The Story
Today, Ashburn is known for its data centers and suburbs. But how did it get its name?
Ashburn was originally called "Farmwell" after a nearby mansion of that name owned by George Lee, great-grandson of Thomas Lee from which Leesburg gets its name.
According to local legend, the name Ashburn came when lightning struck an ash tree on a farm belonging to prominent citizen John Janney. The ash tree reportedly burned brightly and smoldered for days afterward. This caused quite a stir and folks came from all over the area to check out the burning ash tree.
The first recorded use of the name Ashburn was around 1870 to describe Janney’s large farm; Ashburn Farm.
Around 1895, former Nevada senator William Morris Stewart moved to the area and purchased Ashburn Farm. The next year, the local post office became concerned about confusion between Farmwell and the similarly named Farmville, a village in Prince Edward County. There was a push for a rename, and possibly Senator Stewart suggested Ashburn.
