New Gum Springs Civic Association
Historical Foundations: From West Ford to Civic Advocacy
The story of Gum Springs begins with West Ford, born around 1784 or 1785 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and enslaved on the Bushfield Plantation owned by John Augustine Washington, brother of George Washington. Ford’s life took a pivotal turn when Hannah Bushrod Washington, in her will, mandated his vaccination against smallpox and his emancipation at age 21, which occurred in 1806. He continued working at Mount Vernon as a carpenter and caretaker, and upon the death of Bushrod Washington in 1829, Ford inherited 119 acres of land adjacent to the estate. In 1833, he sold this parcel and purchased 214 acres north of Little Hunting Creek, naming the area “Gum Springs” after the sweet gum trees and a spring reportedly used by George Washington to water his horses.
Ford’s acquisition created a sanctuary for freed Black individuals and runaways, fostering an independent African American community at a time when slavery still dominated Virginia. By 1857, he divided the land among his four children—William, Daniel, Jane, and Julia—establishing property lines that persist in modern Gum Springs streets like Holland, Andrus, and Fordson. Ford’s death in 1863 marked the end of his direct stewardship, but his legacy endured as Gum Springs grew into Fairfax County’s oldest African American community.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Gum Springs thrived as a modest but vibrant enclave, with residents farming cash crops and building a nascent Black middle class. However, the post-World War II era brought challenges as Fairfax County’s suburban boom displaced agricultural jobs and entrenched segregation limited access to amenities like paved roads, sewers, and schools. The 1960s civil rights movement galvanized Gum Springs residents, who formed civic groups to demand equity. A pivotal moment came in 1966 when the community sued Fairfax County for public services, as depicted in the documentary A Certain Pride of Gum Springs. This activism laid the groundwork for the NGSCA, formally established to unify and advocate for the community.
Today, the NGSCA operates under bylaws that define its mission: to enhance community relations, promote peace and goodwill, encourage respect for human rights and property, and collaborate with external organizations. Membership is open to residents aged 18 and older within Gum Springs’ geographic boundaries—Richmond Highway, Boswell Avenue/Schellhorn Road/Sherwood Hall Lane, Holland Road, and Little Hunting Creek—reflecting its commitment to inclusive representation.
Organizational Structure and Activities
The NGSCA is governed by an Executive Council of elected officers, all Gum Springs residents, tasked with implementing its mission. General membership meetings occur annually on the second Tuesday of October, with special meetings called as needed. The association maintains a modest dues structure ($10 per person annually), emphasizing accessibility, and relies on volunteer efforts and donations to sustain its work. It also oversees the Gum Springs Community Center Advisory Board, electing five members biennially to manage this vital hub.
The NGSCA’s activities are multifaceted, blending heritage preservation with contemporary advocacy. It organizes community events like the annual Juneteenth celebration, which in 2023 marked 190 years since Gum Springs’ founding with a historical highway marker unveiling for West Ford. The association collaborates with groups like the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum to document the community’s past, as seen in the ongoing Heritage Resources Study launched in 2020 with Fairfax County. Infrastructure improvements, such as the $600,000 trail connection to Little Hunting Creek approved in 2022, reflect its lobbying success. Yet, the NGSCA also confronts persistent challenges—like opposing the Richmond Highway widening project due to safety concerns—demonstrating its role as a vigilant steward of Gum Springs’ interests.
Demographics: A Snapshot of Gum Springs
While precise demographic data specific to Gum Springs is not fully detailed on the NGSCA website, broader sources and contextual clues provide insight. As of recent estimates, Gum Springs has approximately 2,500 residents, with up to 500 believed to be descendants of original settlers—a remarkable continuity of lineage. Historically African American, the community’s racial composition has likely diversified as Fairfax County’s population grew more heterogeneous. The 2020 U.S. Census reports Fairfax County as 61.6% White, 20.1% Asian, 10.6% Black, and 16.5% Hispanic (with overlap due to multi-racial identities), suggesting Gum Springs may reflect a mix of long-term Black residents and newer arrivals drawn by proximity to Alexandria and Washington, D.C.
Socioeconomically, Gum Springs has evolved from its rural roots. The 1960 census painted a stark picture: many homes were dilapidated, half the adults were unemployed, and basic utilities were scarce. Civil rights victories improved conditions, but today’s residents span a spectrum from working-class families to professionals commuting to urban centers. The NGSCA’s focus on economic welfare hints at ongoing disparities, exacerbated by Fairfax County’s high cost of living—where the median household income exceeds $130,000, far above Virginia’s $80,000 average (2020 figures adjusted for inflation).
Housing stock offers further demographic clues. Gum Springs features 1950s-1960s bungalows, modern brick colonials, and townhomes, indicating a mix of original structures and newer developments. The presence of landmarks like Bethlehem Baptist Church and the Gum Springs Community Center underscores a community anchored by shared history and institutions, even as newcomers reshape its social fabric.
Real Estate Trends: Preservation Amid Pressure
Real estate in Gum Springs mirrors Fairfax County’s broader market dynamics while facing unique pressures tied to its historic status. Fairfax County is among Virginia’s priciest housing markets, with a median home value of around $720,000 as of late 2024 (up 10.8% from 2023, per Northern Virginia Association of Realtors data). Gum Springs, located in the Mount Vernon District near Old Town Alexandria and a commutable distance from D.C., feels this upward pressure acutely. Single-family homes in the community often list above $250,000, a significant jump from decades past, reflecting demand for its strategic location.
Yet, this growth threatens Gum Springs’ cohesion. NGSCA President Queenie Cox has voiced concerns about an “exploding housing market” bringing residents disconnected from the community’s heritage. Gentrification looms as developers eye the area’s vacant land and proximity to Richmond Highway, a corridor undergoing a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) widening project expected to conclude later this decade. Critics, including the NGSCA, argue this expansion prioritizes traffic flow over resident safety, potentially accelerating displacement.
Historical conservation efforts counter these trends. The 1979 Gum Springs Neighborhood Improvement Program Conservation Plan, adopted by Fairfax County, aimed to stabilize the community amid economic and environmental threats. A 2015 draft Conservation Plan, still awaiting full review, seeks to protect Gum Springs’ identity, but progress lags. The 2020 Heritage Resources Study, partnered with the NGSCA, evaluates preservation tools—potentially historic district designation—to safeguard significant sites like the Coleman/Snowden Cemetery and Woodlawn Methodist Church Cemetery. Real estate appreciation, while a boon for homeowners, thus poses a double-edged sword, risking the erosion of Gum Springs’ cultural fabric.
Challenges and Future Prospects
The NGSCA navigates a complex landscape. Systemic racism, as highlighted in a 2021 letter from Cox, persists in subtle forms—like the Holland Court Property Owners Association’s formation within Gum Springs’ boundaries, perceived as an attempt to dilute its historic narrative. Fairfax County’s “complicated history” with Black communities, acknowledged by Supervisor Dan Storck, underscores distrust in governmental support, particularly as development policies favor economic growth over equity.
Looking ahead, the NGSCA’s advocacy will shape Gum Springs’ trajectory. Its success in securing trail funding and historical recognition signals potential, but preserving affordability and community integrity amid Fairfax County’s affluence remains daunting. The association’s motto, “Things Get Solved…When You Get Involved,” encapsulates its grassroots ethos—a call to action for residents to steer their future.
Conclusion
The New Gum Springs Civic Association stands as both a guardian of history and a beacon of progress for Fairfax County’s oldest African American community. Rooted in West Ford’s vision of freedom, it has evolved from a rural refuge to a modern enclave facing gentrification and infrastructural change. Its demographics reflect resilience and adaptation, while real estate trends highlight the tension between growth and preservation. Through tireless advocacy, the NGSCA ensures Gum Springs remains a place of belonging, proving that even in the shadow of America’s first president, a community forged by the formerly enslaved can endure and thrive.
