Philomont is an

unincorporated Unincorporated may refer to: * Unincorporated area, land not governed by a local municipality * Unincorporated entity, a type of organization * Unincorporated territories of the United States, territories under U.S. jurisdiction, to which Congress ...

community in western

Loudoun County Loudoun County () is in the northern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. In 2020, the census returned a population of 420,959, making it Virginia's third-most populous county. Loudoun County's seat is Leesburg. Loudoun C ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

. The name is derived from the Greek word ''philo'' meaning "beloved" and the French word ''mont'' or "mountain"; Philomont means "beloved mountain."

History

The village was established in the 19th century by

Quakers Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abil ...

. Minor skirmishes occurred in the area during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

and troops from both sides routinely moved through Philomont. The famed Confederate irregulars " Mosby's Raiders" (also known as

Mosby's Rangers The 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion, also known as Mosby's Rangers, Mosby's Raiders, or Mosby's Men, was a battalion of partisan cavalry in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Noted for their lightning strike raids on Union tar ...

) were active in the area throughout the war. Philomont lies within the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area.

Geography

Philomont is located in the heart of Virginia's "Hunt Country," just six miles north of Middleburg and about five miles south of

Purcellville Purcellville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population was 8,929 according to the 2020 Census. Purcellville is the major population center for Western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley. Many of the older structures remaining in Purcellvil ...

. The greater Philomont area is known for horse farms, large estates, winding gravel roads, rolling hills and stacked stone walls. Philomont lies on the flanks of the relatively small

Catoctin Mountain Catoctin Mountain, along with the geologically associated Bull Run Mountains, forms the easternmost mountain ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are in turn a part of the Appalachian Mountains range. The ridge runs northeast–southwest for ...

and to the west of the community lies the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virgin ...

. The village boasts an active community center, volunteer fire department and th
Philomont Store
as well as several bed & breakfast retreats. According to the Journal of the Philomont Historical Association the original Philomont Store opened in 1843 with the name Milhollen Brothers. Today the Philomont Store features a selection of wines, beer, and "pulled pork" sandwiches. The Philomont area has seen significant development over the past decade. The village is located in one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. However, the rural flavor of the area has been largely retained. In fact it is one of only two towns in the Commonwealth which residents must pick up their mail at the General Store. The region is popular with day-trippers from the

Washington, D. C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

metropolitan area to the east as well as bicyclists and motorcyclists. The village is located along the scenic and historic

Snickersville Pike The Snicker's Gap Turnpike was a turnpike road in the northern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. Part of it is now maintained as State Route 7, a primary state highway, but the road between Aldie and Bluemont (formerly Snickerville) in Loud ...

, a State Scenic Byway, at its intersection with Philomont Road (state route 630), which was formerly known as

Jeb Stuart James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart (February 6, 1833May 12, 1864) was a United States Army officer from Virginia who became a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb,” from the initials of ...

Road.. The "Pike" runs for approximately 16 miles from

U.S. Route 50 U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlanti ...

in Aldie to the village of

Bluemont Bluemont is an unincorporated village in Loudoun County, Virginia located at the eastern base of Snickers Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The village's center is located along Snickersville Turnpike ( Virginia Route 734), west of the incor ...

on Blue Ridge Mountain.

Annual events

One of the village's seminal annual events is the Fire Department Barbecue held in May. This fundraiser features slow cooked beef with BBQ sauce and all the fixings and sides including a baked potato, coleslaw, salad and green beans. The second annual Philomont PHair took place on April 24–25, 2010. The PHair is composed of local artisans, growers, plant vendors and commercial garden-themed retailers selling garden-themed items. Free parking was available at the Philomont Community Center. A delicious lunch was available for a nominal fee of $5.00. The entire community looks forward to the third annual Philomont Phair on April 30, 2011 and invites everyone out for an enjoyable "Day in the Country." A third event is the annual Philomont Horse Show, held on the fourth Saturday in April. The show has been running since the 1950s and is a major fundraiser for the Philomont Fire Department. It used to be a rated show (even olympian Joe Fargis showed at Philomont in the early days), but the show is now on the VHSA and DCAHSA local circuit. The well-attended show boasts 2 grass rings and holds all the regular VHSA classes as well as fun classes like a Hunter Derby and pairs classes.

Notable residents

The village earned a reputation with traditional outdoors men and the social elite when actor

Robert Duvall Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career spans more than seven decades and he is considered one of the greatest American actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Gold ...

purchased an 1800s horse farm near the General Store. Occasional evenings one would find the likes of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash at Duvall's cabin playing impromptu sessions along with Duvall. Philomont was the home of the Stephen Roszell family, early converts to the Methodist Faith, as the result of frequent visits from itinerant horseback riding Francis Asbury, co-worker with the Wesley brothers who brought their faith to this country. The Roszell farmhouse "Shelburne" still exists today, on the Snickersville Pike, with its adjoining family cemetery. Also still in regular use and a center of the community is the historic Roszell United Methodist Church, named in honor of The Rev. Stephen Roszell, one of the early Methodist preachers.

References

{{authority control Unincorporated communities in Loudoun County, Virginia Washington metropolitan area Unincorporated communities in Virginia