Elizabeth City Shire was one of eight shires created in colonial Virginia in 1634. The shire and the Elizabeth River were named for Elizabeth of Bohemia , daughter of King James I .
126-672: During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of Jamestown in 1607, English settlers and explorers began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1610, the English colonists had established a permanent settlement in the Kecoughtan area of what was to become Elizabeth River Shire. Now located within the corporate limits of the independent city of Hampton, Virginia , it is the oldest known continuously occupied English settlement in North America. On, November 18, 1618,
252-842: A charter from the London Company to establish a colony in the New World. The fleet consisted of the ships Susan Constant , Discovery , and Godspeed , all under the leadership of Captain Christopher Newport . They made a particularly long voyage of four months, including a stop in the Canary Islands , in Spain , and subsequently Puerto Rico , and finally departed for the American mainland on April 10, 1607. The expedition made landfall on April 26, 1607, at
378-798: A hurricane , and the ships were separated. Although some of the ships did make it to Jamestown, the leaders and most of the supplies had been aboard Sea Venture , which fought the storm for three days before the Admiral of the company, Sir George Somers , deliberately drove it onto the reefs of Bermuda to prevent its foundering. This allowed all aboard to be landed safely. The survivors (including Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Gates , Captain Christopher Newport, Silvester Jourdain , Stephen Hopkins —later of Mayflower —and secretary William Strachey ) were stranded on Bermuda for approximately nine months. During that time, they built two new ships,
504-446: A sea wall was constructed in 1900 to protect the area from further erosion. The archaeological remains of the original 1607 fort, which had been protected by the sea wall, were not discovered until 1996. In 1932, George Craghead Gregory of Richmond was credited with discovering the foundation of the first brick statehouse (capitol) building, circa 1646, at Jamestown on the land owned by Preservation Virginia. Around 1936, Gregory, who
630-562: A 15-man Court Of Directors to oversee the hospital's operations and admissions. In 1771, contractor Benjamin Powell constructed a two-story building on Francis Street near the college, capable of housing 24 patients. The design included "yards for patients to walk and take the Air in" as well as provisions for a fence to keep the patients out of the town. The Gunpowder Incident began in April 1775 as
756-640: A 301-acre (1.22 km ) Historic Area celebrating the patriots and early history of the colonial-era. As of 2022 , Colonial Williamsburg is Virginia's largest tourist attraction by attendance and the cornerstone of the Historic Triangle , with Jamestown and Yorktown joined by the Colonial Parkway . In the 21st century, Williamsburg has continued to update and refine its attractions. There are more features designed to attract modern children and to offer better and additional interpretation of
882-422: A Norwegian-American who had earlier farmed in the midwestern states, realized that eastern Virginia's gentler climate and depressed post-Civil War land prices would be attractive to his fellow Scandinavians who were farming in other northern parts of the country. He began sending out notices and selling land. Soon there was a substantial concentration of relocated Americans of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish descent in
1008-405: A celebration honoring the establishment of the first permanent English colony in the New World at Jamestown to be held on the 300th anniversary in 1907. As a celebration was planned, virtually no one thought that the actual isolated and long-abandoned original site of Jamestown would be suitable for a major event because Jamestown Island had no facilities for large crowds. The original fort housing
1134-538: A church, and a magazine for the storage of arms. In 1722, Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a "city incorporate", which is now believed to be the oldest charter in the United States. Middle Plantation was included in James City Shire when it was established in 1634, as the colony reached a total population of approximately 5,000. (James City and Virginia's other shires changed their names
1260-621: A copy of Magna Carta for the exhibition. It was her first visit to the United States since ascending the throne. Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an independent city in Virginia , United States. As of the 2020 census , it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula , Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is bordered by James City County on
1386-476: A dispute between Dunmore and Virginia colonists over gunpowder stored in the Williamsburg magazine. Fearing rebellion, Dunmore ordered royal marines to seize gunpowder from the magazine. Virginia militia led by Patrick Henry responded to the "theft" and marched on Williamsburg. A standoff ensued, with Dunmore threatening to destroy the city if attacked by the militia. The dispute was resolved when payment for
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#17327984930771512-654: A dramatic demographic shift in the city, reporting that Williamsburg was 48% White and 37% Black. Census data shows almost all of the Black population growth occurring in Census blocks containing William and Mary dorms, but data from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shows no growth in the number of Black students in William and Mary dorms during the 2010s. University of Virginia researchers believe that
1638-483: A fashion similar to that practiced in England. Jamestown was located in James City Shire , soon renamed the "County of James City", better known in modern times as James City County, Virginia , the nation's oldest county. Another large-scale "Indian attack" occurred in 1644. In 1646 Opechancanough was captured, and while he was in custody an English guard shot him in the back—against orders—and killed him. Subsequently,
1764-406: A few years later; James City Shire then became known as James City County ). The middle ground ridge-line was essentially the dividing line with Charles River Shire , which was renamed York County after King Charles I ( r. 1625–1649 ) fell out of favor with the citizens of England. As Middle Plantation (and later Williamsburg) developed, the boundaries were adjusted slightly. For most of
1890-716: A fierce warrior named Opechancanough , became head of the Powhatan Confederacy . As the English continued to appropriate more land for tobacco farming, relations with the natives worsened. Because of the high cost of the trans-Atlantic voyage at this time, many English settlers came to Jamestown as indentured servants : in exchange for the passage, room, board, and the promise of land or money, these immigrants would agree to work for three to seven years. Immigrants from continental Europe, mainly Germans, were usually redemptioners —they purchased some portion of their voyage on credit and, upon arrival, borrowed or entered into
2016-473: A fortified community inland on the Virginia Peninsula , about 8 miles (13 km) distant. When the statehouse burned again in 1698, this time accidentally, the legislature again temporarily relocated to Middle Plantation and was able to meet in the new facilities of the College of William & Mary , which had been established after receiving a royal charter in 1693. Rather than rebuilding at Jamestown again,
2142-533: A logical location, leaders in Norfolk began a campaign to have a celebration held there. The decision was made to locate the international exposition on a mile-long frontage at Sewell's Point near the mouth of Hampton Roads . This was about 30 miles (48 km) downstream from Jamestown in a rural section of Norfolk County . It was a site which could become accessible by both long-distance passenger railroads and local streetcar service, with considerable frontage on
2268-744: A major relief effort. The Germans who arrived with the second supply and a few others defected to the Powhatans, with weapons and equipment. The Germans even planned to join a rumored Spanish attack on the colony and urged the Powhatans to join it. The Spanish were driven off by the timely arrival in July 1609 of Captain Samuel Argall in Mary and John , a larger ship than the Spanish reconnaissance ship La Asunción de Cristo . Argall's voyage also prevented
2394-609: A month, the defenders withdrew quietly from the Warwick Line (stretching across the Peninsula between Yorktown and Mulberry Island ). As General George McClellan 's Union forces crept up the Peninsula to pursue the retreating Confederate forces, a rear-guard force led by General James Longstreet and supported by General J. E. B. Stuart 's cavalry blocked their westward progression at the Williamsburg Line. This
2520-667: A new major purpose, turning much of it into a massive living museum . In the early 20th century, the Reverend Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin of Williamsburg's Bruton Parish Church championed one of the nation's largest historic restorations. Initially, Goodwin just aimed to save his historic church building. This he had accomplished by 1907, in time for the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Episcopal Church in Virginia. But upon returning to Williamsburg in 1923 after serving
2646-403: A new purpose-built flagship, Sea Venture , constructed and placed in the most experienced of hands, Christopher Newport. On June 2, 1609, Sea Venture set sail from Plymouth, England , as the flagship of a seven-ship fleet (towing two additional pinnaces ) destined for Jamestown as part of the third supply mission, carrying 214 settlers. On July 24, the fleet ran into a strong storm, likely
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#17327984930772772-618: A number of years in upstate New York, he realized that many of the other remaining colonial-era buildings were also in deteriorating condition. Goodwin dreamed of a much larger restoration along the lines of what he had accomplished with his church. Of modest means, he sought support and financing from a number of sources before successfully attracting the interest and major financial support of Standard Oil heir and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller . Their combined efforts created Colonial Williamsburg , restoring much of downtown Williamsburg and developing
2898-496: A period of record dating only back to 1951, extreme temperatures range from −7 °F (−22 °C) on January 21, 1985 , to 104 °F (40 °C) on August 22, 1983, and June 26, 1952. During the Revolutionary era , African Americans made up over 50% of Williamsburg's population. Williamsburg was 78% White and 13% Black at the 2000 census, and 71% White and 14% Black at the 2010 census. The 2020 census indicated
3024-646: A place which they named Cape Henry . Under orders to select a more secure location, they set about exploring what is now Hampton Roads and an outlet to the Chesapeake Bay which they named the James River in honor of King James I of England . Captain Edward Maria Wingfield was elected president of the governing council on April 25, 1607. On May 14, he selected a piece of land on a large peninsula some 40 miles (64 km) inland from
3150-561: A separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. As of the 2010 census, there were 14,068 people, 3,619 households, and 1,787 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,404.1 people per square mile (542.1 people/km ). There were 3,880 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile (175.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 74.0% White , 14.0% Black or African American , 0.3% Native American , 5.7% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 2.5% from other races , and 3.5% from two or more races . 6.7% of
3276-607: A shipyard in Portsmouth , Virginia and placed on display at a new dock at Jamestown, where the largest, Susan Constant , could be boarded by visitors. On Jamestown Island, the reconstructed Jamestown Glasshouse , the Memorial Cross and the visitors center were completed and dedicated. A loop road was built around the island. Special events included army and navy reviews, air force fly-overs, ship and aircraft christenings and even an outdoor drama at Cape Henry , site of
3402-560: A site at the Williamsburg Regional Library's Croaker Branch. Other landmarks outside the historic area include Carter's Grove and Gunston Hall . In 1932, a Catholic church was built to minister to students at the College of William & Mary . Old Saint Bede was made a national shrine , dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham . On October 22, 1976, the third of three debates between Republican President Gerald Ford and Democratic challenger Jimmy Carter in
3528-461: A study conducted in 1985 by David Stahle and others, who obtained drawings of 800-year-old bald cypress trees along the Nottoway and Blackwater rivers. The lifespan of these trees is up to 1,000 years, and their rings offer a good indication of an area's annual amount of rainfall. The borings revealed that the worst drought in 700 years occurred between 1606 and 1612. This severe drought affected
3654-590: A time as quarters for the commanding officer of the Union garrison occupying the town. On September 9, drunken soldiers of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry set fire to the College Building, allegedly to prevent Confederate snipers from using it for cover. Williamsburg underwent much damage during the Union occupation, which lasted until September 1865. In 1881, Collis P. Huntington 's Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) built its Peninsula Extension through
3780-617: A work contract to pay the remainder of their voyage costs. In 1619, the first representative assembly in America, the General Assembly, convened in the Jamestown Church , "to establish one equal and uniform government over all Virginia" which would provide "just laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people there inhabiting." Initially, only men of English origin were permitted to vote. On June 30, 1619, in what
3906-556: Is a living-history park and museum located 1.25 miles (2.01 km) from the original location of the colony and adjacent to Jamestown Island. Initially created for the celebration of the 350th anniversary in 1957, Jamestown Settlement is operated by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and largely sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia . The museum complex features a reconstruction of a Powhatan village,
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4032-479: Is in the humid subtropical climate zone, with cool to mild winters, and hot, humid summers. Due to the inland location, winters are slightly cooler and spring days slightly warmer than in Norfolk, though lows average 3.2 °F (1.8 °C) cooler here due to the substantial urban buildup to the southeast. Snowfall averages 4.3 inches (11 cm) per season, and the summer months tend to be slightly wetter. With
4158-459: Is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km ) (1.8%) is water. Williamsburg stands upon a ridge on the Virginia Peninsula between the James and York Rivers. Queen's Creek and College Creek partly encircle the city. James City County is to the west and south and York County to the north and east. As with all cities in Virginia, Williamsburg is legally independent of both counties. The city
4284-626: Is on the I-64 corridor, 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Richmond and about 37 miles (60 km) northwest of Norfolk . It is in the northwest corner of Hampton Roads , the nation's 37th-largest metropolitan area, with a population of 1,576,370. Within Hampton Roads, Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach seaside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily tourism centers. Williamsburg
4410-496: Is one of three locations composing the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia , along with Williamsburg and Yorktown. Historic Jamestowne is the archaeological site on Jamestown Island and is a cooperative effort by Jamestown National Historic Site and Preservation Virginia . Jamestown Settlement, a living history interpretive site, is operated by the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, a state agency of
4536-577: The Richmond Times-Dispatch published an editorial that dubbed Williamsburg " Lotusburg ," for "Tuesday was election day in Williamsburg but nobody remembered it. The clerk forgot to wake the electoral board, the electoral board could not arouse itself long enough to have the ballots printed, the candidates forgot they were running, the voters forgot they were alive." But even if such complacency existed, one Episcopal priest dreamed of expanding and changing Williamsburg's future to give it
4662-506: The 1976 presidential election was held at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary , during which both candidates, perhaps in tribute to the historic venue and the United States Bicentennial celebration, spoke of a "new spirit" in America. The 9th G7 summit took place in Williamsburg in 1983. The participants discussed the growing debt-crisis, arms control and greater cooperation between
4788-529: The American Revolution . The College of William & Mary , established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial colleges in the South . Its alumni include three U.S. presidents as well as many other important figures in the nation's early history. The city's tourism-based economy is driven by Colonial Williamsburg ,
4914-556: The Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, the defenders succeeded in delaying the Union forces long enough for the retreating Confederates to reach the outer defenses of Richmond. A siege of Richmond ensued, culminating in the Seven Days Battles (June to July 1862). McClellan's campaign failed to capture Richmond. Meanwhile, on May 6, 1862, Williamsburg had fallen to the Union. The college's Brafferton building operated for
5040-529: The Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas . It was located on the northeast bank of the James River , about 2.5 mi (4 km) southwest of present-day Williamsburg . It was established by the London Company as "James Fort" on May 4, 1607 O.S. (May 14, 1607 N.S. ), and considered permanent, after brief abandonment in 1610. It followed failed attempts, including
5166-480: The Indian massacre of 1622 . More than 300 settlers were killed in the attack, about a third of the colony's English-speaking population. Dale's development at Henricus , which was to feature a college to educate the natives, and Wolstenholme Towne at Martin's Hundred , were both essentially wiped out. Jamestown was spared only through a timely warning by a Virginia Indian employee. There was not enough time to spread
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5292-523: The Peninsula campaign , which began later that spring, Union forces under General George B. McClellan moved up the peninsula from Fort Monroe in an attempt to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond. The Union forces captured Yorktown in April 1862, and the Battle of Williamsburg was fought the following month. With these developments, Jamestown and the lower James River were abandoned by
5418-599: The Roanoke Colony , established in 1585. Despite the dispatch of more supplies, only 60 of the original 214 settlers survived the 1609–1610 Starving Time . In mid-1610, the survivors abandoned Jamestown, though they returned after meeting a resupply convoy in the James River. Jamestown served as the colonial capital from 1616 until 1699. In August 1619, the first recorded slaves from Africa to British North America arrived at present-day Old Point Comfort , near
5544-612: The Virginia Company of London , proprietor of the colony, gave instructions on the formation of a laudable government for the Colony to Sir George Yeardley when he departed from London to become full governor of Virginia. As directed, in 1619, Governor Yeardly established four large corporations, termed citties (sic), which were designated to encompass the developed portion of the colony. These were Elizabeth Cittie , James Cittie , Charles Cittie , and Henrico Cittie . In 1634,
5670-603: The 1750s, when it was abandoned. By the mid-18th century, the land was heavily cultivated, primarily by the Travis and Ambler families. In 1831, David Bullock purchased Jamestown from the Travis and Ambler families. During the American Civil War , in 1861 Confederate William Allen , who owned the Jamestown Island, occupied Jamestown with troops he raised at his own expense with the intention of blockading
5796-581: The 1958 report Archaeological Excavations at Jamestown . In the present time, as part of the Colonial National Historical Park , the Jamestown Island area is home to two heritage tourism sites related to the original fort and town. Nearby, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry service provides a link across the navigable portion of the James River for vehicles and affords passengers a view of Jamestown Island from
5922-480: The Atlantic Ocean as a prime location for a fortified settlement. The river channel was a defensible strategic point due to a curve in the river, and it was close to the land, making it navigable and offering enough land for piers or wharves to be built in the future. Perhaps the most favorable fact about the location was that it was uninhabited because the leaders of the nearby indigenous nations considered
6048-530: The College of William and Mary, although teaching was temporarily suspended for financial reasons from 1882 to 1888. Ewell's efforts to restore the school and its programs during and after Reconstruction became legendary in Williamsburg and at the college, and were ultimately successful, with funding both from the U.S. Congress and from the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1888, the college secured $ 10,000 from
6174-467: The Commonwealth of Virginia. Spain, Portugal, and France moved quickly to establish a presence in the New World , while other European countries moved more slowly. The English did not attempt to found colonies until many decades after the explorations of John Cabot , and early efforts were failures—most notably the Roanoke Colony , which vanished about 1590. In 1606, English colonists set sail with
6300-681: The Confederates. Some of the forces from Jamestown and the crew of Virginia relocated to Drewry's Bluff , a fortified and strategic position high above the river about 8 miles (13 km) below Richmond. There they successfully blocked the Union Navy from reaching the Confederate capital. Once in Federal hands, Jamestown became a meeting place for runaway slaves, who burned the Ambler house, an 18th-century plantation house, which along with
6426-538: The English king ( Charles I ) directed the formation of eight shires (or counties ) in the colony of Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth River Shire, which included land area on both sides of Hampton Roads . In 1636, New Norfolk County was subdivided from it, including all the area in South Hampton Roads now incorporated in the five independent cities located there in modern times. The remaining portion became known as Elizabeth City Shire. To this date,
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#17327984930776552-410: The General Assembly of the Commonwealth and established a normal school to educate teachers; in 1906, the General Assembly modified the college charter, took ownership of the college buildings and grounds, and assumed primary responsibility for funding it. Ewell remained in Williamsburg as President Emeritus of the college until his death in 1894. Beginning in the 1890s, C&O land agent Carl M. Bergh,
6678-537: The Hampton-Norfolk city line is on the shore of Norfolk's beach on Hampton Roads, not in the middle of the water as might be expected. In 1643, Elizabeth City Shire became Elizabeth City County . The boundaries of this area which contained the early colonial settlements at Kecoughtan and Millwood (later Phoebus ), now essentially form those of the modern independent city of Hampton, Virginia . Jamestown, Virginia The Jamestown settlement in
6804-547: The James Fort as it was c. 1610 –1614, and seagoing replicas of the three ships that brought the first settlers, Susan Constant , Godspeed , Discovery . With the national independence of the United States established by the end of the 18th century, Jamestown came to be looked at as a starting point. Its founding in 1607 has been regularly commemorated, with the most notable events being held every fifty years. The bicentennial of Jamestown on May 13–14, 1807,
6930-480: The James River and Richmond from the Union Navy. He was joined by Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones , who directed the building of batteries and conducted ordnance and armor tests for the first Confederate ironclad warship , CSS Virginia , which was under construction at the Gosport Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth in late 1861 and early 1862. Jamestown had a peak force of 1,200 men. During
7056-688: The Jamestown Rediscovery staff. Visitors can also often observe archaeologists from the Jamestown Rediscovery Project at work, as archaeological work at the site continues. As of 2014 , the archaeological work and studies are ongoing. In addition to their newsletter and website, new discoveries are frequently reported in the local newspaper, the Virginia Gazette based in nearby Williamsburg, and by other news media, often worldwide. Jamestown Settlement
7182-489: The Jamestown colonists and Powhatan tribe's ability to produce food and obtain a safe supply of water. The settlers also arrived too late in the year to get crops planted. Many in the group were either gentlemen or their manservants, both equally unaccustomed to the hard labor demanded by the harsh task of carving out a viable colony. One of these was Robert Hunt , a former vicar of Reculver , England, who celebrated
7308-500: The Jamestown colony, on a British privateer ship flying a Dutch flag. The approximately 20 Africans from present-day Angola , had been removed by the British crew from a Portuguese slave ship. They most likely worked in the tobacco fields, under a system of race-based indentured servitude . The modern conception of slavery in the British colonies was formalized in 1640, and fully entrenched in Virginia by 1660. In 1676, Jamestown
7434-476: The Jamestown settlers was believed to have been long ago swallowed by the James River . The general area in James City County near Jamestown was also considered unsuitable, as it was not very accessible in the day of rail travel before automobiles were common. As the tricentennial of the 1607 Founding of the Jamestown neared, around 1904, despite an assumption in some quarters that Richmond would be
7560-477: The Jamestown society organized a celebration marking the 250th anniversary of Jamestown's founding. According to the Richmond Enquirer , the site for the celebration was on 10 acres (40,000 m ) on the spot where some of the colonists' houses were originally built. However, it is also speculated that the celebration was moved further east on the island closer to the Travis grave site, in order to avoid damaging Major William Allen 's corn fields. The attendance
7686-407: The NPS's excavations at Jamestown. In 1954, John L. Cotter took charge of field projects at Jamestown, conducted with the site's 350th anniversary (1957) in mind. Cotter worked with Edward B. Jelks and Harrington to survey the area's colonial sites. In 1957 Cotter and J. Paul Hudson co-authored New Discoveries at Jamestown . Cotter contributed, along with Jelks, Georg Neumann, and Johnny Hack, to
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#17327984930777812-557: The Powhatan Confederacy began to decline. Opechancanough's successor signed the first peace treaties between the Powhatan Indians and the English. The treaties required the Powhatan to pay yearly tribute payment to the English and confined them to reservations. A generation later, during Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, Jamestown was burned and eventually rebuilt. During its recovery, the Virginia legislature met first at Governor William Berkeley 's nearby Green Spring Plantation , and later at Middle Plantation , which had been started in 1632 as
7938-490: The Prince of Sweden, Mark Twain , Henry H. Rogers , and dozens of other dignitaries and famous persons. A major naval review featuring the United States' Great White Fleet was a key feature. U.S. Military officials and leaders were impressed by the location, and the Exposition site later formed the first portion of the large U.S. Naval Station Norfolk in 1918 during World War I . With America's increased access to automobiles, and with improved roads and transportation, it
8064-557: The Soviet Union and the G7 (subsequently the G8). At the end of the meeting, Secretary of State George P. Shultz read to the press a statement confirming the deployment of American Pershing II-nuclear missiles in West Germany later in 1983. On May 3, 2007, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visited Jamestown and Williamsburg. She had previously visited Williamsburg in 1957. Many world leaders, including President George W. Bush , visited Jamestown to mark its 400th anniversary. The celebration began in part in 2005 with events leading up to
8190-453: The Spanish from gaining knowledge of the weakness of the colony. Don Pedro de Zúñiga, the Spanish ambassador to England, was desperately seeking this information (in addition to spies) in order to get Philip III of Spain to authorize an attack on the colony. The investors of the Virginia Company of London expected to reap rewards from their speculative investments. With the second supply, they expressed their frustrations and made demands upon
8316-535: The Starving Time was John Rolfe , who carried with him a cache of untested tobacco seeds from Bermuda, which had grown wild there after being planted by shipwrecked Spaniards years before. In 1614, Rolfe began to successfully harvest tobacco. Prosperous and wealthy, he married Pocahontas, bringing several years of peace between the English and natives. However, at the end of a public relations trip to England, Pocahontas became sick and died on March 21, 1617. The following year, her father also died. Powhatan's brother,
8442-402: The United States, the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, was founded in the city. Known in modern times as Eastern State Hospital , it was established by Act of the Virginia colonial legislature on June 4, 1770. The Act to "Make Provision for the Support and Maintenance of Ideots, Lunaticks, and other Persons of unsound Minds" authorized the House of Burgesses to appoint
8568-471: The anniversary, and was celebrated statewide throughout 2007, though the official festivities took place during the first week of May. On February 5, 2009, President Barack Obama took his first trip aboard Air Force One to a House Democrats retreat in the city to attend and address their "Issues Conference". According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km ), of which 8.9 square miles (23.1 km )
8694-409: The area that would become Williamsburg formed part of the territory of the Powhatan Confederacy . By the 1630s, English settlements had grown to dominate the lower (eastern) portion of the Virginia Peninsula , and Powhatan tribes had abandoned their nearby villages. Between 1630 and 1633, after the war that followed the Indian Massacre of 1622 , English colonists constructed a defensive palisade across
8820-507: The area, eventually establishing six stations in Williamsburg and the surrounding area. The Peninsula Extension was good news for the farmers and merchants of the Virginia Peninsula, and they generally welcomed the railroad, which aided passenger travel and shipping. Williamsburg allowed tracks to be placed down Duke of Gloucester Street and even directly through the ruins of the capitol building. (They were later relocated, and Collis Huntington's real-estate arm, Old Dominion Land Company , donated
8946-402: The area. The location earlier known as Vaiden's Siding on the railroad just west of Williamsburg in James City County was renamed Norge . These citizens and their descendants found the local conditions favorable, and many became leading merchants, tradespersons, and farmers in the community. These transplanted Americans brought some new blood and enthusiasm to the old colonial capital area. In
9072-480: The better climate now also enjoyed use of the college's facilities. The college students made a presentation to the House of Burgesses, and it was agreed in 1699 that the colonial capital would move to Middle Plantation permanently. A village was laid out and Middle Plantation was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England , befitting the town's newly elevated status. After Williamsburg's designation as
9198-454: The black American experience in the town. A century after Goodwin's work began, Colonial Williamsburg remains a work in progress. In addition to Colonial Williamsburg, the city's railroad station was restored to become an intermodal passenger facility. In nearby James City County, the c. 1908 C&O Railway combination passenger and freight station at Norge was preserved and, with a donation from CSX Transportation , relocated in 2006 to
9324-555: The business activity involved in government, the College of William and Mary continued and expanded, as did the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds. The latter became known as Eastern State Hospital . At the outset of the American Civil War (1861–1865), enlistments in the Confederate Army depleted the College of William and Mary's student body and on May 10, 1861, the faculty voted to close
9450-402: The capital of the colony was moved permanently to Middle Plantation in 1699. The town was renamed Williamsburg , to honor the reigning monarch, King William III . A capitol building and "Governor's Palace" were erected there in the following years. After the move of the capital to Williamsburg, Jamestown declined. Those who lived in the general area attended services at Jamestown's church until
9576-407: The city's restored Historic Area. Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown , Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle , which annually attracts more than four million tourists. Modern Williamsburg is also a college town , inhabited in large part by William & Mary students, faculty and staff. Before English settlers arrived at Jamestown to establish the Colony of Virginia in 1607,
9702-484: The college for the duration of the war. The College Building served as a Confederate barracks and later as a hospital before being burned by Union forces in 1862. The Williamsburg area saw combat in the spring of 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign , a Union effort to take Richmond from the east from a base at Fort Monroe . Throughout late 1861 and early 1862, the small contingent of Confederate defenders
9828-413: The colonial period, the border between the two counties ran down the center of Duke of Gloucester Street. For almost a century after the 1776 formation both of the Commonwealth of Virginia and of the United States, despite practical complications, the town remained divided between the two counties. Williamsburg was the site of the first attempted canal in the United States. In 1771, Lord Dunmore , who
9954-592: The colonists, a historic drought and the communal nature of their workload, progress through the first few years was inconsistent. By 1613, six years after Jamestown's founding, the organizers and shareholders of the Virginia Company were desperate to increase the efficiency and profitability of the struggling colony. Without stockholder consent the Governor, Sir Thomas Dale , assigned 3-acre (12,000 m ) plots to its " ancient planters " and smaller plots to
10080-728: The colonists. Jamestown was located in James Cittie . Of the first documented African slaves to arrive in English North America , on the frigate White Lion in August 1619, were an African man and woman, later named Antoney and Isabella. Listed in the 1624 census in Virginia, they became the first African family recorded in Jamestown. Their baby, named William Tucker, became the first documented African child baptized in British North America. Another of
10206-494: The colony more self-sufficient. After Smith was forced to return to England because of an explosion which gave him deep burn wounds during a trading expedition, the colony was led by George Percy , who proved incompetent in negotiating with the native tribes. There are indications that those in London comprehended and embraced Smith's message. The third supply mission of 1609 was by far the largest and best equipped. They also had
10332-557: The colony's capital, immediate provision was made for construction of a capitol building and for platting the city according to Theodorick Bland 's survey. His design utilized the college's extant sites and the almost new Bruton Parish Church as focal points, and placed the new Capitol building opposite the college, with Duke of Gloucester Street connecting them. Alexander Spotswood , who arrived in Virginia as lieutenant governor in 1710, had several ravines filled and streets leveled, and assisted in erecting additional college buildings,
10458-413: The degree of Jamestown. Another factor was travel. In the 18th and early 19th-century, transportation in the colony was largely by canals and navigable rivers . As it had been built on "high ground", Williamsburg was not sited on a major water-route, unlike many early U.S. communities. The railroads that began to be built in the 1830s also did not yet come through the city. Despite Williamsburg's loss of
10584-407: The developed part of the colony had left it vulnerable to attack. In the 1690s, the colonists again tried to establish a school. They commissioned Reverend James Blair , who spent several years in England lobbying, and finally obtained a royal charter for the desired new school. It was to be named the College of William & Mary in honor of the monarchs of the time. When Blair returned to Virginia,
10710-423: The early 20th century, Williamsburg remained a sleepy small town. Some newer structures were interspersed with colonial-era buildings, but the town was much less progressive than Virginia's other, busier communities of similar size. Some local lore indicates that the residents liked it that way, as described in longtime Virginia Peninsula journalist, author and historian Parke S. Rouse Jr. 's work. On June 26, 1912,
10836-473: The early enslaved Africans to be purchased at the settlement was Angela , who worked for Captain William Peirce. After several years of strained coexistence, Chief Opechancanough and his Powhatan Confederacy attempted to eliminate the English colony once and for all. On the morning of March 22, 1622, they attacked outlying plantations and communities up and down the James River in what became known as
10962-428: The evening". During the war, Virginia's capital was moved again, in 1780, this time to Richmond at the urging of then- Governor Thomas Jefferson , who feared Williamsburg's location made it vulnerable to a British attack. Williamsburg remained a venue for many important conventions during the war. Williamsburg ceased to be the capital of the new Commonwealth of Virginia in 1780 and went into decline, although not to
11088-446: The first known Anglican Eucharist in the territory of the future United States on June 21, 1607. Two-thirds of the settlers died before ships arrived in 1608 with supplies and German and Polish craftsmen , who helped to establish the first manufactories in the colony. As a result, glassware became the foremost American products to be exported to Europe at the time. Clapboard had already been sent back to England beginning with
11214-649: The first landing of the settlers. This celebration continued from April 1 to November 30 with over a million participants, including dignitaries and politicians such as the British Ambassador and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon . The highlight for many of the nearly 25,000 at the Festival Park on October 16, 1957, was the visit and speech of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her consort, Prince Philip . Queen Elizabeth II loaned
11340-580: The first returning ship. The delivery of supplies in 1608 on the first and second supply missions of Captain Newport had also added to the number of hungry settlers. It seemed certain at that time that the colony at Jamestown would meet the same fate as earlier English attempts to settle in North America, specifically the Roanoke Colony (Lost Colony) and the Popham Colony , unless there was
11466-411: The harbor of Hampton Roads. This latter feature proved ideal for the naval delegations which came from points all around the world. The Jamestown Exposition of 1907 was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the early part of the 20th century. Held from April 26, 1907, to December 1, 1907, attendees included US President Theodore Roosevelt , Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany,
11592-512: The high Black population figure was not due to an actual demographic shift but instead due to "the Bureau ’s decision to swap some census respondents’ identities with other respondents for privacy protection", a phenomenon known as differential privacy . Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to
11718-490: The historical significance of the colonial sites of the Peninsula. Williamsburg, a sleepy but populated town of shops and homes, was still celebrating Civil War events. However, as the new century dawned, thoughts turned to the upcoming 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now known as Preservation Virginia ) started the movement in 1900 by calling for
11844-585: The leaders of Jamestown in written form. They specifically demanded that the colonists send commodities sufficient to pay the cost of the voyage, a lump of gold, assurance that they had found the South Sea, and one member of the lost Roanoke Colony. It fell to the third president of the council, Captain John Smith , to deliver a bold and much-needed wake-up call in response to the investors in London, demanding practical laborers and craftsmen who could help make
11970-499: The leather from shoes for sustenance. Only 60 of the original 214 settlers at Jamestown survived. There is historical and scientific evidence that the settlers at Jamestown had turned to cannibalism during the starving time. The ships from Bermuda arrived in Jamestown on May 23, 1610. Many of the surviving colonists were near death, and Jamestown was judged to be unviable. Everyone was boarded onto Deliverance and Patience , which set sail for England. However, on June 10, 1610,
12096-465: The mansion that evening. Also during the festivities, students of the College of William & Mary gave orations. An old barn on the island was used as a temporary theater, where a company of players from Norfolk performed. Attending were many dignitaries, politicians, and historians. The celebration concluded on May 14 with a dinner and toast at the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg. In 1857,
12222-418: The median income for a family was $ 52,358. Males had a median income of $ 28,625 versus $ 26,840 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,483. 18.3% of the population and 9.3% of families were below the poverty line . Out of the total population, 29.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. A high proportion of Williamsburg residents derive
12348-463: The new school was founded in a safe place, Middle Plantation, in 1693. Classes began in temporary quarters in 1694, and construction soon started on the College Building, a precursor to the Wren Building . Four years later, in 1698, the rebuilt Statehouse in Jamestown burned down again, this time accidentally. The government again "temporarily" relocated to Middle Plantation, and in addition to
12474-473: The old church was one of the few remaining signs of old Jamestown. When Allen sent men to assess the damage in late 1862, they were killed by the former slaves. Following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse , the oath of allegiance was administered to former Confederate soldiers at Jamestown. In the years after the Civil War, Jamestown became quiet and peaceful once again. In 1892, Jamestown
12600-408: The peninsula and a settlement named Middle Plantation as a primary guard-station along the palisade. Jamestown, the original capital of Virginia Colony, burned down during the events of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. Once Governor William Berkeley had regained control, temporary government headquarters were established about 12 miles (19 km) away on the high ground at Middle Plantation, pending
12726-561: The pinnaces Deliverance and Patience . The original plan was to build only one vessel, Deliverance , but it soon became evident that it would not be large enough to carry the settlers and all of the food (salted pork) that was being sourced on the islands. While the third supply was stranded in Bermuda, the colony at Jamestown was in even worse shape. The settlers faced rampant starvation for want of additional provisions. During this time, lack of food drove people to eat snakes and even boil
12852-416: The popular Jamestown Ferry and a portion of State Route 31 were relocated. Major projects were developed by non-profit, state and federal agencies. Jamestown Festival Park was established by the Commonwealth of Virginia adjacent to the entrance to Jamestown Island. Full-sized replicas of the three ships that brought the colonists, Susan Constant , Godspeed , and Discovery were constructed at
12978-433: The population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. There were 3,619 households, out of which 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
13104-605: The powder was arranged. This was an important precursor in the run-up to the American Revolution . Following the Declaration of Independence from Britain, the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1776. On July 25, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed at Williamsburg and received with "applause under discharge of cannon and firing of small arms with illuminations [fireworks] in
13230-580: The rebuilding of the Statehouse at Jamestown. The members of the House of Burgesses discovered that the "temporary" location was both safer and more pleasant than Jamestown, which was humid and plagued with mosquitoes. A school of higher education had long been an aspiration of the colonists. An early attempt at Henricus failed after the Indian Massacre of 1622 ; the location at the outskirts of
13356-521: The remaining 1,500 acres (610 hectares) portion of Jamestown Island which had been under private ownership by the Vermillion family. The National Park Service partnered with Preservation Virginia to preserve the area and present it to visitors in an educational manner. On June 5, 1936, the national monument was re-designated a national historical park and became known as Colonial National Historical Park . Beginning in 1936, J.C. Harrington worked on
13482-540: The river. In 1996, Historic Jamestowne gained renewed importance when the Jamestown Rediscovery project began excavations in search of the original James Fort site, originally in preparation for the quadricentennial of Jamestown's founding. The primary goal of the archaeological campaign was to locate archaeological remains of "the first years of settlement at Jamestown, especially of the earliest fortified town; [and the] subsequent growth and development of
13608-400: The settlement's later arrivals. Measurable economic progress was made, and the settlers began expanding their planting to land belonging to local native tribes. That this turnaround coincided with the end of a drought that had begun the year before the English settlers' arrival probably indicates multiple factors were involved besides the colonists' ineptitude. Among the colonists who survived
13734-503: The site to the forerunner of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities .) The railroad's main purpose was shipping eastbound West Virginia bituminous coal to Newport News . Using the new coal piers , coal was loaded aboard large colliers in the harbor of Hampton Roads for shipment to New England and to export destinations worldwide. Due in no small part to President Ewell's efforts, education continued at
13860-517: The site too poor and remote for agriculture . The island was swampy and isolated, and it offered limited space, was plagued by mosquitoes, and afforded only brackish tidal river water unsuitable for drinking. The Jamestown settlers arrived in Virginia during a severe drought, according to a research study conducted by the Jamestown Archaeological Assessment (JAA) team in the 1990s. The JAA analyzed information from
13986-411: The timely arrival of another relief fleet , bearing Governor Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (who would eventually give his name to the colony of Delaware ), which met the two ships as they descended the James River, granted Jamestown a reprieve. The colonists called this The Day of Providence . The fleet brought supplies and additional settlers. All the settlers returned to the colony, though there
14112-466: The town". Visitors to Historic Jamestowne can view the site of the original 1607 James Fort, the 17th-century church tower and the site of the 17th-century town, as well as tour an archaeological museum called the Archaearium and view many of the close to two million artifacts found by Jamestown Rediscovery. They also may participate in living history ranger tours and archaeological tours given by
14238-420: The west and south and York County on the east. English settlers founded Williamsburg in 1632 as Middle Plantation , a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers, and farther inland than their headquarters at Jamestown . The city functioned as the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and became the center of political events in Virginia leading to
14364-399: The word to the outposts. Of the 6,000 people who came to the settlement between 1608 and 1624, only 3,400 survived. In 1624, King James revoked the Virginia Company's charter, and Virginia became a royal colony . Despite the setbacks, the colony continued to grow. Ten years later, in 1634, by order of King Charles I , the colony was divided into the original eight shires of Virginia , in
14490-410: Was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The age distribution was: 9.6% under the age of 18, 46.0% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 37,093, and
14616-630: Was Virginia's last Royal Governor , announced plans to connect Archer's Creek , which leads to the James River , with Queen's Creek , leading to the York River . It would have formed a water route across the Virginia Peninsula , but was not completed. Remains of this canal are visible at the rear of the grounds behind the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg . In the 1770s, the first purpose-built psychiatric hospital in
14742-488: Was a series of 14 redoubts east of town, with earthen Fort Magruder (also known as Redoubt # 6) at the crucial junction of the two major roads leading to Williamsburg from the east. College of William and Mary President Benjamin S. Ewell oversaw the design and construction. He owned a farm in James City County, and had been commissioned as an officer in the Confederate Army after the college closed in 1861. At
14868-626: Was active with the Virginia Historical Society , founded the Jamestowne Society for descendants of stockholders in the Virginia Company of London and the descendants of those who owned land or who had domiciles in Jamestown or on Jamestown Island prior to 1700. Colonial National Monument was authorized and established by the U.S. Congress in 1930. In 1934, the National Park Service obtained
14994-486: Was called the Grand National Jubilee. Over 3,000 people attended the event, many arriving on vessels which anchored in the river off the island. May 13 was the opening day of the festival, which began with a procession which marched to the graveyard of the old church, where the attending bishop delivered the prayer. The procession then moved to the Travis mansion, where the celebrants dined and danced in
15120-629: Was deliberately burned during Bacon's Rebellion , though it was rebuilt. In 1699, the colonial capital was moved to present-day Williamsburg, Virginia . In the 18th century, Jamestown ceased to exist as a settlement and remains as an archaeological site, Jamestown Rediscovery , which houses museums and historical sites, including the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown. Jamestown
15246-462: Was estimated at between 6,000 and 8,000 people. Sixteen large steam ships anchored offshore in the James River and were gaily decorated with streamers. Former US President John Tyler of nearby Sherwood Forest Plantation gave a 2½ hour speech, and there were military displays, a grand ball and fireworks. The 100th anniversary of the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 had generated a new interest in
15372-547: Was feasible for the 350th anniversary celebration to be held at Jamestown itself in 1957. Although erosion had cut off the land bridge between Jamestown Island and the mainland, the isthmus was restored and new access provided by the completion of the National Park Service's Colonial Parkway which led to Williamsburg and Yorktown , the other two portions of Colonial Virginia's Historic Triangle . There were also improvements of state highways. The north landing for
15498-452: Was known as the Army of the Peninsula, led by General John B. Magruder . He successfully created ruses to fool the invaders as to the size and strength of his forces, and deterred their attack. The subsequent slow Union movement up the peninsula gained valuable time for defenses to be constructed at the Confederate capital at Richmond. In early May 1862, after holding off Union troops for over
15624-470: Was purchased by Edward Barney. The following year, Barney donated 22½ acres of land, including the ruined church tower, to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, now known as Preservation Virginia . By this time, erosion from the river had eaten away the island's western shore. Visitors began to conclude that the site of James Fort lay completely underwater. With federal assistance,
15750-414: Was still a critical shortage of food. Relations between the colonists and the Powhatans quickly deteriorated after De La Warr's arrival, eventually leading to conflict. The Anglo-Powhatan War lasted until Samuel Argall captured Wahunsenacawh's daughter Matoaka, better known by her nickname Pocahontas , after which the chief accepted a treaty of peace. Due to the aristocratic backgrounds of many of
15876-594: Was the first recorded strike in Colonial America , the Polish artisans protested and refused to work if not allowed to vote. On July 21, 1619, the court granted the Poles equal voting rights . Afterwards, the labor strike was ended, and the artisans resumed their work. Individual land ownership was also instituted, and the colony was divided into four large "boroughs" or "incorporations" called "citties" by
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