Editing The Plains, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = The Plains, Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = 2016-10-03 16 30 32 View north along Virginia State Route 245 (Fauquier Avenue) at Virginia State Route 55 (Main Street) in The Plains, Fauquier County, Virginia.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = The center of town
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Seal of The Plains, Virginia.png

<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = VAMap-doton-ThePlains.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of The Plains in [[Virginia]]
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Fauquier County, Virginia|Fauquier]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Lori Sisson<ref>{{cite web | url=http://theplainsvirginia.org/town-hall | title=The Plains, Virginia - Town Council }}</ref>
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1910
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_sq_mi         = 0.28
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.28
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5178192 | title=Explore Census Data }}</ref>
| population_total         = 245
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_ft             = 610
| coordinates              = {{coord|38|51|46|N|77|46|32|W|region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 20198
| area_code                = [[Area code 540|540]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 51-78192<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1496309<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.theplainsvirginia.org}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/the-plains-va-population | title=The Plains, Virginia Population 2022 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) }}</ref>
| population_est           = 239
| area_total_km2           = 0.71
| area_land_km2            = 0.71
| area_water_km2           = 0.00

}}

'''The Plains''' is a small incorporated town in [[Fauquier County, Virginia|Fauquier County]], [[Virginia]], United States. The population was 245 as of the 2020 census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5178192 |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> up from 217 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US5178192| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): The Plains town, Virginia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 18, 2016}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It is centered on the intersection of [[Virginia State Route 55|VA 55]] (John Marshall Highway) and [[Virginia State Route 245|VA 245]] (Old Tavern Road). The town of The Plains is situated off [[Interstate 66|I-66]]. As of November 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-13 |title=Town Hall - Town of The Plains, Virginia |url=https://www.townoftheplainsvirginia.gov/town-hall/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.townoftheplainsvirginia.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> the mayor of The Plains is Lori Sisson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Plains, Virginia - Town Council |url=http://theplainsvirginia.org/town-hall |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=theplainsvirginia.org}}</ref>

==History==
In the 18th century, the [[Colony of Virginia]] progressively expanded westward and allowed Europeans to begin to construct settlements in the area. Before and during the Civil War, the area was called "White Plains" on maps and a Post Office was named "The Plains" in 1831. A two-story house, with a blacksmith's shop above, was built in 1852. During the Civil War, [[John S. Mosby]] and his [[43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion|Mosby's Raiders]] used The Plains as part of their raiding area they controlled.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://theplainsvirginia.org/about-us| title=About Us - Our History| access-date=May 30, 2022| website=theplainsvirginia.org}}</ref> The Plains was incorporated as a town in 1910.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/where-we-live-the-plains-va-historic-rural-enclave-works-to-stay-that-way/2014/11/20/f2599bec-68f5-11e4-a31c-77759fc1eacc_story.html| title=Where We Live: The Plains, Va., is a historic rural enclave works to stay that way| date=November 21, 2014| author=Audrey Hoffer| access-date=May 30, 2022| website=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
The Plains is located in northeastern Fauquier County at {{coord|38|51|46|N|77|46|32|W|type:city}} (38.862698, -77.775464).<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=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> VA 55 leads southeast {{convert|10|mi|0}} to [[Gainesville, Virginia|Gainesville]] and west {{convert|4.5|mi}} to [[Marshall, Virginia|Marshall]]. VA 245 leads southwest {{convert|1|mi}} to [[Interstate 66|I-66]] at Exit 31. I-66 leads east {{convert|45|mi}} to [[Washington, D.C.]], and west {{convert|24|mi}} to [[Front Royal, Virginia|Front Royal]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.7|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, all of it land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, The Plains has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=693844&cityname=The+Plains%2C+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for The Plains, Virginia]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 275
|1930= 414
|1940= 372
|1950= 405
|1960= 484
|1970= 418
|1980= 382
|1990= 219
|2000= 266
|2010= 217
|estyear=2022
|estimate=239
|estref=<ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/the-plains-va-population | title=The Plains, Virginia Population 2022 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) }}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=245
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 266 people, 110 households, and 70 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 1,035.1 people per square mile (395.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 118 housing units at an average density of 459.2 per square mile (175.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 89.85% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] and 10.15% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.38% of the population.

There were 110 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,750, and the median income for a family was $45,313. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $33,542 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,909. About 13.7% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 14.8% of those 65 or over.

==Attractions==
The Plains is home to [[Great Meadow]], a large open-air and open-field facility that hosts several large events throughout the year, such as the [[Virginia Gold Cup]] [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]] horse race, which attracts over 50,000 guests on the first Saturday of each May, as well as being the home of the [[Team America Rocketry Challenge]] held in the same month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virginialiving.com/travel-exploring/a-day-in-the-country/|title=A Day in the Country |last1=Ridgway-Khalifa |first1=Daisy |date= March 21, 2012|website=[[Virginia Living]] |publisher=Cape Fear Publishing|access-date=June 27, 2016 }}</ref>

Archwood Green Barns Farmer's Market features fresh, homemade and local products. Hours are Sunday, 10:00&nbsp;a.m. to 3:00&nbsp;p.m. beginning the last Sunday in April through the 2nd Sunday in November. It is open the first two Sundays in December for the "Christmas on the Farm" show.

A museum exhibit, "Footprint to Change", is located at 4243 Loudoun Avenue near the train tracks that go through town. The building houses the Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County offices, library and archives as well as the museum.<ref>{{cite web| title=Virtual Museum| url=http://www.aahafauquier.org/Museum/VirtualMuseum/tabid/58/Default.aspx| work=Footsteps to Change| publisher=Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County| access-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>

Long Branch Baptist Church (est. 1786), the third oldest [[Baptist]] church in Virginia, lies {{convert|4|mi|0}} north of The Plains in the unincorporated area called [[Halfway, Virginia|Halfway]]. The evangelist William Broaddus, founder of Southwestern Seminary in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], Kentucky, was pastor there in the 1830s. His nephew [[John Broadus]] is often called "the father of [[homiletics]]" (preaching).

[[Wakefield School]], a pre-school through Grade 12 independent school, is located just south of the town limits.

Actor [[Robert Duvall]] once owned a restaurant in The Plains called "The Rail Stop", named after the [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]] [[B-Line (Norfolk Southern)|B-Line]], which runs through the town. He still makes his residence north of town at his {{convert|360|acre|km2|adj=on}} Byrnley Farm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.richmond.com/entertainment/robert-duvall-at-home-in-rural-virginia/article_3c3561af-7369-57b6-adfe-8086debc180e.html|title = Robert Duvall at home in rural Virginia}}</ref>
The town is also home to a seasonal [[corn maze]] owned and operated by a family in Charlottesville.

The [[National Association of Rocketry]] held NARAM-50 there in the summer of 2008.

The [[Masonic lodge]] was organized on a site near the present post office. The Plains Lodge U.D. held its first meeting on December 29, 1898, and continued to work "Under Dispensation" until the Grand Lodge of Virginia met in [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] on December 15, 1899, and issued the lodge a charter under the name of Cochran Lodge No. 271.

[[Beverley Mill]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1972,<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> and most of the town was listed as [[The Plains Historic District]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Fauquier/311-5001_ThePlainsHD_2014_NRHP_Final.pdf|title=NRHP nomination for The Plains Historic District|publisher=Virginia DHR|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20140606.htm|publisher=National Park Service|title=NRHP actions taken, 5/26/14 through 5/30/14|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Highways directly serving The Plains include [[Virginia State Route 55]] and [[Virginia State Route 245]]. SR 55 extends east and west, serving as a local service road to nearby [[Interstate 66|I-66]], while SR 245 provides the most direct connection to I-66 from The Plains.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:2018-10-11 13 07 39 View east along Virginia State Route 55 (Main Street) between Stuart Street and Bragg Street in The Plains, Fauquier County, Virginia.jpg|View east along SR 55 approaching SR 245
Image:CarterHotel-8368.jpg|Carter Hotel next to [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]] RR tracks
Image:HighSchool-8384.jpg|Old High School at west end of town
Image:TrainDepot-brick-8394.jpg|Train depot - brick
Image:TrainDepot-frame-8410.jpg|Train depot - frame
Image:FormerJail-8415.jpg|Former jail
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Fauquier County, Virginia|National Register of Historic Places listings in Fauquier County]], Virginia
*[[Virginia Plain]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|The Plains, Virginia}}
*[http://theplainsvirginia.org Town of The Plains official website]
*[http://www.virginia.org/site/cities.asp?city=The%20Plains virginia.org website]
*[http://www.greatmeadow.org Great Meadows]
*[http://www.vagoldcup.com Virginia Gold Cup]
*[http://www.visitfauquier.com Fauquier County tourism website]
*[http://www.cochran271.org Cochran Lodge No. 271 A.F. & A.M.]

{{Fauquier County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plains, Virginia}}
[[Category:Towns in Fauquier County, Virginia|The]]
[[Category:Towns in Virginia|The]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Fauquier County, Virginia|The]]