Loudoun County (pronounced "LOUD-un") is a county located in Northern Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of July 2006, the county is estimated to be home to 268,817 people, a 58% increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fastest growing in the United States during that period. As of 2007, the town of Leesburg had been county seat for 249 of the last 250 years.

As of 2008, Loudoun County has the highest median household income in the United States at $107,207, beating neighboring Fairfax County at $105,241. The two counties have been trading places as the wealthiest county in the US for the past couple of years.

Economy

Traditionally a rural county, Loudoun's population has grown dramatically since the 1980s. Having undergone heavy suburbanization in the past few decades, Loudoun has a full-fledged service economy. It is home to world headquarters for several Internet-related and high tech companies, including Verizon Business, Telos Corporation, and Orbital Sciences Corporation. Like Fairfax County's Dulles Corridor, Loudoun County has economically benefited from the existence of Washington Dulles International Airport, the majority of which is located in the county along its border with Fairfax. Loudoun does retain a strong rural economy in the western part of the county. The Equine Industry has an estimated revenue of $78 Million. It is home to the Morven Park International Equestrian Center which hosts national horse trials. Loudoun has 19 wineries and over 25 active farms. Loudoun has rich soil and was in the late 1800s the fourth-largest wheat producer in the U.S.

Recent development

In recent years, Loudoun has become one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. The once rural county now has a mecca of industry centered around Washington Dulles International Airport. $1,000,000+ homes are springing up throughout the countryside. In light of this, the county has placed many building restrictions in an attempt to retain the rural feel.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 169,599 people, 59,900 households, and 45,044 families residing in the county. The population density was 326 people per square mile. There were 62,160 housing units at an average density of 120 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 82.79% White, 6.89% Black or African American, 5.35% Asian, 0.21% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.26% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 5.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.0% were of German, 11.8% Irish, 10.9% English, 9.0% American and 6.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

According to the 2006 American Community Survey 72.0% of Loudoun County's population was white; 7.6% of the population was African-American. 0.1% were Native Americans; Asians were 13.1%. 4.9% of the population was of some other race and 2.3% of people reported being of two or more races. Latinos of any race were 9.7% of the population. 21.0% of the population was foreign born, up from 11.27% in 2000 and 5.67% in 1990.

As of 2000 there were 59,900 households out of which 43.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 18.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.80% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 38.90% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 5.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

Unincorporated communities

Education

The county is served by Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). LCPS currently serves over 50,000 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade and is currently the fifth largest school system in Virginia.^[13][14] While there is a growing trend towards home schooling in the county, the vast majority of school age children in Loudoun County attend LCPS schools. Loudoun County schools recently ranked 11th in the United States in terms of educational achievement versus funds spent.^[15] Loudoun County also sends students to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a Virginia Governor's School in Alexandria, Virginia.

Loudoun County is home to six private schools: Loudoun Country Day School, a Pre-K–8 independent school located in Leesburg; Notre Dame Academy, an independent non-denominational day high school in Middleburg; the Foxcroft School, a boarding school for girls located in Middleburg; Dominion Academy, a Non-denominational Christian school, K–8 located in Leesburg; Leesburg Christian School, a K–12 school located in Leesburg; and Christian Faith & Fellowship School, a PreK–12 non-denominational Christian school and Loudoun County's only private school accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.

In terms of post-secondary education, Loudoun County is home to a variety of colleges and universities, including: Patrick Henry College; a branch of Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling; George Washington University (satellite campus); George Mason University (satellite campus); Marymount University (satellite campus); Old Dominion University (satellite campus); Shenandoah University (satellite campus); and Strayer University (satellite campus). Loudoun is also home to the Janelia Farm Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

From Wikipedia