Upperville, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Upperville is an unincorporated community
in Fauquier County
, Virginia
, United States
, located along U.S. Route 50
fifty miles from downtown Washington, D.C.
. Founded in the 1790s along Pantherskin Creek, it was originally named Carrstown by first settler Josephus Carr. Through an 1819 Act passed by the Virginia General Assembly
, the name was changed to Upperville.
John Updike
wrote of Upperville in his sardonic 1961 poem Upon Learning That a Town Exists Called Upperville.
.
Situated eight miles to the west of Middleburg
, the Upperville/Middleburg area is home to a number of prominent Thoroughbred
horse breeding
farms and country estates. Part of Virginia's famous Piedmont horse country, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show
was conceived by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany and first held in 1853. It remains the oldest such event in America. A Dulany family member owned Oakley Farm. It was the site of two battles during the American Civil War
. Near Upperville, California
n Henry T. Oxnard built a horse breeding
operation in 1903 that he named Blue Ridge Farm. Purchased by Rear Admiral
Cary Travers Grayson
in 1928, members of the Grayson family still own the property which too is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, others who came to live in the area included heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane
, who built the highly successful Brookmeade Stud, Llangollen estate
where Liz Whitney Tippett
lived for nearly six decades, Bertram and Diana Firestone's Newstead Farm, Sandy Lerner's, and the very prestigious Rokeby Farm
of Paul Mellon
. It was Mellon who donated the money to build Trinity Episcopal Church in 1960 which is at the center of the small community's social activities. For two days each year more than ten horse farms and centers in Upperville and Middleburg open their gates to visitors. In its 48th year, the Hunt Country Stable Tour raises money for the outreach programs of Trinity Episcopal Church
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Fauquier County
Fauquier County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,139 people, 19,842 households, and 15,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 21,046 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located along U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
fifty miles from downtown Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Founded in the 1790s along Pantherskin Creek, it was originally named Carrstown by first settler Josephus Carr. Through an 1819 Act passed by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
, the name was changed to Upperville.
John Updike
John Updike
John Hoyer Updike was an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic....
wrote of Upperville in his sardonic 1961 poem Upon Learning That a Town Exists Called Upperville.
National Register of Historic Places
Upperville has been designated as a Historic District and is a Virginia Historic Landmark that is listed in the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Situated eight miles to the west of Middleburg
Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per...
, the Upperville/Middleburg area is home to a number of prominent Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
farms and country estates. Part of Virginia's famous Piedmont horse country, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show
Upperville Colt & Horse Show
The ' is the oldest horse show in America. Started in 1853 by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany, the show was designed to showcase and improve local breeding stock in Northern Virginia...
was conceived by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany and first held in 1853. It remains the oldest such event in America. A Dulany family member owned Oakley Farm. It was the site of two battles during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Near Upperville, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n Henry T. Oxnard built a horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
operation in 1903 that he named Blue Ridge Farm. Purchased by Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Cary Travers Grayson
Cary Travers Grayson
Admiral Cary Travers Grayson was a surgeon in the United States Navy who served a variety of roles from personal aide to President Woodrow Wilson to chairman of the American Red Cross.-Career:Grayson was born to Dr...
in 1928, members of the Grayson family still own the property which too is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, others who came to live in the area included heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Cleves Dodge Sloane was an American heiress and socialite who owned a major Thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm....
, who built the highly successful Brookmeade Stud, Llangollen estate
Llangollen estate
Llangollen estate is an historic American horse and cattle farm located in western Loudoun County, Virginia on Trappe Rd. near Upperville at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Eight miles from the town of Middleburg, the area is home to a number of prominent Thoroughbred-breeding farms and...
where Liz Whitney Tippett
Liz Whitney Tippett
Mary Elizabeth Whitney Person Tippett was a wealthy American socialite and philanthropist who was a champion horsewoman and for more than fifty years, a prominent owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses.Born in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Elizabeth Dobson and her husband...
lived for nearly six decades, Bertram and Diana Firestone's Newstead Farm, Sandy Lerner's, and the very prestigious Rokeby Farm
Rokeby Stables
Rokeby Stables was an American thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm in Upperville, Virginia involved with both steeplechase and flat racing. The operation was established in the late 1940s by Paul Mellon who won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder in 1971 and again in 1986...
of Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
. It was Mellon who donated the money to build Trinity Episcopal Church in 1960 which is at the center of the small community's social activities. For two days each year more than ten horse farms and centers in Upperville and Middleburg open their gates to visitors. In its 48th year, the Hunt Country Stable Tour raises money for the outreach programs of Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church, and variations, may refer to:in the United States;* Trinity Episcopal Church , listed on the NRHP in Alabama* Trinity Episcopal Church , listed on the NRHP in Arkansas...
.