Bealeton, Virginia

Bealeton
Census-designated place (CDP)
Bealeton Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Fauquier
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	22712

Bealeton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fauquier County, Virginia, at the intersection of State Route 28 and U.S. Route 17. The population as of the 2010 Census was 4,435. Public schools in Bealeton include Grace Miller Elementary, Cedar Lee Middle, and Liberty High School. Bealeton is home to its own Post Office with ZIP Code, 22712. On May 15, 2006, ground was broken on a 5,960-square-foot (554 m²), $2.3 million post office to replace the old one. It was completed in 2007.

History

Bealeton was originally a stop on the former Orange and Alexandria Railroad (absorbed ultimately into the Southern Railway in 1894, now Norfolk Southern), and the old railroad station building can be seen in the Bealeton Station development in front of the new Bealeton Library building. The building was previously located on County Road 805, Bealeton Rd. which runs parallel and near the railway. The area was a major traveling point during the Civil War and saw many skirmishes related to nearby engagements.

Despite the presence of southern troops during the early years of the war the northern troops succeeded in pushing the Confederate line south of the Rappahannock River and eventually into Fredericksburg. This move led to the control of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, thus allowing the Union army to transport supplies deep into southern Virginia.

Bealeton lost importance with the decline of railroad travel and became a bedroom community of Warrenton, Virginia and Northern Virginia primarily. This was aided by the comprehensive plan that made authorized water and sewer availability in 1967. Bealeton retains many large farms and provides a unique blend of agriculture, commercial, and residential development.

Local attractions

Since 1970, Bealeton has been home to one of the last barnstorming air shows in America, simply called the Flying Circus. Open every Sunday, May through October, activities include All-American barnstorming, wing walking, parachuting, aerobatic performances and open-cockpit biplane rides.

External links

• Bealeton Library
• Bealeton Station Depot