Most people zooming across the Occoquan River on Route 123 or driving south on interstate 95 aren't thinking about the history of our area.  Yet hidden among all of the mega subdivisions and marinas on the Occoquan River in Prince William County is the historic Town of Occoquan. 

The town's history can be traced back to the indigenous Native American Dogue Indians who inhabited much of the Occoquan River area.   The Town of Occoquan growth as a settlement began in the 18^th century as a mill town.  It was prospering by 1765 with a grist mill, tobacco warehouses and foundry.   As one of the high water points of the Occoquan River at the time, Occoquan became not only a successful commercial area it also attracted weekend tourists from DC who came to stay at the Rockledge Hotel.

The town was officially established in 1804 and the streets and neighborhood lots were officially laid out.   By the mid 1850's there were 50 homes and business, including the first commercial ice storage warehouse.  By the beginning of the 20^th century the town was in its heyday.    With hotels, theater, shops and a wharf where ships could dock the town was a social center for the area.

Tragedy struck in 1919 when much of the town burned down.  By then the river had begun to develop a layer of silt that made it impossible for larger ships to get to the wharf.   As with many of the small towns in Virginia a new railroad bridge and road construction moved the Town of Occoquan off the direct path of traffic.  With the flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 the town could have been wiped completely off the map.

However the town came back and today is a great place to visit historic buildings, eat and shop.  Last fall the Washington Business Journal put the Town of Occoquan on its list of places to watch.  Twice a year thousands of people flock to the town for the Occoquan Arts and Crafts Fair.  An active merchants association helps business in town and the Mayor of Occoquan, Ernie Portia sends out regular newsletter updates about events in the town.

One thing that the Town of Occoquan offers that you won't find in any of the neighboring communities in Prince William County is GHOSTS!   As you can imagine a historic town is bound to have a few residents who like it so much that just never want to leave.  The town offers ghost tours throughout the year.   If you are looking for a break from the usual malls and madness in Prince William County then make sure you stop and enjoy the historic Town of Occoquan.  

Related Posts on the Town of Occoquan:

Mom's Apple Pie and General Store
Madigan's Restaurant
Washington Business Journal Likes Us and So Will You
Occoquan River Communities

It is obvious when you look at the large overhead signs, I-95 is the interstate running outside the beltway and I-395 runs inside the beltway to DC. However if someone asks you how to get to DC and you say take Shirley Highway then you know you are a "native" of Northern Virginia. Officially Shirley Highway runs from the Pentagon to just north of Route 1 in Woodbridge. The start of the construction of the highway started in 1941 and lasted until 1952 when the four lane road was completed. Originally known as the Fort Belvoir bypass the road was renamed for Henry Shirley who was the first the first highway commissioner in Virginia.

Our first family home was just outside DC on Shirley Highway in the Parkfairfax neighborhood. Built in 1941 as an apartment complex to alleviate a housing shortage for government workers the neighborhood today is thriving condominium complex known for it's hilly streets, landscaped courtyards and ease of commuting back to the city.

Parkfairfax-Two Past Presidents Called it Home and So Could You

A few more miles down Shirley Highway is the famous or is that the infamous Springfield Interchange? Before there was a need for 50 ramps and 20 lanes to get commuters past Springfield there was an airport instead. In 1945 part of the area that is now part of the north bound lanes of Shirley Highway (I-95) was the unpaved 3000 foot runway that was part of Springfield Airport.

What Happens When You Build a Highway Instead of An Airport?

Even after the airport disappeared in the early 1950's Springfield was still a rural community just being discovered by families. With new homes in central Springfield starting at $16,000 it was the perfect place to move and still be able to work in the city. Families flocked to the area and over the years the small sleepy area grew and spread into North Springfield, West Springfield and even though there isn't officially an East Springfield development went that direction as well.

Springfield Virginia-Homer Simpson Doesn't Live Here

As prices in closer in areas in Fairfax County began to escalate and families started looking for bigger and newer the migration further south on Shirley Highway to Prince William County began. Commuting options began to expand and along with it the neighborhoods of Lake Ridge began to grow. Starting in the late 1970's when the visitor center opened at Old Bridge and Harbor Drive until today Lake Ridge has been a popular choice for anyone who wanted to live in large community with a "small town" feel.

Lake Ridge-Avoiding the Cookie Cutter Home Syndrome

Now Shirley Highway is a thing of the past. The small green signs are still there if you look for them. They are drawfed by the the large signs for I-95 or I-395 headed north and south from DC into Virginia. Your GPS won't direct you to take Shirley Highway but a native of the area may. Don't be alarmed they haven't lost their minds it is just a habit that is hard to break.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the neighborhoods along the 17.3 mile stretch of the original Shirley Highway give me a call. No hassle, no pressure. Let's see if now is the right time for you to buy a new home in Northern Virginia.

Oer the last few months we have watched this Osprey spend hours perched in a tree outside our window.  When it is time to eat he/she flies to the river, comes back with a fish and drops it off at the nest on top of our condo building for their mate and the newly hatched fledging. 

Yes you did read that correctly.  We live next to a 400 acre nature reserve but this pair decided that they liked the roof of our building better.  I'm fairly certain they are not paying their condo dues!

Thinking of buying a home in the Northern Virginia area?  Wonder what the cost of owning that home and commuting in the area might cost you per year?  Transportation and housing affordability are a big part of the buying process.  The Urban Land Institute has developed a calculator to help show how these costs vary among different locations.

One of the first decisions that Northern Virginia buyers look at is whether they should buy a home "inside or outside" the beltway.   Commuting is a big part of that decision.  The calculator gives you a chance to play with the numbers and compare costs at a number of locations.

"The Housing + Transportation Calculator was developed to help individuals, households, planners, and municipalities understand the true costs of housing and transportation, as well as how these costs can vary from place to place."

In order to see how the calculator worked I decided to enter neighborhood zip codes that included Alexandria, Burke, Falls Church, Woodbridge & Bristow.  The following chart shows the costs associated with each of the areas. 

Of course as with any of the standard calculators you find on-line some of the data associated with the calculations are open to interpretation.   The Urban Land Institute has determined transit connectivity to mean connections to public transportation within a 10 minute walking distance.  Woodbridge transportation connectivity gets a rating of "none".  Yet if you live in Woodbridge you do have a variety of transportation options and depending on where you live those options could be within 10 minutes of your home, maybe not walking distance in all cases but certainly driving. 

This tool does provide you the options to make individual changes to some of the calculations and can be a bit of an eye opener when you look at some of the transportation costs for the further west you go in Northern Virginia.   The calculator is not restricted to Northern Virginia so anyone in the country can use it to see how their communities compare.

Map of city locations used in Northern Virginia calculations

We see dozens of marketing reports posted every day about total sales and sales prices in Northern Virginia. We know sales prices are down. Recently we have been able to report that the total number of sales have increased from 2008-2009, brought on by lower prices and lower interest rates. One set of numbers that you don't see reported often is how are the home purchases being financed?

Let's just say simply, FHA and VA rule!

A quick glance at a comparison between May 2008 and May 2009 shows just how significant the increase is.

If you are considering a move in Northern Virginia this summer give the Cindy Jones team a call at 703-346-2213. Let's talk about whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about what makes sense for you.

Located just a few miles from the main gate of Fort Belvoir the neighborhoods that make up the Lorton area have a long tradition with the military and military families in Northern Virginia. Lorton history goes back to our first Commander in Chief, George Washington. There are older neighborhoods such as Harborview which are just as popular today as they were when they were built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Over the last 10 years a "new" Lorton has emerged which has brought a renewal to southern Fairfax County.

Most of the "new" Lorton growth came about when the Lorton Prison Complex was ordered closed in 1998. With just over 3200 acres the prison complex gave Fairfax County developers an opportunity to create an entire new vision for the land and its usage. With a Virginia Rail Express Station already in place in Lorton (1994) the area was poised for growth.

To the east of I-95 a new town center Lorton Station has grown up around the VRE station. Currently featuring multiple restaurants and a pharmacy more stores are slated to open next year. Just down the road Lorton Market offers a large Shoppers Food Warehouse, UPS store, emergency medical center and banking. All of shopping options make it easy for homeowners to stay in the neighborhood for just about everything they need.

In 2006 the new South County Secondary School opened and the Laurel Hill Elementary School will be open in fall 2009. The Laurel Hill Golf Course an 18 hole championship course operated by the Fairfax County Park opened in 2007 and with a 9000 square foot club house it has become a terrific place for Lorton residents to gather. Bike paths and walking trials connect different sections of the community and also connect with the Fairfax County Cross County Trail

The jewel of the redevelopment is the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. Officially opened in September 2008 the site has retained the old brick Lorton Prison buildings and revamped them into a blend of artist's studios, classroom and performing arts center. Proposed new stores and restaurants will round out the neighborhood making once was depressing area the newest "it" place in Northern Virginia.

With it's convenience to Fort Belvoir, easy access to I-95, community VRE station and community amenities it is easy to see why the "new" Lorton has become a re-development success in Fairfax County.

If you are interested in learning more about relocating to the Lorton area give me a call at 703-346-2213. We can meet up for coffee in Lorton Station and talk about about whether this is the right time for you to make a move. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about the home buying process property in today's market.

The PCS orders have arrived! The phone has been ringing as military families around the world have gotten the word that their next duty station is in the Northern Virginia area. The first few days after the PCS orders arrive all the questions about housing, schools and transportation can lead to sleepless nights. Don't worry it is easy to find your way through the maze of options and get you settled in the area in no time.

Most military personnel headed to the area choose to live in either Fairfax, Prince William or Stafford Counties and whether you are going to buy or rent there are plenty of neighborhood options for you to choose from. If you are thinking of buying a home, the current Northern Virginia market provides you the chance to find a good value on homes in neighborhoods scattered through out the area. Military personnel are dusting off their VA Certificate of Eligibility and checking with local lenders about the options available to use their VA loans. If buying is the plans make sure you have talked to a lender prior to making your house hunting trip. Knowing what monthly payment you are comfortable with is important for looking at homes in neighborhoods that meet your price criteria.

There are a number of neighborhoods in Northern Virginia that have always been popular with military families stationed throughout the area including Cardinal Forest, Belmont Bay and Lake Ridge are just a few of the choices. The options are as varied and there is something for everyone in a wade range of prices.

If you have school age children starting with information on local schools through the Fairfax County or Prince William County or Stafford County school sites or the Great Schools website will also assist you in determining the right neighborhood for your family.

The final big piece of the puzzle is how do I get around the area? If you are coming from a smaller more laid back part of the country then driving around the roads in Northern Virginia can be a bit intimidating. The good news is there are loads of transportation options for you to consider and there are plenty of families that find they can get by with one car. With the price of gas continuing to rise, learning the ins and outs of our public transportation options is critical.

The best way to get through the maze is to call a Realtor® who has been through numerous military moves and is a native of the area. I’ve lived through the best and worst military moves and know how to help your family learn about Northern Virginia and find a neighborhood that you will want to call home during your tour of duty. My military relocation network is at your fingertips through my on-line resources, on the phone and in person. Don’t lose sleep over your orders. I’m here to help you with a smooth transition!

MOM I"M BORED.  THERE'S NOTHING TO DO.  

Fortunately for families living in Northern Virginia there are a variety of local water parks where you can spend the day working off your kids boredom and also stay cool at the same time.

In Lorton you can check out Pirates Cove Waterpark at Pohick Bay Regional Park just a few miles down Gunston Road off Route 1. With a sand beach, a 24 foot tall climbing tower and water slides kids will be sure to have a good time. The pool is up from 10:30 am to 7 pm Monday-Friday and 11 am to 7 pm Saturday and Sundays. Pohick Bay Regional Park also offers miniature golf for when you need a break from all of the swimming.

At Lake Fairfax in Reston the Water Mine Family Swimming Hole is ready for kids of all ages. Toddlers can play with the low bubblers, elementary age children will enjoy the waterslides, water sprays and for the kid at heart you can relax in an inner tube on the Rattlesnake River. The theme of the water park is based on the old west and in the middle of the swimming hole is Pete's Peak complete with mine shafts and two water slides.

Splash Down Waterpark in Manassas is Northern Virginia's largest water park. Spread out over 11 acres the park features a big Kahuna Beach, two four story tall waterslides and a 770 foot lazy river ride. If you want a bit more punch with your water then check out the super fast cannon ball slides and the tropical twister waterslides sure to get your bathing suit in a bunch.

Be ready to hold your self steady when the 1000 gallon bucket drops its load every three minutes at Downpour Water Park. Located at Algonquian Regional Park off of Cascades Parkway in Sterling. If you need something a little less torrential then hop over to the Mr. Frog slide. You can make a weekend out of a trip to the park by pitching a tent in the park campground.

Cameron Station in Alexandria is home to the Great Waves water park. The most "urban" of the water parks in the area located just off of 495 at Eisenhower Ave you can play slip and slide on the four story water slides or enjoy just a little splash in the tad pole pool.

Each of the water parks offer facilities for families to buy food and drinks (no outside food allowed) and have fun in mind for everyone in the family. So when the kids start the MOM I'M BORED WHINE, surprise them with a trip to one of Northern Virginia's local water parks.

I ran across this field of buttercups on Fort Belvoir while headed to an appointment.  They reminded me of when we used to pick them as children and it was a make you smile moment.

©Cindy Jones 2009  If you would like to use this image, just drop me an email with your request.  A link back or acknowledgement would be nice!