Paeonian Springs, Virginia | |
|---|---|
  Paeonian Springs  Paeonian Springs  Paeonian Springs | |
| Coordinates: 39°8′57″N 77°37′9″W / 39.14917°N 77.61917°W | |
| 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 [1] |
Paeonian Springs is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is located at the intersection of the Charles Town Pike ( State Route 9) and the Harry Byrd Highway ( State Route 7). Paeonian Springs was established in 1890 and is currently served by a post office. The town is named after Paean, the Ancient Greek physician of the gods. [2]
The Paeonian Springs Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. [3]
History
Developers began construction of the town in 1871 and the town was established in 1890. It was originally developed as a resort town for citizens of Washington, D.C. trying to escape the city in the summer. [4] When developers advertised the town upon its completion they said it had "excellent water, mountain air and magnificent scenery". [2]
The Washington & Ohio railroad (later renamed Washington & Old Dominion) played an integral role in the town's development for its first 50 years, making eight stops in the town every day. [2]
By 1901 the town had three hotels, a downtown area, and a village green. By 1912, it also had a boardwalk, a church, and two private schools, among numerous other new shops. [2]
Beginning in 1920 though the town started to decline. This happened for a number of reasons including: the loss of the boardwalk, mill, and church; the Pure Food and Drug Act's passage; and the discovery of antibiotics. [2]
The Washington & Old Dominion railroad ended service in 1968. Twenty years later in 1988, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, built on the old railroad's right-of-way, was extended through Paeonian Springs to Purcellville, Virginia. [5]
References
- ^ "Paeonian Springs". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b c d e "History of Paeonian Springs". The History of Loudoun County, Virginia. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Fishback, Mary (February 1, 2001). Loudoun County: a Family Album. Arcadia Publishing. p. 116. ISBN 9780738506708.
- ^ Harwood, H.H. Jr. (April 2000). Rails to the Blue Ridge: The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, 1847 — 1968 (PDF) (3rd ed.). Fairfax Station, Virginia: Northern Virginia Parks Authority. pp. 106–109. ISBN 0-615-11453-9. LCCN 77104382. OCLC 44685168. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
External links
Municipalities and communities of
Loudoun County, Virginia, United States | ||
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Unincorporated communities |
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