 24,655 people lived there. This makes Herndon the biggest of the three towns in Fairfax County.

Herndon itself is quite small. However, the United States Post Office also delivers mail to nearby areas. These areas are treated as part of a "Greater Herndon" region. This includes places like Dranesville and Oak Hill.

History of Herndon

The town of Herndon got its name in 1858. It was named after Commander William Lewis Herndon. He was an American naval explorer and writer. Commander Herndon was the captain of the ship SS Central America. He bravely went down with his ship while helping to save over 150 people.

In the 1870s, many soldiers from the Northern states and their families moved here. They liked the mild weather and affordable land.

Herndon was once a rural area near Washington, D.C.. It became a center for dairy farming and a vacation spot. This was helped by the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad. This railroad later became the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad.

When the railroad tracks were turned into a hike-and-bike trail, Herndon used its history to its advantage. The old train station became a museum and visitors center. A Norfolk Southern Railway caboose was moved nearby. It was painted to look like the old W&OD trains.

This caboose was brought to Herndon in 1989. It was dedicated to George Moore, a member of the Herndon Historical Society. Even though the caboose never actually traveled through Herndon, it's a famous part of the downtown area. Both locals and tourists visit it every day. The caboose and the old station show the historic charm of downtown. Residents are very keen on keeping this charm alive.

On January 14, 2004, the Town of Herndon celebrated its 125th birthday. The Herndon Historic District is a special area. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized for its important history.

Geography of Herndon

Herndon is located at 38°58′17″N 77°23′19″W / 38.97139°N 77.38861°W / 38.97139; -77.38861.

Boundaries of Herndon as of 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau)

The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 4.2 square miles (10.9 square kilometers). All of this area is land. A very small part of the town, just over two acres, is actually in Loudoun County.

Population and People

Herndon has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, the town had 24,655 people. The population is quite diverse. Many different backgrounds and cultures make up the community.

In 2020, about 24.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 10.4% were 65 or older. The average age in Herndon was 35.5 years. Many people in Herndon speak a language other than English at home. Also, a good number of residents were born outside the United States.

The average income for a family in Herndon was about $155,901 in 2020. More than half of the adults in Herndon have a college degree or higher.

Economy and Jobs

The Center for Innovative Technology building, between Herndon and Dulles airport

Herndon is part of the Dulles Technology Corridor. This area is sometimes called the "Netplex." This is because many big technology companies are located here. Companies like AOL, XO Communications, and Verizon Business have been in this area. Network Solutions, which used to manage all internet domain names, also started here.

Some of these companies are right in Herndon. Others have a Herndon mailing address but are in nearby areas. These include companies like Deltek and Stride.

Top Employers in Herndon

Here are some of the biggest employers in the town of Herndon:

Fun Things to Do

Herndon has many fun activities and celebrations all year long. Here are some popular community events:

Herndon is home to the Herndon Depot Museum. This museum is the site of "Mosby's Raid on Herndon Station." This was a small battle during the American Civil War. It happened on St. Patrick's Day in 1863.

Other attractions include The Herndon Centennial Golf Course. There's also the Herndon ArtSpace, which is a community art gallery. The community center has courts for basketball and racquetball. There are also many baseball fields. Next to the community center is Bready Park, which has indoor tennis courts. Every home in Herndon is less than a mile from a public park. Herndon also has a professional live theater called NextStop Theatre. They put on plays, musicals, and concerts.

Education in Herndon

Herndon is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools district.

Public Schools

Here are the public schools that serve students in Herndon:

• Clearview Elementary School
• Dranesville Elementary School
• Herndon Elementary School
• Hutchison Elementary School
• Herndon Middle School
• Herndon High School

Private Schools

Some private school options in Herndon include:

• Dominion Christian School
• St Joseph's Elementary
• Several Montessori schools

Private schools south of Herndon, in nearby Floris, include:

• King Abdullah Academy
• Nysmith School (for Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade)

Public Libraries

The Fairfax County Public Library system runs the Herndon Fortnightly Library in town.

Transportation in Herndon

SR 228 Truck in Herndon

The main road in Herndon is Virginia State Route 228. This road goes right through the center of town. There is also a truck route for SR 228. This truck route goes around central Herndon.

At the south end of town, SR 228 connects with Virginia State Route 267. This is a fast toll road. It provides access to Washington, D.C. and Washington Dulles International Airport. In 2022, the Silver Line train extended to Herndon. Now, there is a train station called Herndon station.

Climate in Herndon

Herndon has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Famous People from Herndon

Many notable people have lived in Herndon, including:

• Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, a basketball coach for the University of Virginia.
• Jeremy Barlow, a professional soccer player.
• Rod Beaton, a sports journalist for USA Today.
• Wesley L. Fox, a retired US Marine Corps Colonel and Medal of Honor recipient.
• Romain Gall, a professional soccer player.
• Angie Goff, a broadcast journalist.
• Brandon Guyer, a professional baseball player.
• Joe Snively, a professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals.
• Sean Parker, who helped start Napster and was an early president of Facebook.
• Scottie Reynolds, a former Villanova Wildcats basketball player.

Sister City

Herndon has a special friendship with another town. Its sister city is Runnymede, in Surrey, England, United Kingdom.

See also

In Spanish: Herndon (Virginia) para niños