Broad Run, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Broad Run is a small, unincorporated community in Fauquier County, Virginia
. It is on Bust Head Road just north of Interstate 66
and State Route 55, near the Prince William County
line. Broad Run is named after the river that flows through the town. It has its own ZIP Code
of 20137 and its own post office, although the post office, while having the Broad Run name, serves a much larger area.
The town of Broad Run was a thriving community in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The decline of the railroads spelled the demise of the town, and all that is left of the town proper is less than five homes from that period, and a few stone foundations and chimneys for buildings that no longer exist. A ramp for loading freight trains still exists on the still active Norfolk Southern freight line, but is covered with weeds and in such disrepair as to be no longer useful. The most notable historical site in Broad Run is Chapman’s Mill, aka Beverley’s Mill, which can be found two-thirds of a mile ESE from the center of the town of Broad Run. The Battle of Thoroughfare Gap
, a seemingly inconsequential but eventually very important battle of the American Civil War
, was fought at Chapman's Mill.
The Broad Run zip code is an almost exclusively residential zip code which is mostly in Fauquier County VA, with the northeast section in Prince William County. The few businesses that can be found in the Broad Run zip code are generally home businesses or agricultural businesses. Notably, Sharkawi Farms grows a wide variety of spices that are sold locally and Meriwether Vineyard is home to Pearmund Cellars Winery. The Broad Run zip code, at its southern edge, also contains what was historically the town of New Baltimore. Much of what is currently considered the modern-day New Baltimore is not in the Broad Run zip code.
Several old building foundations and graveyards may be found in the large wooded areas in the Broad Run zip code, some dating back over 200 years.
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...
. It is on Bust Head Road just north of Interstate 66
Interstate 66
Interstate 66 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. As indicated by its even route number, it runs in an east–west direction. Its western terminus is at Middletown, Virginia, at an intersection with Interstate 81; its eastern terminus is in Washington, D.C., at an...
and State Route 55, near the Prince William County
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
line. Broad Run is named after the river that flows through the town. It has its own ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 20137 and its own post office, although the post office, while having the Broad Run name, serves a much larger area.
The town of Broad Run was a thriving community in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The decline of the railroads spelled the demise of the town, and all that is left of the town proper is less than five homes from that period, and a few stone foundations and chimneys for buildings that no longer exist. A ramp for loading freight trains still exists on the still active Norfolk Southern freight line, but is covered with weeds and in such disrepair as to be no longer useful. The most notable historical site in Broad Run is Chapman’s Mill, aka Beverley’s Mill, which can be found two-thirds of a mile ESE from the center of the town of Broad Run. The Battle of Thoroughfare Gap
Battle of Thoroughfare Gap
The Battle of Thoroughfare Gap, also known as Chapman's Mill, took place on August 28, 1862, in Fauquier County and Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. James Longstreet successfully drove back Union...
, a seemingly inconsequential but eventually very important battle of 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...
, was fought at Chapman's Mill.
The Broad Run zip code is an almost exclusively residential zip code which is mostly in Fauquier County VA, with the northeast section in Prince William County. The few businesses that can be found in the Broad Run zip code are generally home businesses or agricultural businesses. Notably, Sharkawi Farms grows a wide variety of spices that are sold locally and Meriwether Vineyard is home to Pearmund Cellars Winery. The Broad Run zip code, at its southern edge, also contains what was historically the town of New Baltimore. Much of what is currently considered the modern-day New Baltimore is not in the Broad Run zip code.
Several old building foundations and graveyards may be found in the large wooded areas in the Broad Run zip code, some dating back over 200 years.