not Burke Wrote:
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> Historian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If you live in Burke, there's a chance you may
> > have had a conversation or two with your
> > neighbors, family or friends about the little
> > place you call home.
> >
> > Ask any resident how they would describe the
> > community and the first words you’ll hear are
> > “family-oriented,” “welcoming,”
> > “community-centric.”
> >
> > But unlike some places nearby that are
> > incorporated as cities and towns — like
> Herndon,
> > Vienna or Fairfax City — Burke can be
> difficult
> > for some locals to point out on a map, much
> less
> > distinguish from other areas of Fairfax
> County.
> >
> > It might surprise some to learn some 41,055
> people
> > call Burke home.
> >
> >
> >
> > “When I moved to Burke, I thought more about
> > location than history. But after a while, you
> > learn that it has some interesting history.
> It’s
> > not a manufactured 20th century town like most
> of
> > the county, but a place with a long and
> colorful
> > history,” Tom McFarland said on a post on the
> > Burke Patch Facebook page.
> >
> >
> >
> > Though many of the historical places that once
> > defined the community have disappeared, it’s
> > inevitable residents will find reminders of
> > Burke’s history sprinkled along the major
> roads,
> > parks and businesses they visit daily.
> >
> >
> >
> > Whether or not residents connect with Burke’s
> > history, they do have a distinct community,
> locals
> > say; it may just be a bit harder to see.
> >
> > “Because Burke isn’t incorporated, I think
> its
> > identity can be a little nebulous even to
> people
> > who live here. But there’s a deep sense of
> Burke
> > as a really great place to live that unites the
> > old-timers who grew up here with the many who
> move
> > here from all over the country and the world,
> and
> > that makes it a true community. People may not
> > know exactly what it is or what its boundaries
> > are, but they identify with Burke," said Brian
> > Slawski, chair of programs Chair for the Burke
> > Historical Society (BHS).
> >
http://http//www.burkehistoricalsociety.org/
> >
> > Burke's name actually dates back as far as the
> > 19th century, when it took its name from Col.
> > Silas Burke, a farmer who built a house on a
> hill
> > — now known as the Silas Burke House) —
> that
> > overlooked Pohick Valley.
> >
> > "The house is located where the Orange and
> > Alexandria Railroad was originally constructed.
> > The railroad gave farmers access to markets in
> > Alexandria and Washington, DC,” said Brian
> > Slawski, chair of programs Chair for the Burke
> > Historical Society (BHS). “Today, Burke
> > residents still use the rail line brought by
> Silas
> > Burke to commute to Alexandria and D.C. So,
> > because of its history, Burke has retained much
> of
> > the character of a country town in spite of
> always
> > being strongly tied to its neighboring big
> > cities.”
> >
> > Many of the streets, shopping areas and
> > neighborhoods in the area have kept the name
> > "Burke." Aside from the larger area itself, the
> > Burke Centre Shopping Center, Burke Centre Town
> > Plaza, Kings Park Shopping Center and the Burke
> > Town Plaza all use the name.
> >
> > Burke Centre is one of the largest residential
> > communities in Burke, with more than 5,800
> homes
> > on about 1,700 acres. Every fall, the community
> > hosts the annual Burke Centre Festival, which
> > celebrates their neighborhood and all other
> things
> > Burke.
> >
> > Some other remnants from Burke's beginnings are
> > things residents pass every day — there’s
> the
> > Silas Burke House located off of Burke Lake
> Road,
> > which was originally built in 1824 and rebuilt
> in
> > 1854. And the Burke Nursery and Garden Center
> is
> > on the former grounds of the old Copperthite
> Horse
> > Race Track, which opened on July 4, 1908.
> >
> > “[It] entertained visitors from distances
> across
> > the country, yet no evidence remains of its
> > existence,” said Jon Vrana, president of the
> > BHS.
> >
> > A fun fact: Burke was once the potential site
> of
> > Dulles International Airport.
> >
> > For residents of Burke, though, history isn’t
> > all that keeps them connected.
> >
> > “Burke is also its people. It’s a community
> of
> > long-term residents and newcomers. Each brings
> a
> > spirit of community and cooperation, very
> unique
> > to the Washington, DC area,” Vrana said.
> >
> > That spirit of cooperation extends as much to
> > residents as it does to the local organizations
> > and causes that set them apart from other areas
> of
> > Fairfax County, like the Burke Volunteer Fire
> > Department (BVFD) and the Springfield/Burke
> Relay
> > for Life.
> >
> > Back in June, Burke residents helped raise more
> > than $160,000 for the Springfield/Burke Relay
> for
> > Life at West Springfield High School. They also
> > rallied behind a 9-year-old Burke child to
> raise
> > more than $18,000 to help clean up the 2010 oil
> > spill off of the Gulf Coast — just by setting
> up
> > a lemonade stand and selling T-shirts online.
> >
> > “Burke is a collection of comfortable,
> > residential communities ... each with its own
> > personality, but all focused on friendly,
> livable
> > communities,” said Braddock District
> Supervisor
> > John Cook, whose office is located in Kings
> Park
> > Library, one of three libraries in Burke.
> >
> > Burke might be known for its history, and its
> > community, but neigh make it easy to explain
> > exactly what makes Burke… well, Burke.
> >
> > And for that reason, it can be easy for the
> area
> > to be forgotten as Fairfax County continues to
> > grow and expand alongside areas like Tysons and
> > Merrifield.
> >
> > Braddock District Supervisor John Cook says he
> > believes the work his office does helps bring
> > attention to the more important Burke issues.
> > There are nearly 6,000 businesses in the
> greater
> > Burke area, according to Census data, and Cook
> > says redevelopment initiatives will help
> attract
> > new shops and help existing ones grow.
> >
> > “I don’t find it challenging to advocate
> for
> > my district, I find it enjoyable. We are
> bringing
> > Burke- and Braddock-centered transportation
> > initiatives to the top of the county list,
> worked
> > with other supervisors to hold down proposed
> tax
> > increases, and are working to fund school
> > renovations in a responsible manner,” Cook
> > said.
> >
> > There’s a lot of pride among residents and
> the
> > community for the place they call home — even
> if
> > they can't put a finger on what exactly that is
> >
> > “When I tell people about Burke, I explain it
> as
> > "the best of both worlds." DC is extremely
> close
> > and accessible, yet we live in a forested
> > community with virtually no traffic in our
> > neighborhood,” said David Flint on a post on
> the
> > Burke Patch Facebook page.
>
> How do you get off calling Burke Centre part of
> Burke? Burke Centre is an entirely separate
> hamlet/place/census designated place or whatever,
> just as is Fairfax Station, Springfield, Seven
> Corners, Franconia, Lincolnia, Shirlington,
> Fairlington, and Newington.
According to Google Maps, the neighborhoods along Huntsman Blvd are part of Burke.