Vienna (/viˈɛnə/) is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Vienna has a population of 16,473.[2] Significantly more people live in ZIP codes with the Vienna postal addresses (22180, 22181, and 22182), bordered approximately by Interstate 66 on the south, Interstate 495 on the east, Route 7 to the north, and Hunter Mill Road to the west, than in the town itself.
History
European settlement in the region dates to the mid-18th century. In 1754, prominent soldier and landowner Colonel Charles Broadwater settled within the town boundaries. Broadwater's son-in-law, John Hunter, built the first recorded house there in 1767, naming it Ayr Hill to recall his birthplace, Ayr, Scotland. That name was then applied to the tiny community. The town's name was changed in the 1850s, when a doctor, William Hendrick, settled there and the town renamed itself after his hometown, Phelps, New York, which was then known as Vienna.[5]
On June 17, 1861, the Battle of Vienna, one of the earliest armed clashes of the American Civil War, was fought in Vienna. A Union Army unit under Brigadier GeneralRobert C. Schenck approached Vienna from the east by train but was ambushed and forced to retreat by a Confederate force led by Colonel Maxcy Gregg. Several historical markers in Vienna detail its Civil War history.[6][7][8][9][10] In addition, in the town center lies the well preserved Freeman House; which, in 1861, was the polling place for the secession vote and was used during the war by both sides as a hospital. The house has been turned into a museum and gift shop.
The First Baptist Church of Vienna was founded in 1867, and the original church structure was built using Union Army barracks lumber obtained through the Freedmen's Bureau.[11] This church building was also the town's first black public school. The first white public school was built in 1872.
20th century
A permanent black elementary school was built, and was later named for its long-time principal, Louise Archer. In fall 1965, Fairfax County Public Schools were completely desegregated.[12]
Vienna has a warm temperate hot summer climate (Cfa), where the winters are cool, and summers are hot. The town is situated in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, where the annual average minimum is 0-9 °F.
Climate data for Vienna, Virginia(1991-2020 normals)
As of the 2020 census, there were 16,473 people, 5,424 households, and 4,215 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,741.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,444.5/km2). There were 5,686 housing units at an average density of 1,292.3 per square mile (499.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 74.4% White, 13.7% Asian, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, and 7.8% from two or more races.[2]
There were 5,424 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84, and the average family size was 3.19.[2]
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.[2]
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the town was $113,817, and the median income for a family was $124,895. Males had a median income of $88,355 versus $66,642 for females. The per capita income for the town was $49,544. About 3.7% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.[20]
Vienna's median home price was $820,000 in 2017,[21] one of the highest in the nation.
Governance
Vienna Town Council is composed of a mayor and six councilmembers.[22] The Council establishes policies, passes ordinances and resolutions, approves the Town budget, sets tax rates, approves land-use plans, and makes appointments to Town boards and commissions[23]:
The town is served by Fairfax County Public Schools. Vienna is served by three high schools (Oakton, Madison, and Marshall); two middle schools (Kilmer and Thoreau), and seven elementary schools. However, of all the schools Vienna students attend, only four public and one private are actually within the town limits: Cunningham Park Elementary School, Marshall Road Elementary School, Louise Archer Elementary School, Vienna Elementary School and Green Hedges School.
Vienna has one independent school, Green Hedges, accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. Green Hedges has students from ages 3– 5 (Montessori preschool and kindergarten program) through preparatory grades 1–8. Founded in 1942 by Frances and Kenton Kilmer, the School was relocated to the Windsor Heights area of Vienna in 1955.
Vienna also has one independent Catholic school, Oakcrest School, which was founded in 1976 and moved to its permanent campus in Vienna in 2017,[26] and two Catholic elementary schools: St. Mark Catholic School and Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School.[27][28]
MAE-East is located in Vienna. Along with MAE-West, it served as one of two locations, where all Internet traffic was exchanged between one ISP and other private, government, and academic Internet networks and served as a magnet for telecom and other high-tech companies focused on the Internet. In 1995 America Online (AOL) was headquartered at 8619 Westwood Center Drive in Tysons Corner CDP in unincorporatedFairfax County,[30][31] near Vienna.[32]
^"County of Virginia — Postal ZIP Codes"(PDF). Fairfax County Department of Information Technology — GIS and Mapping Services Branch. July 2007. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
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