Charles City County, Virginia

VIRGINIA.WIKI

Charles City County, Virginia

Virginia local guide

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COUNTY IN VIRGINIA

Charles City County

James River plantations, deep and layered history, and an unhurried rural landscape between Richmond and Williamsburg.

Region
Virginia Peninsula

Type
Rural county and historic destination

Setting
Between Richmond and Williamsburg

Known for
James River plantations, historic sites, and the Virginia Capital Trail

Charles City County is a quiet, river-framed destination where Virginia’s history is closely tied to the land. Its story includes the Chickahominy, Paspahegh, and Weyanock peoples; early English settlement; the arrival of captive Africans in 1619; and centuries of plantation agriculture, slavery, and change. Today, historic homes and landscapes sit alongside the James and Chickahominy rivers and working rural communities.

For visitors, the county is best explored at a measured pace: follow Route 5 between Richmond and Williamsburg, visit historic sites that are open to the public, or ride or walk a stretch of the Virginia Capital Trail. The county tourism site lists attractions, maps, and visitor-planning resources; check directly with each site before setting out, since access and schedules vary.

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Why visit Charles City County?

Charles City County offers a distinct kind of history trip: its landmark houses and historic landscapes are spread through a rural setting rather than gathered into a walkable town center. The James River plantations are compelling places to learn about architecture and Virginia’s colonial past, but that story must also be read alongside the Native communities whose homelands these were and the enslaved people whose labor built and sustained plantation wealth.

The county also suits visitors who want a scenic ride or a quieter stop between Richmond and Williamsburg. Route 5 and the Virginia Capital Trail provide two different ways to experience the landscape; historic sites, local archives, and river-oriented recreation offer reasons to linger. The official tourism site provides a map and trip-planning information.

What to see and do

Berkeley Plantation

See the Georgian mansion and grounds associated with Benjamin Harrison V and William Henry Harrison. Berkeley’s visitor information highlights the property’s history, including its association with the first official Thanksgiving and the origin of “Taps.” Confirm current tour availability, hours, and admission with the site before visiting.

Historic Westover

This National Historic Landmark overlooks the James River. Westover describes its mid-eighteenth-century house as built for the Byrd family through indentured and enslaved labor, and notes its continuing research into the lives and contributions of enslaved people. The grounds and gardens have separate access arrangements from the house; check the official site for current details before going.

Sherwood Forest

President John Tyler lived at Sherwood Forest from 1842 until his death in 1862. The estate offers self-guided grounds visits and house tours by appointment, according to its visitor information; confirm current arrangements before travel.

Virginia Capital Trail

The county is among the destinations along the Virginia Capital Trail, a route highlighted by local tourism as a way to explore the area by bicycle. Consult the county’s trail map and current trail resources to plan a suitable segment and check conditions.

Richard M. Bowman Center for Local History

This county-owned reference library and archive is a useful stop for local and family-history research. Check the county’s current information before visiting to confirm access and services.

Fort Pocahontas at Wilson’s Wharf

This Civil War site is associated with the May 24, 1864, action at Wilson’s Wharf, where United States Colored Troops fought Confederate forces. Check the county tourism listing and the site’s own information for current access details.

History and character

The county’s history reaches back well before English colonization. The county’s historical account identifies the Chickahominy, Paspahegh, and Weyanock as Native peoples of the area, and notes that Native communities had lived in the region long before Europeans arrived. English settlement expanded along the James River in the early seventeenth century; tobacco plantations followed, relying increasingly on the labor of enslaved Africans. In 1619, captive Africans were brought to the Borough of Charles City and settled at Flowerdew Hundred, on Weyanock lands.

Charles City was one of four boroughs or incorporations established by the Virginia Company in 1619. The county’s historic courthouse, built in the 1750s, served judicial purposes until a new courthouse was constructed in 2005, according to the county’s historical account. The area’s plantation sites and river landscape preserve visible evidence of the region’s past, but they also reflect the displacement of Native communities and the coercion and exploitation at the heart of plantation society.

Planning a visit

Charles City County lies between Richmond and Williamsburg along Route 5, which the county identifies as the Route 5 Scenic Byway. The Virginia Capital Trail is another option for exploring the area. Because attractions are dispersed, plan your route in advance and allow time for driving between stops.

Hours, admission, tour offerings, and access can change. Check each attraction’s official visitor information before departure. The county tourism site provides a tourism map and trail-map resource, while the county’s Visitor Center page currently notes that the center is closed for renovations; verify its status before relying on an in-person visit.

Nearby places and attractions

Richmond
Virginia’s capital city, west of Charles City County.

Williamsburg
A historic city and visitor destination to the east.

James City County
Neighboring county with access to the Historic Triangle and James River heritage.

New Kent County
Neighboring county north of Charles City.

Colonial National Historical Park
National Park Service historic sites around Jamestown and Yorktown.

Virginia Capital Trail
A long-distance trail connecting Richmond and the Williamsburg area.

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References

External links

• Charles City County Tourism
• Charles City County official website
• Berkeley Plantation
• Historic Westover
• Sherwood Forest