Falls Church, Virginia

The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Northern Virginia, meaning that it does not fall within the boundaries of any county or parish. Falls Church is one of only 41 independent cities in the United States, 38 of which are in Virginia. It is definitely a small town, with a population of only 12,400. 

Falls Church takes its name from The Falls Church, a historic Episcopal church that was established in 1732. The brick meeting house preserved on the site of the church dates back to 1769. In the 16th and early 17th centuries, Falls Church was part of the Anacostan Native American chiefdom. After Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676, English settlers began streaming into the area. It’s believed that the first official European settlement was established in 1699. Falls Church became the seat of Fairfax Parish around 1769, and a competing Methodist church moved in some years later. Falls Church changed hands several times during the Civil War. History says that Julia Ward Howe was inspired to write “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” after observing a review of Federal troops at Upton's Hill in Falls Church in 1861. Falls Church became an independent city in 1948, with the goal of establishing a “highly-acclaimed” school system. 

As befits the feel of a “small town” that Falls Church strives to maintain, there are a number of notable traditions the city maintains. The largest of these is the Memorial Day parade, which dates back at least to the 1950s, which contains bands, military units, civic associations, and fire/rescue stations. The event has expanded to also include a street fair with food, music, and a 3k “fun run.” A nationally-ranked farmer’s market is held every Saturday in the parking lot of City Hall. Falls Church is home to a sizable Vietnamese-American population, a fact that is reflected in the Saigon-inspired Eden Center, which is home to shops, restaurants, and bakeries. 

Commuters to and from the D.C. Metro area have the option of accessing the Orange Line in either Arlington County or Fairfax County. Although the stops are called “East Falls Church” and “West Falls Church,” neither one lies within city limits. The Arlington station is also a stop on the Silver Line. 

Falls Church was named the richest county in the United States in 2011. The median household income at that time was $113,313. Housing in Falls Church is correspondingly expensive: the median home value in 2013 was $646,580, and the mean was $729,540. Median gross rent was almost $1,600. 

Major employers in Falls Church include Falls Church City Public Schools, the City of Falls Church, Kaiser Permanente, and Koon’s Ford & Nissan. Three Fortune 500 companies have addresses in Falls Church - Computer Sciences Corporation, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman, they are physically located in Fairfax County. 

Interested in making your home in Falls Church, a prosperous and desirable place to live in Northern Virginia? Contact a licensed real estate agent today to learn more about homes in the area!