Herndon Station

Herndon grew up around its railroad station. The town received its name in 1858 when the Alexandria, Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad, later the W&OD, arrived and a post office was established in the newly built station. Herndon quickly became the commercial center for a booming dairy industry in the surrounding countryside, and mills, farm suppliers, and retail shops were established near the railroad depot. As businesses expanded, so did the population. Local resident Madeleine Sharp recalled that life in Herndon in the 1940s revolved around trains, including an early morning train for business people, a shoppers special in the late morning, and an evening theatre train, with even a wave of the arm or the sight of a frantic figure running across the lawn enough to bring the train to a stop and a welcoming nod from the engineer.

Herndon, Virginia · United States