Editing Purcellville, Virginia (section)

==History==
Although the first land grant in the area was issued by [[Lord Fairfax of Cameron]] in 1740, it was not until 1764 that Purcellville's first known settler, James Dillon from [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania]], arrived. The early ox cart track which wound westward from Leesburg towards the Blue Ridge, known later as the "Great Road," served as the town's nucleus, although farms existed in the area, and [[Ketoctin Baptist Church]] had been founded nearby by 1752. The first recorded business, an ordinary (a combined store and inn), was established by Abraham Vickers in 1799. This was followed by a second ordinary, established by Stacey Taylor in 1804, and later by "Purcel's Store" and Post Office, established by Valentine Vernon Purcell (from whom the town's name is derived). A blacksmith's shop, established around 1848, was also among Purcellville's earliest businesses. On July 9, 1853, the village officially adopted the name Purcellville.<ref name="Scheel, Eugene M. 1983">{{Cite book |last=Scheel |first=Eugene M. |title=The Story of Purcellville |year=1983 |location=Purcellville, VA}}</ref>

The Great Road became an authorized turnpike in 1785 and extended the turnpike system westward from Alexandria to [[Snickers Gap]], and beyond to [[Berryville, Virginia|Berryville]] and [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Pawlett |first=Nathanial Mason |title=A Brief History of the Roads of Virginia 1607-1840 |publisher=Virginia Highway Research Council |year=1977 |url=http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/78-r16.pdf |access-date=November 30, 2013}}</ref> With the construction of this Turnpike in 1832, travel through Purcellville began to increase and the first stagecoach arrived in 1841. A railroad link on the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire line (forerunner to the [[Washington and Old Dominion Railroad]]) connecting the town to Leesburg and points east was built prior to the Civil War, and travel to points further west were continued by stagecoach through Purcellville.

Although both Union and Confederate armies passed through Purcellville during the Civil War, the town witnessed limited fighting with the most notable action occurring at the skirmish of [[Heaton's Crossroads]]. The town and surrounding area were contained within the area known as Mosby's Confederacy, the main area of operations for Confederate [[partisan (military)|partisan]] [[John S. Mosby]], and the town was pillaged as part of [[The Burning Raid]] of 1864 in retribution for the area's support of Mosby's command.

When the railroad was extended to Purcellville in 1874, the town took Leesburg's place as the beginning of the stage route until the railroad was extended to [[Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia|Round Hill]] in 1875. The [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]] constructed the still existing [[Purcellville Train Station]] in 1891.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kalbian |first1=Maral S |last2=Peters |first2=Margaret T. |url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Loudoun/286-5001-0233_Purcellville_Train_Depot_2009_FINAL_Nomination.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (United States Department of the Interior: National Park Service): Purcellville Train Station |publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources |date=November 20, 2009 |access-date=November 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Loudoun/286-5001-0233.PurcellvilleTrainStation.photos.htm |title=Purcellville Train Depot, Loudoun Co. -- DHR #286-5001-0233 |publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources |access-date=November 30, 2013}}</ref> The railroad ceased operation in 1968. Its right-of-way serves as the [[Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park]], which has its western terminus at the station.

The first public school was built in 1883. On March 14, 1908, the town was incorporated by an act of Virginia's General Assembly.<ref name="Scheel, Eugene M. 1983"/>

In the 20th century, a series of disastrous fires, the first in 1900 and then two more in 1914, virtually wiped out the business district, depriving the town of what remained of its earliest architectural heritage. The town's prominent location in the center of the Loudoun Valley and presence of the railroad helped the town to become the major agricultural center of Western Loudoun and led to redevelopment and expansion of the business district in the early and mid-20th century. In the latter 20th century, widening of [[Virginia State Route 7]] has led to increased suburban development in and around the town and Purcellville's traditional dependence upon agriculture as its primary source of income has since diminished as more and more residents are employed outside of the community
.<ref name="Scheel, Eugene M. 1983"/>

In addition to the Purcellville Train Station, [[Locust Grove (Purcellville, Virginia)|Locust Grove]], the [[Purcellville Historic District]], [[Rich Bottom Farm]], and [[The Tabernacle-Fireman's Field]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>