Ashburn History

Ashburn’s beginnings trace back to the 1720’s, when Thomas Lee and Robert Carter tried to outwit each other by buying up pieces of the Virginia countryside.  Each sought to control the commercial destiny of the colony.  Lee, influenced by Britain’s success on the seas, held the theory that control of the waterways equaled control of the colony.  Carter on the other hand, thought by purchasing approaches to mountain passes, he could control land transportation.

The Lee and Carter feud lasted generations with each family trying to bankrupt the other by using questionable business practices.  Tobacco was the main crop, and while Lee owned the warehouses along the Potomac, he had to use Carter’s road to get his cargo out to sell.  So, the feud ended mostly in a draw with neither declaring a solid victory.

Local legend has it that Ashburn, originally called Farmwell got its new name after lightning struck an ash tree on Senator Stewart’s farm in 1896.  The ash tree is rumored to have burned and smoldered for a week and attracted spectators from miles around.  Since the Post Office had been pressing for a new name for the village, it was renamed after the ash burn.

During its heyday, 1880-1920, Ashburn was too far from Washington to be a railroad suburb, so it grew into the largest commercial center in Loudoun County east of Leesburg.  It was also a summer resort for people escaping the heat of the city.  The Ashburn House, built in 1882, was a popular hotel frequented by fishermen trying the excellent bass fishing in nearby Goose Creek.

Although there are no known Civil War battlefields in Ashburn itself, four are located close by within Loudon County.  They are Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville and Ball’s Bluff, which was the largest engagement of the war to occur in the county.  Ball’s Bluff also hosts a national cemetery and a hiking trail with interpretive signs which aid in the understanding this important and tragic part of American history.