McLean, Virginia

McLean is a community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. It is not an official city but a place people call home. In the year 2020, about 50,773 people lived there. McLean sits between the Potomac River and the town of Vienna. It is part of the bigger area known as the Washington metropolitan area.

Many important and wealthy people live in McLean. This is because it is close to Washington, D.C., where leaders of the country work. It is also near big buildings like the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency. One famous home in McLean is Hickory Hill. It was once the home of Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Robert F. Kennedy. Another special home is Salona. Long ago, it belonged to Light-Horse Harry Lee, a hero from the Revolutionary War.

History

The community of McLean got its name from John Roll McLean, who used to own The Washington Post. In 1902, he and two others bought a railroad that finished in 1906. This railroad connected the area to Washington, D.C. McLean named a railroad station after himself. The town of McLean started in 1910 when two smaller places, Lewinsville and Langley, joined together.

Geography

McLean is found on the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) in Northern Virginia. The center of McLean is about 8 miles northwest of downtown Washington, D.C. and 9 miles northeast of Fairfax, the county's main town.

The area is in the Piedmont region on the west side of the Potomac River. The river borders McLean to the north and east, and several small streams flow through the area. The United States Census Bureau says McLean covers 24.88 square miles (64.4 km²), with most of it being land and a tiny part being water.

As a nearby area to Washington, D.C., McLean is part of the bigger Washington and Baltimore area. It includes smaller places like Langley, Lewinsville, and West McLean. McLean touches many other nearby suburbs too.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

In the 2020 census, McLean had a population of 50,773. The middle age was 45.3 years. About 26% of people were younger than 18, and 20% were 65 or older. For every 100 girls and women, there were 93 boys and men, and for every 100 girls and women aged 18 and above, there were 90 boys and men aged 18 and above.

Almost all people, 99%, lived in towns or cities, with only a small part, less than 1%, living in the countryside.

There were 17,044 homes in McLean. About 40% of these homes had children under 18 living in them. Most homes, around 72%, were where married couples lived together. Some homes, about 9%, had only a man living there without a wife, and about 18% had only a woman living there without a husband. Around 17% of homes were just one person, and about 11% of these were people who were 65 or older living alone.

There were 17,948 places to live, but 5% of them were empty. Of the empty homes, 1% belonged to people who owned them but were not using them, and about 7% were for rent but no one was renting them.

2010 census

In the 2010 census, there were 17,063 homes. About 40% had children under 18 living in them. Most homes, around 70%, were where married couples lived together. A small number, about 2%, had only a man living there without a wife, and about 6% had only a woman living there without a husband. Around 21% of homes were not families. About 18% of homes were just one person, and 10% of these were people who were 65 or older living alone. The usual number of people in a home was 2.8, and in a family, it was 3.2.

The middle age was 45.1 years. About 27% of people were younger than 18, 4% were between 18 and 24, 19% were between 25 and 44, 33% were between 45 and 64, and 17% were 65 or older. About 48% of people were male, and 52% were female.

The usual money a home made in McLean was $164,888, and a family made $194,832. Men usually made $132,714, while women usually made $87,663. The usual money for each person was $87,073. About 1% of families and 3% of all people had very little money and needed help, including 3% of children under 18 and 3% of people 65 or older.

2012 estimates

In 2012, about 62% of people older than 16 had jobs. A very small part, less than 1%, were in the military, and most, about 61%, had regular jobs. Of those with jobs, 58% were working, and about 3% did not have jobs.

Most people with jobs, about 73%, worked in jobs like managing, business, science, or arts. About 18% worked in selling things or office jobs. About 6% worked in helping people, 2% worked outside or building things, and about 1% worked making or moving things. The biggest groups of jobs were in professional and managing work (about 28%), helping people like doctors and schools (about 18%), and government jobs (about 17%).

Living in McLean costs a lot. If the usual cost in the U.S. is 100, McLean’s cost is about 143. In 2012, the usual value of a home was $908,000. For homes with people paying for them, the usual monthly cost was $3,803, and for homes without people paying, it was more than $1,000. The usual monthly rent for renting a home was more than $2,000.

Economy

McLean is home to several well-known companies, including Mars and Geebo. Many businesses in nearby Tysons use a McLean mailing address because of how the postal service is set up.

Important government offices are also located in McLean. The Central Intelligence Agency has its headquarters in the Langley area, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is also based there. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center is nearby as well.

Arts and culture

The Fairfax County Public Library operates the Dolley Madison Library in McLean Fairfax County Public Library.

Parks and recreation

The McLean Little League is a fun place for kids to play baseball and softball. In 2005, the girls' team from McLean won the Big Championship in Portland, Oregon. They were also the runners-up in 2004 and 2013. There are nice parks like Mount Daniel School Park and Clemyjontri Park where families can enjoy the outdoors. Clemyjontri Park opened its doors in 2006.

Education

McLean residents go to schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools. This includes several elementary schools, two middle schools — James Fenimore Cooper Middle School and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Middle School — and two high schools, Langley High School and McLean High School. There is also a school called Mount Daniel School of the Falls Church City Public Schools in McLean.

McLean has many private schools for children from pre-school to 12th grade. Some of these schools are The Langley School, The Madeira School, Potomac School, Oakcrest School, along with several others.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways and roads

Several important roads pass through McLean, including the Capital Beltway, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Interstate 66, Dulles Access Road, Dolley Madison Boulevard/Chain Bridge Road, Georgetown Pike, and Old Dominion Drive.

Subways and buses

The Washington Metro’s Silver Line is close to downtown McLean. The Silver and Orange lines run near McLean between East Falls Church and West Falls Church. The McLean station on the Silver Line is a bit west of downtown. Other nearby stations include West Falls Church on the Orange Line, East Falls Church on both lines, and the Tysons station on the Silver Line.

WMATA (Metrobus) and Fairfax Connector buses travel through McLean, connecting downtown to the McLean Metrorail station.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from McLean, Virginia

McLean, Virginia, has been home to many well-known individuals. Some of these people include:

• Turki Al-Faisal, a former leader in Saudi Arabia
• Bradley Beal, a professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns
• Joe Biden and Jill Biden, the 46th U.S. president and First Lady
• Vint Cerf, a key figure in developing the Internet
• Alexander Ovechkin, a famous ice hockey player with the Washington Capitals

Many other leaders, artists, and athletes have also lived in McLean.