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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 km˛ (2.0 mi˛). None of the area is covered with water.
Falls Church is the smallest county-level political subdivision in the United States by area.
While parts of neighboring Fairfax County share the Falls Church mailing address, the city remains an independent city. Falls Church also borders Arlington County.
The church from which the city takes its name was first built in 1734 of wood. George Washington was one of the churchwardens. It continues to be part of the Episcopal Church, although it is also now affliated to the Anglican Communion Network.
For thousands of years, up to about 1667, Native Americans inhabited the area in and around present-day Falls Church. Today's Broad Street and Great Falls Street follow their prehistoric footpaths.
In the late 17th century16th century 17th century 18th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601- 1700. During this period, the power of England and the United Provinces increased; while that of, settlers from the from the TidewaterThe Tidewater region of Virginia is the southeastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia, centered on Hampton Roads. It is generally considered to include: Accomack County Isle of Wight County James City County Northampton County Southampton County Yo region of Virginia began to migrate to the area. The former "Big Chimneys" house, located on Annandale Road about a block west of Maple Ave., was built in 1699Events January 26 Treaty of Karlowitz signed March 30 the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa. May 1 Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville founds the first European settlement in the Mississippi River Valley Births February 17 Georg Wenzeslaus v. Thus 1699 is generally accepted as the founding date of Falls Church.
In 1734 a wooden church was built to serve Truro ParishA colonial parish of the Anglican Church in northern Virginia. It was created in 1732 when Hamilton Parish was divided along the Occoquan River and Bull Run. Truro Parish initially covered all of the land north of those rivers up to the Potomac, and westw, which had been formed two years earlier from a larger parish centered in QuanticoQuantico,_Virginia The town. MCB_Quantico The largest US Marine Corps Base (from list of bases).. By 1757Events March 14 On-board the HMS Monarch Admiral John Byng is executed by firing squad for neglecting his duty. June 23 Indian Mutiny: Battle of Plassey 3000 British troops under Robert Clive defeat a 50,000 strong Indian army under Siraj-ud-Dawlah at Pla, the building was commonly known as "The Falls Church", as it was along the main north-south road to the Great Falls on the Potomac. The present-day brick church, designed by James Wren replaced the wooden one in 1769, at which point it became the seat of the newly-formed Fairfax Parish .
By the start of the American Civil War, Falls Church had seen an influx of Northerners seeking land and better weather. Thus the township's vote for Virginian secession was about 75% for, 25% against. The town changed hands several times during the early years of the war. Confederate General "Pete" Longstreet was headquartered at Home Hill (now the Lawton House on Lawton Street) following the First Battle of Manassas. The world's first wartime aerial reconnaissance was carried out from Taylor's Tavern (near Seven Corners) by Thaddeus Lowe and his hot-air balloon. Falls Church later became the world's first target of an aerially-directed bombardment, courtesy of Lowe and his balloon.
Following Reconstruction, Falls Church was a sleepy rural community. It gained township status in 1875. A 1915 law passed by Commonwealth allowing segregation led to the establishment of the NAACP's first rural chapter, which successfully prevented the measure from being enforced in the area. In 1948, Falls Church became an independent city in order to control its own school system.