The Language & Ethnicity in Herndon!
The meaning of language and ethnicity
Language is not only a way of communicating, it is also used as a cultural trait that can create the landscape and how we interact. Language is what brings people together.
Ethnicity is a group identity where people share cultural traits like ancestry and place of origin. Ethnicity can change the landscape like how neighborhoods look and religious buildings or monuments.
So how does the Language in Herndon Look like?
The language and landscape here is influenced by the diversity it has. 41% of residents were born outside of the United States. 56.1% of the population that are 5 years old and up speak a different language at home other than English. To break it down, 33.5% are Spanish speakers, 9.9% speak an Asian language, and 9.8% speak European languages. This correlates with our Hispanic population of around 35% and Asian population of around 18%.
Ethnicity in Herndon
The ethnicity and landscapes are also diverse. The biggest ethnic group here is Hispanic/Latino at around 34.6%. The Asian community makes up around 16% of the population. One fact I learned was that Herndon was one of the first to proclaim a Nepalese American Heritage Day, with public schools also celebrating these heritage days.
Patch. (2016, December 29). 11 big numbers that explain Herndon. Retrieved March 12, 2026, from https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/11-big-numbers-explain-herndon
FFXnow. (2024, October 3). Herndon's small-town feel and diversity are key to identity, consultant finds. Retrieved March 12, 2026, from https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/10/03/herndons-small-town-feel-and-diversity-are-key-to-identity-consultant-finds/
Data USA. (2024). Herndon, VA. Retrieved March 12, 2026, from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/herndon-va/
Before walking Herndon to take pictures this is what I thought I would find
Language: Spanish speakers, signs in another language, graffiti
Ethnicity: Different country flags, decorations, religious crosses near homes
I walked all around the area.
I know there is a beautiful library I visited as a kid, the park where I grew up, and I remember all the friends I made — some Hispanic friends, my best friend who was Arabic, another who was European. There were many people of different backgrounds who all went to play at this park.
Language observations
I walked to the park I always went to as a kid. To me this was a place for anybody of any ethnicity to come and play together.
I took a picture of this old makeshift basketball hoop nailed to a tree near a neighbor's yard. I think it shows how this neighborhood can turn something old and still get use out of it while bringing people together.
The last two photos are of the front and back of the library. People take pictures of the book art at the entrance, and the back is beautiful to hang out and read.
Ethnicity observations
I took a picture near what looks to be a religious small statue — I believe it's Christian — and behind it is a hammock or in Spanish a maca. My parents also put a hammock up during April and buy them from El Salvador.
I had to take a picture of this window I saw as I was walking by. It's hard to see but you can see a decoration spelling out El Salvador with the colors matching El Salvador too. My parents were born in El Salvador so this was cool to find. I believe this picture kind of shows how this area is and how there are a lot of different demographics here.
The last picture was a house a couple minutes walk away that I saw was nicely decorated with the United States flag. I think that this was a good picture to take as it shows a flag of the country we are in and shows how people have patriotism for the country they live in.
Toponyms in Herndon
1. Elden Street — Where the first homes were built by the Coleman family in the 1700s.
2. Herndon Depot — Built in 1857. There is a cool train front replica you can climb on.
3. Bready Street — Named after the first mayor, who was a dairy farmer.
4. Mosby Court — Named after a confederate cavalry officer. This was the only Civil War action in Herndon.
5. Cooper Station Road — Named after Charles S. Cooper, station master for 33 years. The railroad made Herndon a place to stay.
Conclusion for this walk
By walking around and reflecting on my past growing up here, I was able to see more of the diversity this neighborhood has. Without this field trip I don't think I would have looked at all the houses, decorations, religious objects, flags on homes, and how for me this is normal — hanging out with other ethnicities and being connected regardless of ethnicity.
Did I enjoy it? Yes. It made me understand where I grew up more.
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