The census data used is from quickfacts and the information is from the year 2010. The land area in square miles for Lorton, Virginia is 5.30 and there was 3,508.7 persons per square mile in 2010. The total population in 2010 was 18,610. The population did rise from the previous census shown in 2000. The increase was from 17,786 people to 18,610 in 10 years. Of all the men and women in Lorton, females accounted for 52.3% of all the population.
The racial divide is as follows: White persons in 2010 is 39%, Black persons account for 29.9%, Asians are listed as 18.2%, Hispanics total 16.7%, white persons not hispanic calculate to 31.5%, persons of two or more races are at 5.1% and Alaskans and Hawaiians account for less than 1%.
I used Census tract 4222 for my area. The Census tract 4222 showed there population to be 2,332 people. The break down of race from this tract was as follows: Whites 44%, Asians 37%, Blacks 12%, Hispanics 5% and 2% other groups. I was astonished that in this tract, 37% were Asian because I just don't see that on a day by day basis and I was also shocked that 17% were Black. I would have sworn that there were more Blacks in my area because I see more of them around the neighborhood. This made me realize between Asians and Blacks, Asians stay more to themselves, inside homes or at work and blacks tend to be outside more. This can be fore many different reasons but I choose not to assume because there can be many reasons for both scenarios.
I was surprised to see that foreign born persons in Lorton, Virginia between 2006-2010 are listed as 35.6%. This percentage comes from the American Community Survey (ACS). The education level for high school settles at 90.7% and for a Bachelors degree it lowers to 47.2% which is still higher than the Commonwealth of Virginia's total. Last but not least, the ACS states median household income for Lorton, Virginia from 2006-2010 is $80,552 compared to the Virginia's total of $61,406. Even though the high diversity of the city has been creeping into Lorton, Virginia, the household ownership numbers continue to rise from 2006-2010 in the total percentage of 60.3%.
The census data does show growth throughout the ACS survey between 2006 and 2010 and that is fabulous news since we just purchased our home in 2010 and we are looking for gradual progress in the area.
I believe the main increase in the changes to the growth in our area is due to the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) of the military base. With the closing of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda and the opening of the Ft. Belvoir Regional Hospital this brought new troops to the area. The area in which I live is directly affected by what happens with the military installation including population growth!
The diversity in the area is seen by the different restaurants in the area. There are more ethnic restaurants in our area which is paralleled with the census tract.
I like my neighborhood and all the difference it brings.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Lorton, Virginia
If only the dirt could talk! So many changes has happened in this little town just south of Washington, DC. It is famously known as the area where George Washington lived and died but just 3 miles to the south of Mt. Vernon is such history that dates back farther than just our county, America.
The changes that have taken place since the conception from The United States of America and the beginning of the Lorton, Virginia are incredible that they took place in my back yard.
First and foremost, the town of Lorton was established in 1875 when a man by the name of Joseph Plankett established an area south of Fairfax County by placing a post office. Joseph Plankett named the post office Lorton Valley after a place where he and his family had immigrated from in Cumberland County in England.
Lorton and surrounding areas had to change with the construction of the Telegraph Station between Washington DC and Quantico. Joseph Plankett and his family ran the post mail through this new train station. This is what helped begin the building of Lorton, Virginia.
During the Civil War father's and son where involved in the fight and women where detained as possible spies due to the close proximity to the rail and water ways.
In the early 1916, the government of the United States proclaimed land in Lorton and built The Lorton Reformatory for serious offenders. Most of the bricks in the construction of the prison was made my prisoners and built by prisoners. One very interesting point of the Lorton Reformatory is that in 1917 when picketing for the Women Suffrage Movement to vote were being challenged by the National Woman's Party, 168 women where in prisoned at this facility until the constitution was changed.
Another factor in glabolization for the Lorton area is that on the site of the Lorton Reformatory in 1954 began the building of the of USA's Anti-aircraft defense positioning sites for the Nike missiles. Later on it was confirmed that the Lorton site was a site that contained the Nuclear Nike missiles. The building of this defense site was due to the increasing tension between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The nuclear missiles where removed in 1960 and the site was no longer considered a defense position. The radar towers remain and are used by the Fairfax County Parks Authority.
Lorton, Virginia is located right outside the gates of Ft. Belvoir and the many global issues that are conducted on this military facility are increasing as the global consequences increase. Ft. Belvoir is the home of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) which deals with global issues daily.
This is just a small example of how my neighborhood is changing with the times and has become a part of the globalization of our world.
The changes that have taken place since the conception from The United States of America and the beginning of the Lorton, Virginia are incredible that they took place in my back yard.
First and foremost, the town of Lorton was established in 1875 when a man by the name of Joseph Plankett established an area south of Fairfax County by placing a post office. Joseph Plankett named the post office Lorton Valley after a place where he and his family had immigrated from in Cumberland County in England.
Lorton and surrounding areas had to change with the construction of the Telegraph Station between Washington DC and Quantico. Joseph Plankett and his family ran the post mail through this new train station. This is what helped begin the building of Lorton, Virginia.
During the Civil War father's and son where involved in the fight and women where detained as possible spies due to the close proximity to the rail and water ways.
In the early 1916, the government of the United States proclaimed land in Lorton and built The Lorton Reformatory for serious offenders. Most of the bricks in the construction of the prison was made my prisoners and built by prisoners. One very interesting point of the Lorton Reformatory is that in 1917 when picketing for the Women Suffrage Movement to vote were being challenged by the National Woman's Party, 168 women where in prisoned at this facility until the constitution was changed.
Another factor in glabolization for the Lorton area is that on the site of the Lorton Reformatory in 1954 began the building of the of USA's Anti-aircraft defense positioning sites for the Nike missiles. Later on it was confirmed that the Lorton site was a site that contained the Nuclear Nike missiles. The building of this defense site was due to the increasing tension between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The nuclear missiles where removed in 1960 and the site was no longer considered a defense position. The radar towers remain and are used by the Fairfax County Parks Authority.
Lorton, Virginia is located right outside the gates of Ft. Belvoir and the many global issues that are conducted on this military facility are increasing as the global consequences increase. Ft. Belvoir is the home of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) which deals with global issues daily.
This is just a small example of how my neighborhood is changing with the times and has become a part of the globalization of our world.
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