Lorton is named for a town in the Lake District Park, Cumbria in England, the hometown of Joseph Plaskett who settled in the area running a general store and opened the Lorton Valley, Virginia Post Office on November 11, 1875.

Considerable development has taken place in Lorton during the last few years, including on the former prison grounds. Gunston Plaza Shopping Center is no longer the largest shopping center in the vicinity. The plaza includes a medical clinic, space for several business offices, grocery, restaurants, gymnasium, a senior citizen's center, and a number of shops and the post office. Library services in the area have expanded from bookmobile service to a store front library and now to a 10,000-square-foot (929.03 m2) building. The Lorton Heritage Society has developed the Lorton History Garden on the library's south side. Several new town centers have now opened up in Lorton over the past few years. They include new grocery stores, coffee shops, salons, and several hip restaurants.

Wikipedia articles for Lorton

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