Paeonian Springs, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paeonian Springs, Virginia
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 Paeonian Springs, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Paeonian Springs, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Paeonian Springs, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County |  Loudoun |
| Elevation | 561 ft (171 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1499832 |
Paeonian Springs is a small place in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but a community that's part of the county. You can find it where two main roads, State Route 9 and State Route 7, meet.
This community was started in 1890. It even has its own post office. Paeonian Springs got its name from Paean, who was known as the doctor of the gods in Ancient Greek stories.
The Paeonian Springs Historic District is a special area here. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it's an important place with a lot of history!
History of Paeonian Springs
Developers started building Paeonian Springs in 1871. The community was officially established in 1890. It was first planned as a resort town. This means it was a place where people from big cities, like Washington, D.C., could go to relax. They wanted to escape the city heat in the summer.
When the town was finished, developers advertised it. They said it had "excellent water, mountain air and magnificent scenery." It sounded like a perfect getaway!
The Railroad's Role
The Washington & Ohio railroad was very important for Paeonian Springs. This railroad later changed its name to the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. For about 50 years, trains stopped in the town eight times every day. This made it easy for visitors to come and go.
Growth and Decline
By 1901, Paeonian Springs had grown quite a bit. It had three hotels, a downtown area, and a village green. A village green is a common grassy area in the center of a town. By 1912, even more things were added. These included a boardwalk, a church, and two private schools. Many new shops also opened.
However, after 1920, the town started to become less popular. Several things caused this decline. The boardwalk, a mill, and the church were no longer there. Also, new laws about food and medicine changed how people viewed health resorts. And new discoveries in medicine meant people didn't need to visit special springs for health as much.
The Washington & Old Dominion railroad stopped its service in 1968. But the old railroad path was used again! In 1988, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail was extended through Paeonian Springs. This trail is now a popular place for walking and biking. It goes all the way to Purcellville, Virginia.
