Sterling refers most specifically to a census-designated place (CDP) in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population of the CDP as of the 2020 United States Census was 30,337 The CDP boundaries are confined to a relatively small area between Virginia State Route 28 on the west and Virginia State Route 7 on the northeast, excluding areas near SR 606 and the Dulles Town Center.

The name Sterling was adopted in 1887 after several changes to the village’s name. Originally, the area was known as Guilford and later Loudoun. The post office, established in the mid-1800s, was initially named Guilford Station. As the railroad expanded, the name Loudoun was briefly used for the village due to its proximity to the “Loudoun” station. This created confusion with the wider Loudoun County, prompting a name change in 1887 to Sterling.

The name “Sterling” is believed to reference Norman silver coins known as sterlings, minted during the 11th and 12th centuries. These coins were known for their consistency and quality and eventually gave rise to the term "pound sterling" used in British currency.

The village developed as a local commercial center along the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, with an economy rooted in agriculture and small businesses. Its growth accelerated with the construction of Dulles International Airport in the 1960s and the suburban expansion of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sterling is classified as a census-designated place (CDP) located in eastern Loudoun County, Virginia. While the CDP has officially defined boundaries, the term “Sterling” is often used more broadly to describe surrounding communities that share Sterling ZIP codes such as 20164, 20165, and 20166.

This broader understanding includes communities such as Oak Grove, Dulles Town Center, and the Potomac Falls area, which encompasses Cascades, Countryside, Lowes Island, and Sugarland Run. Loudoun County Public Schools and regional real estate sources frequently refer to these areas under the general label of “Sterling,” reflecting the influence of shared ZIP codes on regional identity.

In 1962, large farms made up the 1,762 acres (713 ha) of what today is called Sterling Park. Route 7, also known as Leesburg Pike, bordered what used to be Jesse Hughes's dairy farm. Hughes arrived in Loudoun County in the early 20th century and was a longtime head of the county's Democrats. Fred Franklin Tavenner, who was somewhat related to Benjamin Franklin, operated vast stretches of Sterling Farm at the southwest fringes of Sterling Park. Tavenner had purchased land from Albert Shaw Jr., who had inherited it from his father Albert B. Shaw, editor and publisher of the American Review of Reviews. One of Shaw's spreads, totaling 1,640 acres (660 ha), was called "The Experimental Farm" because it was one of the first area farms to receive a U.S. grant for applying "scientific methods", as Tavenner called them. According to Tavenner, refugees from the Soviet Union ran the farm while Shaw remained in New York City.

Dulles International Airport and the extension of water and sewer lines to the airport began to change the landscape when construction started in 1959. Land prices rose from an average $125 per acre ($310/ha) to $500 per acre ($1,200/ha). During the same year, Marvin T. Broyhill Jr. and his father made plans to develop land in the airport area under the company M.T. Broyhill & Sons Corporation. In late 1961, they decided to buy and incorporated Sterling Park Development Corporation with his son Marvin T. Broyhill as president, and cousin Thomas J. Broyhill as vice president. Between April 28 and December 29 of 1961, they purchased 1,762 acres (713 ha) in 14 parcels for $2,115,784. For the 226-acre (91 ha) Hughes farm along Route 7, they paid $1,700 per acre ($4,200/ha).

M.T. Broyhill & Sons Corporation learned where the right-of-way for Route 28 (Sully Road) would be, and hoped to develop Sterling Park on both sides of it, so they would not have to build a road through Sterling Park. However, Powell B. Harrison, who was instrumental in planning Route 28, insisted that the road be kept generally free of development, for easy access to the airport. Therefore, the Broyhills developed Sterling Park east of Route 28, and had to build their own through road, today's Sterling Boulevard.

Marvin Broyhill, Jr.'s marketing thoughts were to "put together a prefabricated home marketed by U.S. Steel and sell it for about $17,000 [that is] $3,000 less than a comparable residence in Fairfax County, Virginia. . . All homes to have air conditioning. Homeowners to have access without membership fees to golf and tennis courts and pools." Air conditioning was uncommon in homes of that price range at the time. Broyhill's ideas, except for free golf, are realities today. As selling points, Loudoun's taxes were less than half of Fairfax's taxes, Washington was a half-hour away, and the elder Broyhill had envisioned commuter trains on the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad (which, since 1951, had carried only freight). The railroad tracks were the southern boundary of the present Sterling Park.

Sterling Park residents had to be of the "Caucasian race." No board member or speaker before the board raised an objection to the clause, a common one in the United States before the 1960s, when discriminatory housing was outlawed by the Fair Housing Act, which was enacted as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. No African American family moved into Sterling Park until August 1966, when the illegality of the clause became apparent. By then, the population of "The Park", as it had come to be known, had reached 5,000.

The Broad Run Bridge and Tollhouse, Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District, and Arcola Elementary School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sterling is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Sterling has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Sterling was first listed as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.

As of the 2022[update] American Community Survey estimates, there were 31,058 people and 9,659 households. The population density was 5,694.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,198.7/km2). There were 9,956 housing units at an average density of 1,825.4 units per square mile (704.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 42.0% White, 22.1% some other race, 15.2% Asian, 6.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, with 13.4% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 47.1% of the population.

Of the 9,659 households, 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.9% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 4.5% were couples cohabitating, 15.9% had a male householder with no partner present, and 23.1% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size was 3.21 and the median family size was 3.65.

The age distribution was 24.1% under 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males.

The median income for a household was $117,699, with family households having a median income of $128,241 and non-family households $76,526. The per capita income was $44,054. Males working full-time jobs had median earnings of $64,685 compared to $55,864 for females. Out of the 30,861 people with a determined poverty status, 7.4% were below the poverty line. Further, 7.5% of minors and 11.3% of seniors were below the poverty line.

In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People of German descent made up 6.0% of the population of the town, followed by Irish at 5.1%, English at 4.9%, American at 4.7%, Italian at 2.3%, Arab at 1.9%, French at 1.2%, Sub-Saharan African at 1.1%, Polish at 0.9%, Scottish at 0.8%, Caribbean (excluding Hispanics) at 0.6%, and Greek at 0.5%.

Companies with annual revenues of $20 million or more, and that have headquarters in Sterling, include Neustar and Electronic Instrumentation and Technology. Companies that have a branch office or headquarters in Sterling, with a total number of employees over 1,000 or more, include Alcatel-Lucent, Geo Trans, HR Solutions LLC, M.C. Dean, Inc., National Electronics Warranty Corp, N E W Customer Service Companies Inc, and Orbital Science.

Federal agencies with offices in Sterling include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Atlantic Coast Airlines previously had its headquarters in Sterling.

Claude Moore Park occupies 357 acres (144 ha) in Sterling and features an indoor pool, gymnasium, sports fields, hiking trails and a park. The last known undeveloped section of Vestal's Gap Road runs across the park. Originally a trail first used by Native Americans, it was a major route for settlers between Alexandria and the Shenandoah Valley. George Washington used the road frequently in his travels between Mount Vernon and the western frontier. General Braddock's troops, including Daniel Boone, traveled Vestal's Gap Road during the French and Indian War.

Other recreation areas include Algonkian Regional Park, Dulles Golf Center and Sports Park, and Sterling Golf Club.

Public high schools in Sterling include Dominion High School, Park View High School, and Potomac Falls High School.

Middle schools include River Bend Middle School, Seneca Ridge Middle School, and Sterling Middle School.

Elementary schools include: Algonkian Elementary School, Countryside Elementary School, Forest Grove Elementary School, Guilford Elementary School, Horizon Elementary School, Lowes Island Elementary School, Meadlowland Elementary School, Potowmack Elementary School, Rolling Ridge Elementary School, Sterling Elementary School, Sugarland Elementary School, and Sully Elementary School.

Northern Virginia Community College has a Loudoun County in Sterling.

Roads include Virginia State Route 28 and Leesburg Pike.

Fire protection is provided by the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company. Technical Rescue and Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad. Both are part of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, and share three stations.[citation needed]