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In Great Falls, Va., a close-knit community surrounded by nature

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January 20, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. EST
Stella Lam, 6, plays on the playground at the Great Falls Grange in Great Falls, Va. Great Falls is a picturesque unincorporated community in northern Fairfax County with plenty of natural charms, historical intrigue and roomy home lots. (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post)

When Erin Lobato moved from Potomac, Md., to Great Falls, Va., she thought she would be trading in one suburban lifestyle for another. Instead, she discovered a close-knit community.

“It’s really a small town that happens to be near a big city,” said Lobato, who is director of the Celebrate Great Falls Foundation. “There’s one grocery store people generally go to, one set of youth sports organizations. You end up bumping into people at the store or the PTA meeting or church. It’s easier to get to know people instead of just meeting them.”