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About Ashburn

Ashburn is a rapidly growing census-designated place (CDP) in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. At the 2010 United States census, its population was 43,511, up from 3,393 in 1990. It is 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington metropolitan area. Ashburn is a major hub for US Internet traffic, due to its many data centers. Andrew Blum characterized it as the "bullseye of America's Internet". == History == Ashburn was originally called "Farmwell" (variant names include "Old Farmwell" and "Farmwell Station") after a nearby mansion of that name owned by George Lee III. The name "Farmwell" first appeared in George Lee's October 1802 will and was used to describe the 1,236-acre (500 ha) plantation he inherited from his father, Thomas Ludwell Lee II. A section of Farmwell plantation west of Ashburn Road, a 580-acre (230 ha) tract, was purchased in 1841 as a summer home by John Janney, a Quaker lawyer who nearly became Vice President of the United States. Janney called the property "Ashburn Farm"; the name's first known appearance in writing is 1870 when he sold the property. It is likely he named the farm after family friends whose name was Ashburn.The Ashburn Presbyterian Church, the Belmont Manor House, the Broad Run Bridge and Tollhouse, and Janelia Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The Washington Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, are headquartered in Ashburn. == Geography == Ashburn is located in eastern Loudoun County at 39°02′37″N 077°29′15″W (39.0437192, −77.4874899) and its average elevation is 295 feet (90 m) above sea level. It is 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Leesburg, the county seat, and the same distance north of Dulles International Airport.