Herndon, VA

Herndon bills itself as having "Small Town Charm with Big City Connections," due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. With a population of about 23,000, Herndon is the largest of three towns in Fairfax County, Virginia. Herndon is among the more affluent of Virginia communities.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Herndon maintains an active Neighborhood Resources Department, which is responsible for planning and directing community, neighborhood and housing-related activities. The department also works with Fairfax County and other town agencies to create a sense of community, develop neighborhood leaders, maintain and improve local properties and promote an entrepreneurial environment to improve the quality of life in Herndon.

Herndon's Parks and Recreation Department won the 2008 Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. The award marks the fourth time the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department received the Gold Medal. The department oversees the Herndon Community Center, which offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, racquetball courts, pool, spa, sauna, tennis and gymnasium. The department also produces many special events, including the Herndon Festival, Music under the Stars, the Labor Day Jazz Festival and Nature Fest.

Neighborhoods and districts of Herndon accommodate around 7,200 houses, out of which more than 6,900 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, more than 4,500 are owner-occupied, while renters occupy around 2,300 houses. People of Herndon live very close to their neighbors; the housing density is approximately 1,700 houses or condos per square mile.

The walkability of Herndon is very good. Many grocery stores, restaurants and schools are within a mile from the center of the city.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Herndon enjoys a vibrant economy dominated by IT industry. The city is a part of the Dulles Technology Corridor, which includes AOL, Verizon Business and Network Solutions and Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

Proximity to Washington, D.C., supports small, medium and large businesses. Some large corporations, such as Airbus North America, have their headquarters in Herndon.

EVENTS

Herndon hosts numerous celebrations and festivals each year. Community events include:

• Taste of the Town: Sponsored by the Herndon Council for the Arts each April, Herndon's Taste of the Town offers visitors and residents a chance to sample the foods from local eateries. This family-friendly event also features live and silent auctions, a raffle and a bar.
• Friday Night Live!: Friday Night Live! Is a series of free weekly concerts held from May to August in Herndon. All events are held on the Town Green, and local restaurants offer food for sale.
• The Herndon Festival: Each June, Herndon hosts the four-day Herndon Festival, a popular event that draws crowds from all over the region. The festival features carnival rides, performances and exhibits.
• The Labor Day Jazz and Wine Festival: Every Labor Day, Herndon holds its annual Jazz and Wine Festival. This event is held on the Town Green and features jazz performers from around the region and country. Wine tastings are offered by as many as a dozen wineries from around the state. Handmade items are displayed for sale during the event as well.
• Annual Motorcycle Poker Run: Herndon's annual motorcycle event benefits the city's Fraternal Order of Police.
• NatureFest Celebration: Held in September at Runnymede Park, NatureFest encourages visitors to explore educational nature stations set up throughout the park. These stations include information and displays about subjects such as native plants, bats, water quality, raptors and butterflies. Live entertainment, animals and crafts are all part of the fun at this event.
• Annual Business Expo: The Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual business expo, which provides product-and-service information to more than 80,000 attendees each year.

Other attractions in the area include the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum, Sully Plantation, Frying Pan Park, Reston Town Center, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, George Washington's home at Mount Vernon and Manassas National Battlefield Park.

BEST BETS

Herndon Centennial Golf Course: One of Northern Virginia's premier public golf course, Herndon Centennial Golf Course is a 71-par course set on rolling terrain. It has been voted one of the top 10 courses for women in the Washington, D.C., area by Pros N' Hackers Magazine.

Every residence within the Herndon borders is within a mile of a public park. The city's parks include: Alabama Drive Park, Stanton Park, Runnymeade Park, Bruin Park and Chandon Park.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Elden Street Players: The Elden Street Players is a regional theater group that has won widespread acclaim for its work. The group has been voted the top theater group in the Washington, D.C., area. The season offers a variety of shows, including a series for young audiences.
• The Herndon Depot Museum: The Herndon Depot Museum is a popular tourist attraction. The museum is housed in a building that dates from the 1850s, which served as a working train station until 1968.The museum holds a collection of railroad memorabilia and other important local artifacts.

EDUCATION

Several major colleges and universities are within easy commuting distance of Herndon, including Potomac College and George Mason University, both of which are in Washington, D.C., and Maymount and George Washington Universities in Arlington.

LOCAL MEDIA

Herndon publishes several local newspapers: the Herndon Times, The Herndon Connection and The Herndon Observer. It is also served by the The Washington Post and The Washington Times.