The Sugar Land - hydrology, ecology, history, and food in Northern Virginia

[johanna_hypatia]

Indian Givers Series vol. 1

When I first visited Northern Virginia twenty years ago, I noticed the name Sugarland all over a certain area and wondered what kind of name "Sugarland Run" could be. I just found out the full story behind the name, and the answer takes us deep into Nova's topography, ecology, and history

Comments

[hrolleif]

Interesting. Are these trees on a high elevation? I always thought sugar Maples like colder weather that I would have thought present anywhere in Virginia. We have a lot of maple tree/syrup farms around here and they usually harvest it during the early spring.

That's interesting about the park. It reminded me of my old home area where there was a park completely surrounded by family homes. It had 1 public access point which was difficult to find due to being a dirt track and somewhat overgrown in the summer and snowed over in the winter. Everyone in the neighborhood knew it as "hidden park", although it does have an official name (I don't remember that, though) and the city still maintains it.

[hrolleif]

*not present anywhere in Virginia.

[johanna_hypatia]

According to this map of the tree's range, the area I was writing about in Northern Virginia just clears the bottom of it. This map does bear out what I was saying about elevation. I guess we're just north enough and up high enough to let the trees grow here.

But then I think the earth's climate was cooler in the 17th century, and I bet the tree had a bigger range.

[johanna_hypatia]

Back to your first question, Reston's elevation is 328 ft. and Herndon's is 361 ft. That may not sound like much height to you up there on the Canadian Shield, but it's 328 feet higher than the people coming up from zero elevation, and that can be enough to make a difference in temperature. You can go a few miles east of Reston, along the Beltway near Tysons Corner, and see edge-on the beginning of the Piedmont above the Tidewater; it's a small escarpment making a long, low cliff where the elevation suddenly goes up 300 feet, and stays up. Or you can visit the Great Falls of the Potomac and see water cascading down from the heights.

I love the Sugarland run

[catskillmarina]

I love the Sugarland run ! I run there several times a week and walk to work along its banks.
Sometimes it rages as much as 6 ft above its usual level. It can be gentle or it can be furious.
It has its moods. I am greatfull for its presence.

[charlie_ihsan]

Beautiful photos. :) Your maple color wheel is magnificent.

Great information, but maybe...

[ext_5089504]

Thank you for your insights and citing historical documents to our enliven understanding of this beautiful region!! It is possible the sugar maple connection isn't the historical reason for the name, however? Here's why I say that. I have heard (and there is a plaque at Great Falls Park that also suggests) that the name "Sugarland" derives from an Indian word that means, roughly, "the sweetlands". That supposedly refers to the unique diversity of flora and fauna that can thrive here. Our geographical positioning between the Northern US and the Southern US, as well as the joining of the Piedmont and the Tidewater regions, makes that possible. The Algonkian Indians and your specific tribe must have appreciated the special 'sweetness' of this area and denoted it before the European settlers came.

RE: Great information, but maybe...

[johanna_hypatia]

Ah, perhaps. But in the case of Virginia, it was definitely the maple syrup, as attested by the historical sources I quoted. Even though sugar maples flourish in colder climates than Virginia, the world climate was a little cooler in the 17th century.