Timeline of Great Falls, Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a timeline of the history of the census-designated place (CDP) of Great Falls, Virginia, USA.[1]
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- c. 1400 - Land inhabited by indigenous peoples, likely the Doeg people.[2][3]
- 1608 - Expedition of region by Captain John Smith.[4]
- c. 1700s - Colonial farm settlements begin to form in the Great Falls area.[5]
- c. 1750s - Area surveyed by George Washington[6][7]
- 1785 - The Patowmack Canal, which George Washington partially funded, began operating to give small barges the opportunity to skirt around the falls and to distribute manufactured goods and raw materials.
- c. 1800s - Area was unofficially referred to as the village of Forestville, with two churches, a grist mill and sawmill, a general store, and a two-room schoolhouse.[8]
- 1861 - Battle of Dranesville Civil War skirmish occurred on December 20, 1861.[8]
- 1878 - Great Falls Post Office opens.[8]
20th century
- 1902 - John Roll McLean, Stephen Benton Elkins and Jean-Pierre Guenard purchase a charter for the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad.[9]
- 1906 - Railroad completed, connecting the Great Falls area with Washington, D.C.[10]
- 1909 - Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad extends to Great Falls Park.
- 1920 - Great Falls Grange established.[8]
- 1942 - Community fire department is formed.[8]
- 1945 - Community members begin referring to the Forestville area as "Great Falls" and encourage the name change.[8]
- 1955 - Area formally renamed Great Falls in local organizations and offices, including the Fire Department.[11]
- 1959 - On November 15, 1959, the second Great Falls Post Office opens in theold Forestville School House, which is preserved on the Grange grounds.[8]
- 1966 - Great Falls Park is established by the National Park Service.
- 1990 - Population: 6,945