Editing Lorton, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Lorton, Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Lorton Station Road.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Shops along Lorton Station Blvd, 2016
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map              = USA Virginia Northern#USA Virginia#USA
| image_map                = Fairfax County Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated Areas Lorton highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 200px
| map_caption              = Location of Lorton in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]]
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Fairfax County, Virginia]]

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 13.9
| area_land_km2            = 13.7
| area_water_km2           = 0.2
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_water_sq_mi         = <!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 20072
| population_density_km2   = 1354.6

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 44
| elevation_ft             = 144
| coordinates              = {{Coord|38|42|18|N|77|14|1|W|region:US-VA_type:city(20,000)|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 22079, 22199
| area_code                = [[Area code 703|703]], [[Area code 571|571]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 51-47064<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              = 1495046<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                = 
}}

'''Lorton''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], United States. The population was 20,072 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US5147064| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lorton CDP, Virginia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 12, 2016}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==History==
Lorton is named for a [[Lorton, Cumbria|village]] in the [[Lake District]] National Park, [[Cumbria]], in England. Joseph Plaskett of the Cumbrian village settled in southern Fairfax County, running a general store and opening the Lorton Valley Post Office on November 11, 1875.<ref>{{cite web|last=Placket|first=Susan|title=The History of Lorton, Virginia|url=http://lortonheritagesociety.org/docs/Plaskett-LortonHistory.pdf|access-date=2013-01-27}}</ref>

Before the identity of Lorton, the commercial center was [[Colchester, Virginia|Colchester]], and the spiritual and historical center of the community around which the leading citizens of the time revolved was [[Pohick Church]], where [[George Washington]] and [[George Mason]] were at times members of the [[vestry]].

From the early 20th century until November 2001, Lorton was the site of a [[District of Columbia]] [[prison|correctional facility]] called the [[Lorton Reformatory]] which, among other things, detained approximately 168 women from the [[women's suffrage movement]] from the Washington, D.C. area from June to December 1917. For the 2010 census, the area around the former Lorton Reformatory was assigned to the [[Laurel Hill, Virginia|Laurel Hill]] census-designated place, reducing the area and population of the Lorton CDP.

A [[Nike missile]] site was built at Lorton in 1955, and remained until 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nike Site W-64|url=http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w64.php}}</ref>

Lorton is one of the two stations that serve [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Auto Train]]'' which carries passengers and their vehicles non-stop to [[Sanford, Florida]], in the [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] area. The [[Lorton and Occoquan Railroad]] once operated between the Lorton Reformatory and [[Occoquan, Virginia|Occoquan]], with connection to the [[Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad]].

Historic landmarks in the surrounding area include [[Gunston Hall]], [[George Mason]]'s home; [[Belvoir (plantation)|Belvoir]], which was [[William Fairfax]]'s home; the Market; and now the [[Fort Belvoir]] Army Corps of Engineers base and Cranford Church. [[Woodlawn (Alexandria, Virginia)|Woodlawn Plantation]] and [[Mount Vernon]], the latter being [[George Washington]]'s home on the [[Potomac River]], lie farther to the east.

==Geography==
Lorton is located in southern Fairfax County at {{Coord|38|42|18|N|77|14|1|W|type:city}} (38.704915, &minus;77.233573).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the west by [[Laurel Hill, Virginia|Laurel Hill]], to the north by [[Newington, Virginia|Newington]], to the east by [[Fort Belvoir]], to the southeast by [[Mason Neck, Virginia|Mason Neck]], and to the southwest by [[Woodbridge, Virginia|Woodbridge]] in [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William County]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Lorton CDP has a total area of {{convert|13.9|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|13.7|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 1.39%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> The elevation ranges from sea level at the Prince William County line (the [[Occoquan River]]) to slightly over {{convert|200|ft}} along Furnace Road at the CDP's western edge.

[[U.S. Route 1]] (Richmond Highway) and [[Interstate 95 in Virginia|Interstate 95]] pass through Lorton, leading northeast {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] and {{convert|19|mi}} to [[Washington, D.C.]], and south {{convert|34|mi}} to [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]]. The Amtrak [[Auto Train]] to and from [[Florida]] has Lorton as its northern terminal.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 18,610 people, 6,422 households, and 4,637 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|3,508.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,726 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,268.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 39.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 29.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 18.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7.3% [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 5.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 16.7% of the population.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/1600000US5147064| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Lorton CDP, Virginia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 12, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213114505/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/1600000US5147064| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 6,422 households, out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals, and 5.9% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88, and the average family size was 3.39.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1"/>

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1"/>

For the period 2010 through 2014, the estimated median annual income for a household was $90,820 and the median income for a family was $94,965. Male full-time workers had a median income of $54,534 versus $54,441 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $37,487. About 0.9% of families and 3.2% of the total population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_5YR/DP03/1600000US5147064| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Lorton CDP, Virginia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 12, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213082641/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_5YR/DP03/1600000US5147064| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{US Census population
| align = right
| footnote = sources 2010-2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
| 2000 = 17786
| 2010 = 18610
| 2020 = 20072
}}

==Education==
Lorton is part of the [[Fairfax County Public Schools|Fairfax Public School System]]. There are six elementary schools to serve Lorton residents, Gunston Elementary, Lorton Station, Silverbrook, Laurel Hill, and Halley. [[Hayfield Secondary School]] used to be the only public high school for Lorton area students, but they now attend [[South County High School]].

[[Fairfax County Public Library]] operates the Lorton Library in the CDP.<ref>"[http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ Library Branches]." [[Fairfax County Public Library]]. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5147064&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Lorton CDP, Virginia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201162516/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5147064&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-12-01 }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.</ref>

==Economy==
In November 2020, the [[Fairfax County Board of Supervisors]] approved an interim agreement for a proposal to build one of the largest indoor ski facilities in the world in Lorton.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hand|first=Mark|date=November 23, 2020|title=Fairfax Board Approves Next Phase Of Lorton Ski Slope Project|url=https://patch.com/virginia/lorton/fairfax-board-approves-new-phase-lorton-ski-slope-project|access-date=December 2, 2020|website=www.patch.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Proposed indoor ski slope at I-95 landfill would be longest in North America|url=https://alpine-x.com/proposed-indoor-ski-slope-at-i-95-landfill-would-be-longest-in-north-america/|access-date=December 2, 2020|website=alpine-x.com}}</ref> The Alpine–X project will be constructed on the closed portion of the Interstate 95 Lorton landfill.

==Community services==
Library services in the area have expanded from bookmobile service to a store front library and now to a {{convert|10000|sqft|2|adj=on}} building. The Lorton Heritage Society has developed the Lorton History Garden on the library's south side.

Lorton is home to the Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant. The Noman Cole facility is the largest advanced waste water treatment plant in the Commonwealth of Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Treatment Plant Wins Award - Fairfax County, Virginia|url=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/news/treatment_plant_award.htm|website=www.fairfaxcounty.gov|language=en}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Rail===
*The [[Lorton station (VRE)|Lorton VRE station]] is located at 8990 Lorton Station Boulevard. It is currently served by the [[Virginia Railway Express|VRE]] [[Fredericksburg Line]], which runs between [[Fredericksburg station|Fredericksburg]] in the south and [[Washington Union Station]] in the north. This station is one mile north of the [[Amtrak]] [[Lorton station]], the northern terminal for Amtrak's [[Auto Train]], which runs between the Lorton station and the [[Sanford station (Amtrak)|Sanford station]] in [[Sanford, Florida]].

===Bus===
*[[Fairfax Connector]]: Routes 171 & 307
*[[Vamoose Bus]], a privately owned company, provides daily transportation from the Lorton VRE Station parking lot to [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]]/[[Madison Square Garden]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]], [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite news
|title=Vamoose Bus Will Open a Lorton Stop
|url=http://lorton.patch.com/articles/vamoose-bus-will-open-a-lorton-stop
|publisher=Lorton Patch
|date=2010-12-22
|access-date=2010-12-22
}}</ref>

==Emergency services==
Lorton Volunteer Fire Department Company 19 is one of 12 private, not-for-profit fire companies working in partnership with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to provide emergency and non-emergency services. On October 28th, 2023, the grand opening for the newly-created Lorton District Police Station commenced, which means that the [[Fairfax County Police Department]] officially has a station in the Lorton district of Fairfax County. The station was set up as part of a Public Safety bond approved by voters in November 2015 as a result of officers being drawn from their usual police stations (the Franconia and West Springfield stations), thereby leading to longer response times.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hunley |first1=Jonathan |title=Lorton police station and animal shelter set to open this fall |url=https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/lorton-police-station-and-animal-shelter-set-to-open-this-fall/article_1b3785e8-4672-11ee-9828-d75394a72ba8.html |publisher=InsideNOVA |date=9 September 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[George Ayittey]], economist, author and president of the [[Free Africa Foundation]]
* [[Oren Burks]], American football linebacker
* [[Ben Cook (actor)|Ben Cook]], Broadway and television actor
* [[Carly Fiorina]], CEO of [[Hewlett-Packard]] from 1999 to 2005
* [[Sabrina Harman]], corrupt US Army soldier
* [[George Mason]], one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the United States, often called the Father of the Bill of Rights
* [[Travis Morrison]], musician and frontman of the band [[The Dismemberment Plan]]
* [[Jonahan Romero]], professional soccer player
* [[Trevor Stewart (sprinter)|Trevor Stewart]], Olympic gold and bronze medalist at [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in [[track and field]]
* [[Andi Sullivan]], professional soccer player for the [[Washington Spirit]] and [[USWNT]]

==References==
{{Portal|Virginia}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Lorton}}
{{Commons category|Lorton, Virginia}}
* [http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/LOR Lorton—Great American Stations]—[[Amtrak]]
* [http://fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/laurelhill/history.htm History of Lorton prison and Nike missile site]
* [http://www.lortonvfd.com/ Lorton Volunteer Fire Department] 
* {{cite news |first=Paul |last=Duggan |work=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Almost-close encounter: Meteorite hits Lorton doctor's office |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012004767.html |date=January 21, 2010}}

{{Fairfax County, Virginia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1875 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Fairfax County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]
[[Category:Washington metropolitan area]]