Editing Great Falls, Virginia

{{distinguish|Great Falls Crossing, Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name      = Great Falls, Virginia
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map        = USA Virginia Northern#USA Virginia#USA
| image_map          = Fairfax County Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated Areas Great Falls highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 200px
| map_caption        = Location of Great Falls in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]]
| image_map1         = GreatFallsCDPmap.gif
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = Boundaries of the Great Falls CDP as of 2003

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Virginia}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Fairfax County, Virginia.svg}} [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 25.66
| area_land_sq_mi    = 25.42
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.24

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 15,953
| population_density_km2 = 242.4
| population_density_sq_mi = 627.6

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 344
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|59|53|N|77|17|18|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 22066
| area_code          = [[Area code 703|703, 571]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 51-32496<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1467429<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Great Falls''' is a [[census-designated place]]<ref name="Great Falls CDP, Virginia">{{cite web | title=Great Falls CDP, Virginia | publisher=U.S. Census Bureau | url=https://www.census.gov | access-date=April 3, 2013}}</ref> in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], United States. The population at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] was 15,953.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Great Falls CDP, Virginia |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greatfallscdpvirginia/POP060210 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
{{For timeline}}
Colonial farm settlements began to form in the area as early as the late 1700s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virginialiving.com/travel-exploring/an-unhidden-gem/ |title=An Unhidden Gem |last1=Carey|first1=Mac |date=May 24, 2016 |website=[[Virginia Living]] |publisher= Cape Fear Publishing|access-date=June 27, 2016 }}</ref>

Early on, the village was known as Forestville (unofficially, since there was already a Forestville with a Post Office), but was renamed Great Falls in 1955.<ref>{{cite web   |url=http://www.livingingreatfalls.com/index.php?pageId=31336&action=view_hoa&itemId=1848   |title=A Brief History of Great Falls   |last=Sanders   |first=Milburn P.   |publisher=Connecting Neighbors   |date=August 11, 2005   |access-date=2008-01-25   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210130216/http://www.livingingreatfalls.com/index.php?pageId=31336&action=view_hoa&itemId=1848   |archive-date=February 10, 2012   |url-status=dead   }}</ref>

==Geography==
Great Falls is located at {{coord|38|59|53|N|077|17|18|W|region:US-VA_type:city}} (38.9981653, −77.2883157) at an elevation of {{convert|344|ft|m}}.<ref name="GR3" /><ref>{{cite gnis|id=1467429|name=Great Falls|access-date=2009-05-03}}</ref> Located on [[Virginia State Route 7]] in [[Northern Virginia]], Great Falls is {{convert|15|mi|km}} west-northwest of downtown [[Washington, D.C.]], and {{convert|10.5|mi|km}} north of [[Fairfax, Virginia|Fairfax]], the [[county seat]].<ref name=GoogleMaps>{{cite web |title=Great Falls, Virginia |publisher=[[Google Maps]] |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Great+Falls,+VA/@39.011519,-77.2881175,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89b6385bb6d709f5:0xcb2670e7f50ce1f7 |access-date=2015-02-06}}</ref>

Great Falls lies in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] upland on the right bank of the [[Potomac River]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Piedmont province |work=The Geology of Virginia |publisher=[[The College of William & Mary]] Department of Geology |url=http://web.wm.edu/geology/virginia/provinces/piedmont/piedmont.html |access-date=2015-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807090340/http://web.wm.edu/geology/virginia/provinces/piedmont/piedmont.html |archive-date=2011-08-07 }}</ref><ref name=CountyMap>{{cite web |title=Fairfax County Transportation Plan |publisher=Fairfax County Department of Transportation |date=Oct 2006 |url=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/maps/images/maps/handouts/pdf07/TPM_020108v34.pdf |access-date=2015-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714122520/http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/maps/images/maps/handouts/pdf07/TPM_020108v34.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-14 }}</ref> The Potomac River forms the northern and eastern borders of the CDP, and several of its tributaries flow north and east through the CDP. From north to south, these include Nichols Run, Clarks Branch, and [[Difficult Run]]. Difficult Run (along with Leesburg Pike) forms the southern border of the CDP. Two of its tributaries, Captain Hickory Run and Piney Run, flow southeast through the southern part of the CDP.<ref name=GoogleMaps /><ref name=CountyMap /> The [[Great Falls of the Potomac River]], the community's namesake, are on the east side of the CDP.<ref name=CountyMap />

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|25.66|mi2|km2}} of which {{convert|25.42|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.24|mi2|km2}} is water.<ref name=Census2>{{cite web |title=Virginia: 2010 – Population and Housing Unit Counts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-48.pdf |access-date=2015-02-05}}</ref>

As a suburb of Washington, D.C., Great Falls is a part of both the [[Washington Metropolitan Area]] and the larger [[Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area]]. It is bordered on all sides by other Washington suburbs, including: [[Darnestown, Maryland|Darnestown]] and [[Travilah, Maryland]] to the north, [[Potomac, Maryland]] to the east, [[McLean, Virginia|McLean]] to the southeast, [[Wolf Trap, Virginia|Wolf Trap]] to the south, [[Reston, Virginia|Reston]] and [[Dranesville, Virginia|Dranesville]] to the southwest, [[Sterling, Virginia|Sterling]] to the west, and [[Lowes Island, Virginia|Lowes Island]] to the northwest.<ref name=Census2 />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1980 = 
| 1990 = 6945
| 2000 = 8549
| 2010 = 15427
| 2020 = 15953
| align-fn = center
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html * U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

In February 2022, Great Falls was included in [[Veranda (magazine)|Veranda]] magazine's list of wealthiest cities in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-23 |title=The Richest Town in America is Home to the World’s Most Famous Female Tech Billionaire |url=https://www.veranda.com/luxury-lifestyle/g1563/richest-towns-in-the-us/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Veranda |language=en-US}}</ref>

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Great Falls, Virginia – Racial and Ethnic Composition'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=1980 census of population.|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80148uns_bw.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P004HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE [73] - Great Falls CDP, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=p004&g=050XX00US24033_160XX00US5132496|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Great Falls CDP, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US51059_160XX00US5132496|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Great Falls CDP, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US51059_160XX00US5132496|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 2000
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,317 
|7,423
|11,939
|10,659
|{{Percentage|2317|2419|2}}
|{{Percentage|7423|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|11939|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|10659|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|18
|98
|268
|300
|{{Percentage|18|2419|2}}
|{{Percentage|98|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|268|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|300|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|3{{efn|Includes all people who gave "American Indian", "Eskimo", or "Aleut" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.}}
|9
|10
|21
|{{Percentage|3|2419|2}}
|{{Percentage|9|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|10|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|21|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|37{{efn|Includes all people who gave "Japanese", "Chinese", "Filipino", "Korean", "Asian Indian", or "Vietnamese" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.}}
|633
|2,082
|3,160
|{{Percentage|37|2419|2}}
|{{Percentage|633|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|2082|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|3160|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0{{efn|Includes all people who gave "Hawaiian", "Guamanian", or "Samoan" as their race, regardless of Hispanic identity.}}
|3
|3
|3
|{{Percentage||2419|2}}
|{{Percentage|3|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|3|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|3|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|
|14
|45
|99
|
|{{Percentage|14|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|45|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|99|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|
|150
|477
|864
|
|{{Percentage|150|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|477|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|864|15953|2}}
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|35
|219
|603
|847
|{{Percentage|35|2419|2}}
|{{Percentage|219|8549|2}}
|{{Percentage|603|15427|2}}
|{{Percentage|847|15953|2}}
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,419'''
|'''8,549'''
|'''15,427'''
|'''15,953'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''This section includes some information from the [[American Community Survey|2022 American Community Survey]]''

At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] there were 15,953 people, 5,273 housing units and 5,019 households residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was 627.6 inhabitants per square mile (242.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The average housing unit density was 207.4 per square mile (80.1/km<sup>2</sup>).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Great Falls CDP, Virginia |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Great_Falls_CDP,_Virginia?g=160XX00US5132496 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the households, 1.5% were non-family households, 83.6% were married couple families, 6.8% were a male family householder with no spouse, and 8.1% were a female family householder with no spouse. The average family household had 3.13 people.<ref name=":0" />

The median age was 47.9, 23.4% of people were under the age of 18, and 22.0% were 65 years of age or older. The largest ancestry is the 16.3% who had [[English Americans|English ancestry]], 29.7% spoke a language other than [[English language|English]] at home, and 24.5% were born outside the United States, 77.7% of whom were [[Naturalized citizen of the United States|naturalized citizens]].<ref name=":0" />

The median income for a household in the CDP was over $250,000. 7.9% of the population were [[Veteran#United States|military veterans]], and 84.5% had a [[Bachelor's degree|batchelor's degree]] or [[Higher degree|higher]]. In the CDP 2.3% of the population was below the [[poverty line]], including 1.5% of those under the age of 18 and 3.2% of those aged 65 or over, with 4.0% of the population without [[Health insurance in the United States|health insurance]].<ref name=":0" />

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 15,427 people, 4,977 households, and 4,439 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|606.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,179 housing units at an average density of {{convert|203.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the community was 80.5% [[White American|White]], 13.5% [[Asian American|Asian]], 1.8% [[African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 3.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race were 3.9% of the population.<ref name="GR2" />

There were 4,977 households, of which 46.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.1% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.8% were non-families. Of all households, 8.5% were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10, and the average family size was 3.27.<ref name="GR2" />

The age distribution of the population was 29.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 15.9% from 25 to 44, 37.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.8 years. The gender makeup of the CDP was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.<ref name="GR2" />

The median income for a household in the CDP was $189,545, and the median income for a family was $201,250. Males had a median income of $149,609 versus $101,289 for females. The community's [[per capita income]] was $80,422. About 0.8% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="GR2" />

In 2010, the Census extended the CDP's western border from Springvale Road to the Fairfax-Loudoun County Line, expanding the CDP's area by approximately 40%. This extension partly explains the CDP's population increase of 80.5% since the 2000 Census.

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Great Falls vote<br/> by party in presidential elections<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/returns | title=Election Results &#124; Elections }}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Virginia|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.37%''' ''5,950''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.48% ''4,024''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.15% ''219''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Virginia|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.79%''' ''4,954''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.46% ''3,966''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.74% ''645''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Virginia|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.81% ''3,339''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.41%''' ''4,223''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.78% ''59''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election in Virginia|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.62% ''3,477''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.75%''' ''3,778''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.63% ''46''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election in Virginia|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.55% ''3,378''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.03%''' ''4,173''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.42% ''32''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election in Virginia|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.12% ''2,662''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.59%''' ''4,091''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.29% ''230''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election in Virginia|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.59% ''2,207''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.92%''' ''3,554''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.49% ''271''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election in Virginia|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.73% ''1,979''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.40%''' ''3,075''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.87% ''814''
|}

==Education==
[[Fairfax County Public Schools]] operates the local public schools. Great Falls students attend Great Falls Elementary School, Forestville Elementary School or Colvin Run Elementary School. These schools feed into [[James Fenimore Cooper Middle School]], which then feeds into [[Langley High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)|Langley High School]].

Siena Academy is a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[Montessori education|Montessori]] preschool and elementary school in Great Falls, under the authority of the [[Diocese of Arlington]]. It is the only private K-12 school in the town.

[[Fairfax County Public Library]] operates the Great Falls Library.<ref>"[http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ Library Branches]." [[Fairfax County Public Library]]. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
The main roads serving Great Falls are [[Virginia State Route 7]] (Leesburg Pike) and [[Virginia State Route 193]] (Georgetown Pike).

==Parks and recreation==
Although Great Falls is primarily a bedroom community for [[Washington, D.C.]], one major attraction is [[Great Falls Park]] which overlooks the [[Great Falls of the Potomac River]], for which the community and the park are named. [[George Washington]] was involved with building a [[canal]] around the falls on the southwest, or Virginia, side, called the [[Patowmack Canal]], which did not become commercially viable. Remnants of the canal and of a village around the canal named Matildaville are still visible in the park. The [[Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad]] extended along Old Dominion Drive to Great Falls Park in 1906.

River Bend County Park<ref>{{Cite web|title = Riverbend Park - Fairfax County, Virginia|url = http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park/|website = www.fairfaxcounty.gov|access-date = 2015-11-29}}</ref> is another gathering area in Great Falls, as is the Village Green, which hosts community celebrations around Easter (Spring Festival, including an Egg Hunt), Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (Tree Lighting), as well as concerts in the summer.

[[Image:GreatFalls.jpg|thumb|700px|center|Great Falls on February 21, 2007]]

== In popular culture ==
The [[MTV]] television series ''[[Finding Carter]]'' is partially set in Great Falls.

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Great Falls, Virginia}}
Due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., several figures from American politics and government live or have lived in Great Falls, including Senator [[Rick Santorum]], former [[United States Surgeon General]] [[Kenneth Moritsugu]], [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] director [[Louis Freeh]] and former [[Central Intelligence Agency]] director [[Stansfield Turner]]. Other famous residents have included Governor [[Glenn Youngkin]], political commentator [[Peggy Noonan]], heiress [[Jacqueline Mars]], Canadian Billionaire Emmanuel Akau, businessman [[Steve Case]], Iranian Crown Prince [[Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran|Reza Pahlavi]], former [[Washington Commanders]] owner [[Daniel Snyder|Dan Snyder]], astronaut [[Daniel Tani|Dan Tani]], and [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]] former president [[Michael Kaiser]].

==Explanatory notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{Portal bar|Virginia}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://gfhs.org/ Great Falls Historical Society]

{{Fairfax County, Virginia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Fairfax County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Virginia]]
[[Category:Virginia populated places on the Potomac River]]
[[Category:Washington metropolitan area]]