The area has become a popular destination for families thanks to its rural atmosphere, excellent schools, low crime rate and spectacular beauty. While the communities are primarily residential in nature, all of the amenities of a major metropolitan area are just minutes away in Leesburg with plenty of shopping, cultural activities and entertainment facilities.

Recreational opportunities abound. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park offer everything from hiking and biking to river rafting and fishing. The nearby George Washington and Jefferson National Forests feature 1.8 million acres of scenic drives, hiking & biking, swimming, boating, horseback riding and other activities. Lake Arrowhead offers area's largest white sand swimming beach, fishing, boating, picnic shelters, volleyball, nature trails and scenic mountain settings.

Just a few miles from the community of Bluemont -- located in the Shenandoah Valley countryside with absolutely incredible views of the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains - is the town of Luray. Luray is known for the Luray Caverns, the largest, most popular caverns in the East and a Registered Natural Landmark. The community is also home to the Luray Reptile Center, Dinosaur Park and Petting Zoo that features a half-acre petting zoo with pygmy goats, tame deer, donkeys, llamas and Virginia's largest reptile collection.

One of the area's more popular attractions is the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad bed, the longest linear park in the nation stretching 45 miles from Purcellville to Alexandria. Situated at the terminus of the W&OD trail is the Purcellville Train Station. The train station provides residents and visitors with a picnic area and water fountain with a visitor center/museum planned for the site. The station will serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of the downtown business district, which is within walking distance of most locations in town.

Other attractions include local vineyards, a number of magnificent bed and breakfast inns, plenty of world-class golf courses, historical homes and farms, equestrian facilities and many Civil War sites. A number of historic battlefield parks are within a short drive including Manassas, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Antietam and Harper's Ferry.

This part of Loudoun County has a long and distinguished history, but is also looking to the future. From its very beginning, the area's dependence upon transportation links to the more populous eastern sections of Northern Virginia has remained strong, and is now more important than ever. Since the Virginia Department of Transportation widened Route 7 and extended the Toll Road to western Loudoun County, the area's growth has begun to accelerate.

The city's traditional dependence upon agriculture as its primary source of income has diminished as more and more residents are employed outside of the communities. The challenge is to accept change without losing the area's historic identity small-town charm.

Although the first land grant in the area was issued by Lord Fairfax in 1740, it was not until 1764 that Purcellville's first known settler, James Dillon from Buck's County, Pennsylvania, arrived. As might be expected, it would take a road to make a town; the early ox cart track that wound westward from Leesburg, known later as the "Great Road," served the purpose.

The Great Road became an authorized turnpike in 1785 and extended the turnpike system westward from Alexandria to Snicker's Gap, and beyond to Berryville and Winchester. With the construction of the Turnpike in 1832, travel through Purcellville began to increase -- the first stagecoach arrived in 1841. A railroad link was built to Leesburg prior to the Civil War, and travel to points further west were continued by stagecoach through Purcellville. When the railroad was extended to Purcellville in 1874, The town took Leesburg's place as the beginning of the stage route until the railroad was extended to Round Hill in 1875. (This railroad ceased operation in 1968.)

Although there were several marches and chases through Purcellville during the Civil War, the town sustained no major damage. However, a series of disastrous fires, the first in 1900 and then two more in 1914, virtually wiped out the business district, depriving the Town of much of its earliest architectural heritage. Despite the fires, many of the old blocks have been rebuilt and the business district has been extended considerably.

In 1725, surveyors of the 910 foot "round hill" southwest of town named Round Hill as the best route from Leesburg to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Country stores, a diner, cabinet makers, antique shops and an original railroad depot harmoniously blend with historic churches, establishing Round Hill's reputation of hospitality and sustaining its tradition of being a village dedicated to friendliness.

From 1875 to 1896, Round Hill was the terminus of the Washington & Old Dominion train line that carried tourists from the unhealthy summer heat of Washington, DC. During this time, the area known as Round Hill prospered. Several stores were opened, along with a Blacksmith shop, a wheelwright shop and a livery stable. A trip from Washington, DC to Round Hill was 51 miles and took around 2 to 2.5 hours and the cost was around 25 cents. Round Hill was the end of the line so the area became popular as a summer resort with many boarding houses. You could stay overnight for $1.25 or a week for $7.00.

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