Sterling, VA

Sterling is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 10,822 at the 2010 census. Sterling is located at 38°5′39″N 77°4′41″W / 38.0914°N 77.0792°W / 38.0914; -77.0792 (38.092798, -77.075556).

The town of Sterling was founded in 1736 by George Washington's stepfather-in-law and business partner John Parke Custis II on land that he had purchased from the Six Nations Indians for $11,000 in cash and goods worth an estimated $240,000.[2] The town was named after Lord Sterling,[3] who served as Governor of Virginia from 1732 to 1735.[4]

The first settler in what would become Sterling was Daniel Houghton,[5] who built a cabin on the banks of the Potomac River near present-day Woodbridge Road and Old Dominion Drive in 1737.[6] In 1802, Drury Lane (now Main Street) was laid out as a road connecting Alexandria to Washington D.C.,[7][8][9][10][11][12] and it became known as "Drury Lane" because it passed through Drury Lane Theatre in London where many American stage actors performed during their tours of England.[13] By 1820 there were about 100 houses and businesses clustered along Drury Lane,[14] but most settlers were farmers who raised tobacco, wheat and other crops.[15][16][17][18]

In 1827 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad reached Sterling[19], which led to increased development along its tracks including the construction of stores, churches and schools.[20][21][22] The railroad also made it possible for people living outside of Sterling to commute to work,[23] which contributed to growth that continued into the 20th century with new businesses opening including a bank (the First National Bank of Sterling), a creamery (the Creamery Company), two hotels (the Windsor Hotel and the Mount Vernon Hotel), two newspapers (the Loudoun Times and the Daily News) and several factories including one that produced ice cream using an electric machine invented by Charles Aikenhead.[24],[25],[26],[27],[28],[29],[30]]

In 1902 Loudoun County formed its first Board of Supervisors consisting entirely of residents from within its boundaries,[31], which led to more local control over development[32], culminating in passage of an ordinance limiting building heights along Main Street to three stories above grade level[33]. This ordinance helped preserve much of what makes Sterling distinctive today including its historic architecture[34], street layout [35], Victorian era streetlights [36], brick sidewalks [37], landscaping [38], community gardens [39], public parks [40](including Heritage Park)[41](and) its proximity to downtown Washington D.C.(approximately 25 miles away).[42])

Today there are several commercial districts within Sterling including Downtown(along Main Street between Drury Lane Avenue NW/NE and Jefferson Davis Highway NE), Uptown(along Jefferson Davis Highway NE between Upperville Road NE/SE and Old Dominion Drive SE), West End(along Old Dominion Drive SE between West End Boulevard SW/NW and Loudoun Valley Parkway SW/NW), South End(along Loudoun Valley Parkway SW/NW between South End Boulevard SW/NW and I-495)and North End(along I-495). There are also several residential neighborhoods including Brookland Hills(between Brookland Road NW/SE & I-495), Briarcliff Manor(between Briarcliff Road NW/SE & I-495), Cameron Run(between Cameron Run Court NW/SE & I-495), Deerfield Lakes Estates(between Deerfield Lakes Drive NW/SE & I-495), Elden Woods Estates(between Elden Woods Way NW/SE & I-495) , Glen Echo Park(between Glen Echo Circle NE&SW&I395 ), Greenbriar Hills Estates(between Greenbriar Parkway NE&SW&I395 ), Highland Springs Estate Homes((formerly known as Highland Springs Village)), Lake Anne Village((formerly known as Lake Anne Gardens)), Laurel Hill Estate Homes((formerly known as Laurel Hill Gardens)), Meadowood Estate Homes((formerly known as Meadowood Gardens)), Montclair Place ((formerly known as Montclair Heights)), Northwood Hills ((formerly known as Northwood Manor)) , Oakbrook Terrace ((formerly known Oakbrook Manor)) , Pines at Stonegate (( formerly knowd As Stonegate Pines)) , Potomac Ridge (@ Stonegate Pike @ Potomac Ridge Rd.), Rolling Meadows (@ Rolling Meadows Ct.), Spring Valley (@ Spring Valley Ct.), Summit View (@ Summit View Ln.), Tysons Corner Center (@ Tysons Corner Center Blvd.)