Rural Paradise Lost ?
BYmitch diamond
Everyone likes rural Loudoun ’ s charming historic villages , the sheer beauty of its 250,000 acres of farmland and woods , its many sparkling streams , and the hundreds of miles of winding country roads that connect it all . In recent University of Virginia surveys , Loudoun residents named its rural landscape as the thing they loved most about the county and the same was said in recent Envision Loudoun community meetings .
Beyond physical attraction , Loudoun ’ s rural economy , which is grounded in agriculture and tourism , provides significant economic vitality to the region . Loudoun boasts the largest horse industry in Virginia as well as the largest winery industry in the State . Its special beauty and authentic history draw many thousands of visitors throughout the year , contributing strongly to Loudoun ’ s $ 1.8 billion tourism industry and supporting thousands of jobs .
It is not surprising that economic and business leaders describe Loudoun ’ s rural character as the county ’ s “ brand ” that provides a significant competitive advantage for businesses throughout the county .
It is also important to note that taxes raised in rural Loudoun , combined with the low demand for county-provided services in these areas , makes rural Loudoun a significant positive contributor to county finances . And , of course , the open space , forests and clear streams in rural Loudoun provide a source of clean drinking water , a habitat for hundreds of species of birds and animals and a needed green relief to the
photo : jim Hanna Photography / sunset hills vineyardd
urban and suburban congestion in other places . Indeed , rural Loudoun is a valuable , delightful , necessary asset . But it is fragile and not a simple thing to protect .
What we call rural Loudoun is complex , interconnected and interdependent . Each of its elements contributes to the whole — and each element thrives in the setting and economy provided by the whole . The lovely vistas and delightful country roads of rural Loudoun represent the combination and integrity of hundreds of farms , hundreds of miles of tree-lined rural roads , hundreds of private residences , thousands of acres of privately-owned open space , woods and streams , hundreds of historic houses , barns and churches , and multiple historic villages retaining the look and feel of their eighteenth and nineteenth century origins .
This well-loved landscape , its rural villages and its vibrant rural economy has arisen from and was
4 wander I fall • winter 2021