Historic & Heritage Resources

Loudoun County's Department of Planning and Zoning helps preserve Loudoun County's historic and cultural resources by:


  1. African American Survey
  2. Archaeological Sites
  3. Heritage Preservation Plan

Updating the African American Historic Architectural Resources Survey

March 17, 2023: Loudoun County, in coordination with the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee, has begun updating and expanding its African American Historic Architectural Resources Survey. As a result, residents may see surveyors in their communities performing this work over the coming weeks. 

Since the early 1700s, Loudoun County’s African American communities have been an important part of the county’s history and culture, and the survey is intended to document the buildings, settlements and landscapes that highlight those contributions.

The county has contracted with EHT Traceries, Inc. of Washington, DC to assist in documenting properties that may be important to include in this survey. Residents may be seeing Traceries staff in their neighborhood as they photograph and further document these historic sites. They are authorized by Loudoun County to conduct this research. If they would like to access a private property, they must first seek permission from property owner.

Contact Information

For more information about the 2023 survey, contact:

  • Department of Planning and Zoning, 703-777-0246 or email.
  • Members of the news media should call 703-771-5086 or send an email.

Initial African American Historic Architectural Resources Survey

In 2002 and 2003, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors contracted with History Matters to survey historic resources related to the history of African Americans in Loudoun County, Virginia. 

As a result of the survey, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources determined that seven of the African-American communities are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places: Bowmantown, Brownsville, Howardsville, Murphy's Corner, St. Louis, Watson, and Willisville.