1956 Map of Herndon

About this map

Herndon serves as a primary hub of northern Virginia’s rural and early suburban transition in the mid-1950s, centered on the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. The landscape is a mix of traditional agriculture and emerging infrastructure, featuring the sprawling Dulles International Airport and the high-tech National Bureau of Standards Sterling Radio Laboratory. This period captures the region just before massive suburbanization, where small communities like Floris and Hattontown remain distinct from the larger town. Local life is anchored by institutions such as Oak Grove Sch and churches like Mt Pleasant Ch. Waterways including Cub Run and Horsepen Run carve through the terrain, while the Lee Jackson Memorial Highway facilitates movement toward Chantilly. The map also documents long-standing family landmarks and burial sites, including the Chestnut Grove Cem and smaller unnamed cemeteries.