Lovettsville, Virginia – A Growing City
Virginia is an southeastern U.S. state spanning from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains. The state has a long Atlantic coastline, and is one of the 13 original colonies. The state’s attractions include Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s plantation in Charlottesville, the Jamestown Settlement, and Colonial Williamsburg, which is a living history museum. In addition, the state is a popular vacation destination for families.
Lovettsville, Virginia is a rapidly growing city with a population of 1,613 as of 2010. It is projected to reach 2,694 by 2020, a growth of 67 percent in ten years. Lovettsville was first settled in 1722 and was known as “the German Settlement.” During the Civil War, it was one of the few communities in Loudoun County to vote against secession. Union soldiers made frequent stops in the area during the conflict.
The constitution of Virginia does not specifically mention independent cities, but it recognizes the principle. Since 1722, thirty-eight cities have been incorporated. Today, thirty-eight of these cities are considered first-class, while eight are second-class. However, they retain some autonomy, despite being political subdivisions of counties. The Virginia General Assembly passed a town-making and town-establishing act in 1680. This law allows cities to exercise some level of self-government and make their own laws and regulations.
Virginia has several large cities. The largest is Richmond, with a population of 457,672. Roanoke, Danville, and Alexandria are also large cities in Virginia. Virginia spans the Highlands of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the eastern lowlands along the Chesapeake Bay. The state is draped with American history, and is the 35th-largest state in area. There are about twenty-two million people living in Virginia.
