Indians of Northern Virginia History

More than 177,000 people identifying as Asian Indian live in the DC metro region. Nearly 48,000 of them live in Loudoun County alone. But Northern Virginia's Indian community was not always this large.^[1]

In 1955, Shamsher Singh Babra arrived in Washington. He recalled a city with almost no Indian community outside the embassy. He became an important part of changing that. He began organizing Sikh celebrations, first in people's homes and later at American University.^[2]

But the community was about to grow far beyond those early beginnings. In 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Act ended the national-origins quota system and opened new pathways for immigration based on family connections and professional skills. Many Indians came to the United States to pursue higher education and careers in fields like medicine, engineering, and science. As they settled, family members followed. The Washington area was an attractive destination. International institutions, universities, and major employers offered professional opportunities. And as Northern Virginia's technology and government contracting industries expanded, they created even more jobs for engineers and other skilled workers. The H-1B visa, created in 1990, helped companies recruit more highly educated professionals from abroad, including large numbers from India.^{[3], [4], [5], [6]}

Over time, people built communities across Fairfax, Loudoun, and the surrounding suburbs. Today, you will find Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, Indian grocery stores, restaurants, and celebrations like Diwali and Holi throughout the region.^{[1], [7]}