Clifton is an incorporated town located in southwestern Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 243 at the time of the 2020 census.

Clifton's history begins pre-colonially, when the area was used as hunting grounds by the local Dogue Native American tribe.

Consequently, as development edged near the area in the late 1970s and early 1980s, an ordinance was enacted stating that only one building could be placed on 5-acre (2.0 ha) parcels that have not already been divided.

Before the arrival of European settlers, the present-day Clifton area was part of the hunting grounds used by Algonquin-speaking members of the Dogue tribe.

[5] European settlers composed of Scots merchants created the first nearby port settlement in the mid-1710s near the present-day Dumfries-Triangle area.

[8][9] In spring 1863, a wye was constructed at Devereux Siding to enable trains to turn around after the Union Army abandoned the Orange and Alexandria Railroad south of Bull Run.

By June 1863 the entire railroad outside of the defenses of Washington was abandoned until the return of Major General George Meade's Army of the Potomac following their successful Gettysburg Campaign.

The next year, an official U.S. post office opened at the depot, and Otis built the historic Clifton Hotel.

[10] The station no longer exists, but the town of Clifton is still standing along what used to be the O & A Railroad, now a part of the Norfolk Southern Railway.

William Harris divided a portion of his family's land adjacent to the railroad into ten lots that were offered for sale in 1869.

Homes and businesses were constructed on the lots, including a general merchandise store located on the western side of Main Street adjacent to the railroad.

Harrison Otis and his business partner Margaret Hetzel subdivided land on the eastern side of Main Street for development and several lots were sold in the 1870s; however, this development was not as successful as planned due to Harrison Otis's reduced mental health and Margaret Hetzel's financial difficulties.

[13] The village grew in the late 1800s when a number of homes and businesses were constructed, including additional merchandise stores and lumber yards.

Wayne Nickum, a former mayor, worked to ensure the entire town was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Another resident, Jim Chesley, who would also serve as mayor of Clifton, worked tirelessly with national and state politicians and administrators to ensure the town maintained its historic integrity.

This celebration continues each year as a town fair and music festival on the Sunday before Columbus Day in October.

Single-family homes were constructed in the southern and eastern parts of Clifton, while land to the north became equestrian areas.

Formation of the Occoquan Watershed in the 1970s limited development due to ecological concerns and required all houses in the area to have at least 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land.

Controversy arose about demolishing the abandoned Hetzel home on the corner of Chapel Road and Pendleton Avenue in 2006.

That year's featured charity was Life With Cancer, a Fairfax hospital-based program that provides family support and education.

In 2020, the city made national headlines when a "Black Lives Matter" banner was hung in the town's Main Street.

The banner was met with praise by many residents but condemnation by others including the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who saw it as justifying controversial aspects of the BLM movement.

At the 2020 census (some information from the 2022 American Community Survey) there were 243 people, 93 housing units and 102 households residing in the town.

[4] Clifton has a Humid Subtropical climate with cool winters, mild falls and springs, and hot summers.

The Burke Centre Station is also serviced by the Northeast Regional, one of the Amtrak train lines that runs through the town.