Consistently named one of the best places to live in Virginia, Vienna is a small city located in Fairfax County, approximately 15 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. With easy access to numerous commuter routes— including the Capital Beltway, Dulles Access Road, Leesburg Pike, and Chain Bridge Road—Vienna offers a convenient location for those looking for suburban living close to the city. There are many local coffee shops, restaurants, and places to enjoy nature in and around Vienna. Here are some more facts you should know about this popular town.
The first records of European settling in the area are from the mid-1700s. The original Fairfax County Courthouse, built near the present Tysons Corner, is one of the first known buildings. Street names such as Old Courthouse Road and Lawyers Road still reflect that origin.
Before the arrival of the railroad in 1859, Vienna had one main road known as the Old Georgetown Road that twisted and turned to avoid mud holes and rocks. With the arrival of the railroad, known as the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire (AL&H) Railroad, came an increase in population and growth into a village.
In June 1861, one of the earliest clashes of the Civil War took place at the Battle of Vienna. Located in the heart of the town, the Freeman House was the polling place for the secession vote and was used during the Civil War by both sides as a hospital. Today, the house is a museum and gift shop.
Like many areas around the nation’s capital, Vienna saw a population boom after World War 2. In addition to the almost 10,000 new residents, this period introduced new housing stock (primarily ramblers) to the city that blended into the existing homes from previous eras. This continues today, where the available housing is comprised primarily of single-family homes including Craftsman, Colonial, ranch, farmhouse, modern contemporary, and Dutch Colonial styles. Luxury apartments, townhomes, and condominiums are also available. Whichever style of home you choose, the compact size of Vienna means that you are never far from local amenities and services.
As the population increased rapidly, so did the establishment of businesses and services. Fairfax Hospital, the county's first hospital, opened in 1961; construction of Dulles International Airport began in 1962; Tysons Corner Center welcomed shoppers for the first time in 1968; and the Vienna Metrorail station opened in 1986.
Today business is thriving in and around Vienna. Located close to the Dulles Technology Corridor, the area is known as a magnet for telecom and high-tech companies. Global companies such as SAIC, Hilton Worldwide, Capital One Financial, and Northrop Grumman are headquartered in nearby towns.
Vienna residents have access to public transportation provided by the Metro’s Orange Line (the terminus is the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU station) as well as numerous Metrobus routes.
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