Paeonian Springs, Virginia
Unincorporated community
Paeonian Springs is located in Northern Virginia
Paeonian Springs
Paeonian Springs
Paeonian Springs is located in Virginia
Paeonian Springs
Paeonian Springs
Paeonian Springs is located in the United States
Paeonian Springs
Paeonian Springs
Coordinates: 39°8′57″N 77°37′9″W / 39.14917°N 77.61917°W / 39.14917; -77.61917
Country United States
State Virginia
County Loudoun
Elevation
561 ft (171 m)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID1499832[1]

Paeonian Springs is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is located at the intersection of the Charles Town Pike (State Route 9) and the Harry Byrd Highway (State Route 7). Paeonian Springs was established in 1890 and is currently served by a post office. The town is named after Paean, the Ancient Greek physician of the gods.[2]

The Paeonian Springs Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[3]

History

Developers began construction of the town in 1871 and the town was established in 1890. It was originally developed as a resort town for citizens of Washington, D.C. trying to escape the city in the summer.[4] When developers advertised the town upon its completion they said it had "excellent water, mountain air and magnificent scenery".[2]

The Washington & Ohio railroad (later renamed Washington & Old Dominion) played an integral role in the town's development for its first 50 years, making eight stops in the town every day.[2]

By 1901 the town had three hotels, a downtown area, and a village green. By 1912, it also had a boardwalk, a church, and two private schools, among numerous other new shops.[2]

Beginning in 1920 though the town started to decline. This happened for a number of reasons including: the loss of the boardwalk, mill, and church; the Pure Food and Drug Act's passage; and the discovery of antibiotics.[2]

The Washington & Old Dominion railroad ended service in 1968. Twenty years later in 1988, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, built on the old railroad's right-of-way, was extended through Paeonian Springs to Purcellville, Virginia.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Paeonian Springs". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "History of Paeonian Springs". The History of Loudoun County, Virginia. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ Fishback, Mary (February 1, 2001). Loudoun County: a Family Album. Arcadia Publishing. p. 116. ISBN 9780738506708.
  5. ↑ Harwood, H.H. Jr. (April 2000). Rails to the Blue Ridge: The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, 1847 — 1968 (PDF) (3rd ed.). Fairfax Station, Virginia: Northern Virginia Parks Authority. pp. 106–109. ISBN 0-615-11453-9. LCCN 77104382. OCLC 44685168. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
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