Falls Church Virginia Real Estate

Falls Church Virginia Real Estate

The City of Falls Church is an independent city in the Virginia suburbs of our nation’s capital. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within Fairfax County in 1875. In 1948, it was incorporated as the City of Falls Church, an independent city with county-level governance status. It is also referred to as Falls Church City. The city's corporate boundaries do not include all of the area historically known as Falls Church; these areas include Seven Corners and other portions of the current Falls Church postal districts of Fairfax County, as well as the area of Arlington County known as East Falls Church, which was part of the town of Falls Church from 1875 to 1936.

The Falls Church, from which the City takes its name, was first called "William Gunnell's Church," built of wood in 1733 to serve Truro Parish. By 1757, the building was referred to as "The Falls Church", as it was located along the main tobacco rolling road from the Little Falls of the Potomac River. George Mason became a Vestryman in 1748, as did George Washington in 1763. A brick church designed by James Wren replaced the wooden one in 1769, at which point it became the seat of the newly-formed Fairfax Parish. Following the Revolution, in 1784, the Commonwealth of Virginia enacted disestablishment of the Anglican Church, meaning it was no longer the state church. Shortly thereafter, in 1789, The Falls Church was abandoned and was not re-occupied again until 1836, by an Episcopal congregation. The Wren building remains on the site, between S. Washington, E. Broad, and E. Fairfax Streets.

The movement of the US Capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in 1800 brought a gradual influx of workers to nearby Falls Church and by the start of the American Civil War, there was an influx of Northerners seeking land and better weather. Thus the township's vote for Virginian secession was about 75% for, 25% against. The town changed hands several times during the early years of the war. Confederate General James Longstreet was headquartered at Home Hill (now the Lawton House on Lawton Street) following the First Battle of Manassas. The earliest known instance of U. S. wartime aerial reconnaissance was carried out from Taylor's Tavern at Seven Corners by aeronaut Thaddeus S. C. Lowe of the Union Army Balloon Corps. When Confederates took Falls Church, the town became one of the earliest targets of aerially-directed bombardment, with Lowe operating air reconnaissance from Arlington Heights and directing Union guns near the Chain Bridge by telegraph. These events have now been documented extensively, particularly the military encampments on Minor's Hill and Upton's Hill.

Following Reconstruction, Falls Church remained a rural farm community. It gained township status in 1875. Its first mayor after this status was Dr. John Joseph Moran, known as the attending physician when Edgar Allan Poe died.

Historic Sites

Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn, an 1845 Greek-Revival farmhouse and 1856 barn, owned and managed by the City of Falls Church, are open to the public select Saturdays in summer.

Tinner Hill Arch and Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation represent a focus of early African American history in the area, including the site of the first rural chapter of the NAACP.

Dining

Argias right in Falls Church City has great Italian food. Some of our other favorites include, 2941 in Fairview Park,  an upscale restaurant in a beautiful setting—Carol’s daughter was married there! For Chinese, we have two favorites. Mark’s Duck House and Peking Gourmet, where George H W Bush was known to dine.  For Indian food try Haandi—it’s great. For seafood try Ocean Pearl or for Asian Cuisine try Four Sisters, and for a light lunch and delicious pastry (save room) try  Pastry XPO. These latter three are in the Mosaic District near the Dunn Loring Metro.                

Transportation

Although two stations on the Washington Metro subway system have "Falls Church" in their names, neither lies within the City of Falls Church: East Falls Church is in Arlington County and West Falls Church-VT/UVA is in Fairfax County.

The Metrorail Silver Line, under active construction in early 2010, will serve East Falls Church (EFC) station beginning in 2013. It will run between Stadium-Armory in the east, following the Orange Line route until it reaches EFC, where it will branch off towards the northwest, eventually reaching Dulles International Airport. EFC will be a key transfer point.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority provides bus service throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including Falls Church.

Education

The city is served by Falls Church City Public Schools:

Of these four Falls Church City Public Schools, only one, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, is located within city limits; the other three are located in neighboring Fairfax County. Falls Church High School is not part of the Falls Church City Public School system, but rather the Fairfax County Public School system; it does not serve the city of Falls Church.

Falls Church City is eligible to send up to three students per year to the Fairfax County magnet school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

The Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., is Falls Church's public library. In addition to its circulating collections, it houses a local history collection, including newspaper files, local government documents, and photographs.

Annual Events

Memorial Day Parade. Held since at least the 1950s, with bands, military units, civic associations, and fire/rescue stations, in recent years the event has featured a street festival with food, crafts, and non-profit organization booths, and a 3k fun run (the 2009 race drew some 3,000 runners).[61]

Tinner Hill Blues Festival is hosted every summer by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the City of Falls Church at locations across the city, including Cherry Hill.

New Year's Eve Watch Celebration, co-sponsored by the City of Falls Church and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

Things to Do

Falls Church Farmer's Market is held Saturdays year-round, Jan. 3 – April 25 (9 am – Noon), May 2 – Dec. 26 (8 am – Noon), at the City Hall Parking Lot, 300 Park Ave. In addition to regional attention, in 2010 the market was ranked first in the medium category of the American Farmland Trust's contest to identify America's Favorite Farmers' Markets.

First Fridays of Falls Church features food, arts, and music events at local shops and restaurants across the city the first Friday of every month.

The State Theatre, 220 North Washington St., stages a wide variety of live performances. Built as a movie house in 1936, it was reputed to be the first air-conditioned theater on the east coast. It closed in 1983; after extensive renovations in the 1990s, including a stage, bar, and restaurant, it re-opened as a music venue.

Economy

Falls Church is home to two Fortune 500 companies: General Dynamics , The Fairview Park area of Falls Church will also be the headquarters location for Northrop Grumman. 

Housing

Some of the subdivisions and newer condominiums in Falls Church City include Broadmont, Ellison Heights, Sherwood, Spectrum, and The Broadway.