Falls Church

Falls Church is a small, quiet, and beautiful historic Virginia city of about 14,000 residents. Formed in 1875, Fall Church is the smallest – and one of the wealthiest – municipalities in the Commonwealth. Because the local vibe is very “down to earth,” many people wouldn’t guess that Falls Church has the lowest level of poverty of any city – or county for that matter – in the entire country!

Encompassing just over 2 square miles, Falls Church Proper is actually much smaller than many people realize. Many areas referred to as Falls Creek – perhaps by bus or subway lines – are technically part of Fairfax or even Arlington County. For example, South Falls Church was originally part of the City back in 1875, and though it was returned back to Fairfax in 1887, the name stuck. Technically, Falls Church includes a short strip of Broad Streetnear West Arlington – from the Oakwood Cemertary up to Interstate 66, with Washington Street cutting right through the middle. You could walk through the entire city of Falls Church on your lunch break!

Falls Church may be small, but it’s a fully independent city with county-level governance. Therefore, it has its own school district – containing one school for each grade level. Falls Church City Public Schools includes 1 elementary school up to grade 2, another elementary school for grades 3-5, one middle school, and one high school – George Mason High School. As a tiny district with abundant funding, Falls Church Schools are among the top rated in the country, outperforming many private and parochial institutions in the Commonwealth.

Falls Church is rich in history, forming just after the civil war. Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn, built in 1845, predates Falls Church’s official City charter and is owned and managed by the city. This historic barn and home are open to the public on select Saturdays in summer. Tinner Hill Arch and Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation in Falls Church contain many artifacts and re-creations of African American history in the area, including the site of the first rural chapter of the NAACP. In two public parks on the boundary between Falls Church and Arlington County, you can visit two of the District of Columbia’s original boundary stones from 1791. In addition to historic sites and monuments, Falls Church is home to some of the most beautiful civil-war era architecture in the Commonwealth. Much of it has been restored, and the city’s active Historic Society works to preserve historically significant buildings and homes in Falls Church.

Falls Church is a great place to live, visit, shop, and play. Every year, the city holds a Memorial Day Parade with a street festival full of food, crafts, and charity booths. Falls Church is also known for its famous award-winning Farmer’s Market, hosted year-round on Saturdays at the City Hall Parking Lot.