Neighborhood Showcase
Lorton
Fairfax County, Virginia
Quick Facts:
- Zip Code: 22199, 22079
- Population: 17786
- Avg. Household Income: 60150
- Avg. Commute Time: 34.0 min
- Sales Taxes: 5%
Click here to view apartments in Lorton:
Fairfax County Information:
Learn more about other cities located in Fairfax County:
Description
Located south of Springfield and north of Woodbridge, Lorton spans about 12 square miles and is known to be the site of a former DC Prison and the NIKE Missile Facility.Commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt in 1916, the Lorton Correction Facility was used for DC until it was closed in November 2001. Parts of the prison area and Occoquan (now returned to Fairfax County and designated as Laurel Hill) are being considered for public parkland and reconstruction.
The NIKE Missile Facility, directed to provide a defense system against airplanes, was constructed in answer to the threats of the cold war during the 40s and 50s. Today, the facility is no longer in use and is now being considered as a potential site for the future museum of the cold war.
Other points of the interest include the State Park of Mason Neck, Pohick Church and Gunston Corridor Plantation. Lorton also is connected by VRE trains via the Fredericksburg line.
County Description
Fairfax County spans 399 square miles and is ranked as having one of the best school systems, police and fire departments in the Washington DC Metro Area. The area is also home to numerous businesses and companies, including several Fortune 500 companies -- Capital One, Freddie Mac, Nextel, Sallie Mae to name a few.
Housing opportunities are abundant throughout Fairfax County, and apartment communities are no exception. Although many travel by car, many residents also commute to work using the Metro.
Fairfax County's colleges include George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College. The county also boasts several major malls, including Fair Oaks Mall, Springfield Mall, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria.