Unison, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Unison, Virginia
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 Unison, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Unison, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Unison, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County |  Loudoun |
| Elevation | 482 ft (147 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1477830 |
Unison is a small village in Loudoun County, Virginia. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Unison is about five miles from Middleburg in the beautiful Loudoun Valley, near the border of Fauquier County.
Contents
Unison's Past: A Look at Its History
How Unison Started
Unison was founded around 1740 by a group of people called Quakers. They moved from Pennsylvania, through Maryland, and across the Potomac River. They were looking for good farmland in Northern Virginia. In the early 1800s, the area was known as "Greenland" or "Butterland." The name "Butterland" came from a time when taxes were paid in butter, not money!
Becoming a Town: Union to Unison
In 1813, Virginia's government officially made the village a town called Union. That same year, a post office named Union Post Office opened. It closed and reopened a few times. In 1829, the post office reopened under a new name: Unison. The name change happened because another town in Virginia, Monroe Court House, had already taken the name Union. Even though Loudoun's Union post office was older, Monroe County got to keep the name because their courthouse was there.
Unison's Busy Days
By the 1830s, Unison was the fourth largest town in Loudoun County. A writer named Yardley Taylor described it in 1835. He said Unison had 25 homes, 3 churches, a school, 2 general stores, a blacksmith, and a tavern. About 135 people lived there, including a lawyer and three doctors.
The Civil War and Unison
As the Civil War was about to begin in the 1860s, Unison had a vote on May 23, 1861. The vote was to decide if Virginia should leave the United States. In Unison, the vote was 150 to 0 in favor of leaving. The Quakers, who believe in peace and don't fight, stayed home and didn't vote.
The Battle of Unison
From October 31 to November 2, 1862, Unison was a battlefield. Confederate cavalry, led by J.E.B. Stuart, fought against Union soldiers. This event is known as the Battle of Unison. Stuart's actions helped delay the Union army. This gave General Lee's Confederate army time to move and get ready for another big battle at Fredericksburg. Stuart's actions saved Lee's army and the Confederate capital.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, Unison remained a large town for only a few more years. By the late 1870s, towns along the new railroad line grew much faster. This railroad missed Unison by about eight miles. Because of this, Unison became less important for business and population.
Changes in Services
Unison's post office stayed open until 1919. After that, mail was sent to the nearby town of Round Hill, which had a railroad. Even in the mid-1900s, Unison was still a lively town. It had churches, a general store, a saddle shop, and even a baseball team!
Decline and Revival
By the 1980s, Unison started to decline. It was too far from the new highways that carried most of Loudoun's business. By the 1990s, it was a quiet residential area with only about 50 homes. The last store, the Unison Store, closed in 1996 after being open since 1880.
Saving Unison's History
In 2001, the old Unison Store building was almost torn down. Local residents gathered to save it. They formed a group called "The Unison Preservation Society." Their goal was to protect the historic village and its countryside.
Historic Recognition
Thanks to their efforts, Unison was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2002. It became the Unison Historic District. In 2003, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. The old store building was bought and renovated. In 2013, a kind person named Dr. Betsee Parker bought the building and gave it to the Unison Preservation Society. Now, the old Unison Store is a community center for everyone in the village.
Protecting the Battlefield
On September 22, 2011, the Unison Preservation Society helped again. Their research showed how important the Civil War battles around Unison were. Because of their work, Virginia added more land to the Virginia Landmarks Register. They also nominated the 8,000-acre Unison Battlefield Historic District for the National Register of Historic Places. This helps protect the historic battlefield for future generations.
Unison Today
Today, Unison has about 30 people living there. There are many more horses on the surrounding farms! The village has one United Methodist Church and several small businesses run from people's homes.
