Bealeton, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bealeton is a small unincorporated community in Fauquier County, Virginia, at the intersection of State Route 28 and U.S. Route 17. Public schools in Bealeton include Grace Miller Elementary, Cedar Lee Middle, and football state power Liberty High School. Bealeton is home to its own Post Office zip code, 22712, and has a population of 6,884 (US Census Report, 2000).

A large amount of development has occurred in the community since 1995, but it remains highly rural and boasts only two stop lights. Bealeton itself grew up as a railroad stop and the old railroad station can be seen in the Bealeton Station development in front of the new Bealeton Library building.

[edit] History

In 1863, Union troops under the command of Brig. Gen. George Gordon Meade ransacked Bealeton, burning buildings and destroying the railroad track and telegraph poles.

In 1936, the Bealeton-Remington Ruritan Club was organized with 42 members. It is the nation's 26th Ruritan club.

Cedar Lee Middle School has been in operation since the 1950s. It opened its newest wing in 2001. The name comes from the two voting districts it serves, Cedar Run District and Lee District.

[edit] Landmarks

Bealeton is home to The Flying Circus Airshow. The airshow runs every Sunday from the beginning of May to the end of October. Founded in 1971, it is one of the few places in the world where customers can actually pay to ride in vintage barnstormer-era biplanes every Sunday. In the backdrop of the Virginia countryside and mountains, World War II era Boeing Stearmans, WACOs, Piper Cubs and Pitts Specials put on a show that includes comedy routines, wing-walking, and stunning aerobatics. It is the home of "The Flying Farmer" Charlie Kulp, who has been performing a comedy routine to audiences all over North America for over 3 decades and is a member of the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame. It also hosts an annual hot air balloon festival that takes place on the third weekend of August every year, with airshows on both Saturday and Sunday.

Bealeton is also home to the Cedar Lee corn maze. The maze is in the shape of a butterfly. It covers five acres (20,000 m²) and has two miles (3 km) of trail.