Sugarland Run History

A Sweet Beginning (1692)

The story begins in 1692, when Virginia’s colonial governor, Sir Francis Nicholson, sent David Strahan and his Rangers of the Potomac to explore the area for signs of Native American activity.

While scouting, the Rangers noticed a sticky sap on local maple trees. Over time, the juice hardened into a candy-like crystal, and it tasted remarkably sweet. Impressed by its sugar-like quality, they named the area “the Sugarland.”

These men are believed to be among the first European explorers in what is now 
Loudoun County, Virginia

Early Ownership: McCarty to Carper

• In the early 1700s, Captain Daniel McCarty of Westmoreland received the first official land grant, including the Sugarland.
• By the 1800s, ownership passed to Charles Eskridge, Clerk of Loudoun Court.
• In 1827, John Austin purchased 427 acres for $8,120 — land that makes up most of today’s Sugarland Run.
• After Austin’s death, the land passed through his wife Jane and daughter Georgia Carper, giving rise to the area’s nickname: Carper.
• Local roads like Route 637 were known as Scott’s Road, Scott’s Landing, or during the Civil War, Rowzie’s Ford Road.

Farming Days & Colorful Owners

• In 1919, Page Wrenn bought 475 acres for $14,000. He farmed corn, wheat, oats, rye, and livestock.
• Wrenn sold at a loss during the 1929 stock market crash.
• During the Depression, one memorable owner — an airplane-loving Oklahoman — earned a reputation for frequent (but harmless) crashes and eccentric behavior.
• In 1937, John T. Hepner, a cavalryman, bought the land and turned it into a dairy farm with his brother Oliver.
• The Hepner family sold the land in 1967 for over $1 million to Shadyside, a Maryland-based development company. A 17-acre farmhouse parcel was reserved for Mrs. Hepner, and the original stone farmhouse still stands today on Kale Avenue.

The Birth of a Planned Community

• 1969: Shadyside sold the land to Boise Cascade, which envisioned a modern, planned community just west of the Fairfax border.
• 1970–1971: Construction began. The first homes were sold even before they were built.
• January 1971: Sheila and Leslie Clark became the first residents, moving into 30 Thrush Road with their family.

Growth and Community Development

Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, Sugarland Run blossomed:

• 1972: Original Community Center and pool opened
• 1974–1979: Sugarland Elementary, Seneca Ridge Middle, and Meadowland Elementary opened
• 1979–1985: Final home phases, including Sugarland West and Sugarland Square, completed
• 1985: Community volunteers built the Creative Playground
• 1991: A new, modern Community Center was constructed due to aging infrastructure

Growth and Community Development

• In 1991, Sugarland Run celebrated its 20th anniversary with a weekend of festivities: a parade, 5K race, antique cars, food vendors, live entertainment, and fun for the whole community.