The City's history dates back to the late 1600's when it was an early colonial settlement shared with native Indians. The community grew up around The Falls Church, which was founded in 1734 and whose congregation has included President George Washington and Virginia statesman George Mason. Falls Church slowly grew around the intersection of two Indian trails leading to the lower Potomac River falls, not far from the current intersection of Leesburg Pike and Lee Highway. By 1875 it gained township status.
Falls Church became an independent City in 1948 led by parents determined to improve the quality of local schools. In addition to establishing an excellent independent school system, a responsive council-manager form of government was formed. Citizens are served by their own Police Department, Volunteer Fire Department, water system, public library, Recreation and Parks Division and Public Works Division.
Named an All-America City in 1962, Falls Church has also earned the Tree City USA award for 17 consecutive years from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The Falls Church Tricentennial Committee published this information in a brochure titled "The City of Falls Church Virginia: An Historical Guide and Map" in March 1995. Copies are available from the Communications Office, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22046-3332.
This brochure was prepared to honor Falls Church's heritage as the city nears the 300th anniversary of its settlement. The sites and structures described below illustrate how the community has grown and developed since 1699.
Falls Church is an independent city lying just a few miles from the national capital. This proximity has been a major influence on its development, especially over the last century. Falls Church is small in area (now 2.2 square miles) and population (10,377 in 2000), but its heritage predates America's colonial era.
As far back as 12,000 years ago, before the English came to Jamestown in 1607, the gently rolling landscape of Falls Church was traversed by Native American hunter-gatherers. As they moved inland from the north and east, they traveled two trails that intersected within the present boundaries of Falls Church. After a series of wars ending in 1677, they left the region and settlers gradually moved in. With each building and landmark that appeared after settlement began, a sentence was added to the narrative of Falls Church's history.
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