8 Colonial History Towns in Virginia

As home to the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, Virginia has plenty of towns that are deeply connected to the Colonial era. Explore the time period between 1607 and 1779 by visiting a few of these eight historic Virginia towns.

WILLIAMSBURG

When early colonists traveled from Britain to the New World, they had several criteria in mind for an ideal settlement. Their requirements demanded that any new land be bordered by protective waterways, have deep shorelines allowing for boats to dock close to land, and be far enough inland to ward off any possible attack by Spanish fleets. Jamestown fit all three criteria, and became the capital of the New World from 1607 to 1699.

This historic settlement was eventually abandoned and the capital moved to Williamsburg, but you can still visit the original Historic Jamestowne on an archaeological walking tour to see the lands that the early colonists called home. Then, get an idea of daily life at the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, a 17th century living history museum that tells about the lives of Indigenous peoples before the British arrived, the first colonists, and their eventual interactions in the region.

Early Colonial settlers began establishing homes around the Williamsburg area by the 1630s, leading Indigenous peoples to move further inland in search of more remote locations. The colonists realized that the region was a strategic location, with the York River to the north and the James River to the south.

Visitors can learn all about Williamsburg during its time as the capital at Colonial Williamsburg, another living history museum built on much of the foundations of the original capital. The massive recreated village teaches of the historic trades practiced during the time period and even features some notable historic figures that tell of their pivotal roles in American history.

Williamsburg became one of the first planned cities in America after its designation as the capital of the Virginia Colony, drawing colonists to live, work, and learn in the area. The founding of William and Mary in 1693 made it a prime destination for some of the brightest minds of the time, with future Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler all attending the college.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Williamsburg:

• Church on the Main | Brick Anglican church built by the 1750s
• Wren Building | The oldest college building still standing in the United States, located at William & Mary
• Bruton Parish Church | One of the area's oldest churches

YORKTOWN

One of the eight original shires formed in Colonial Virginia in 1682, Yorktown is one of three points in the Historic Triangle, with Williamsburg and Jamestown forming the other two. All three connected by the Colonial Parkway. The area was settled by English colonists informally around the same time as Williamsburg, but it was officially founded as “York” in 1691, serving as a port on the York River that was used to transport tobacco to Europe, a practice that would steadily grow in the following century.

The town rose in importance as exports increased, reaching the height of its development in 1750. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, York was seen as an important location for the British, and General Charles Cornwallis used the area as a base of operations during the Siege of Yorktown, the last major battle of the war. Immediately after the American Revolution, York was renamed as Yorktown, and the community began to rebuild and reestablish under American rule.

Tour the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown to discover the stories of soldiers that fought in the war for independence through exhibits, films, and living history performances, then travel down the road to the Yorktown Battlefield to see the site of the famous Siege of Yorktown.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Yorktown:

• Custom House | One of only a dozen Historic Custom Houses in the country
• Grace Church | Episcopal church built in 1697
• York County Historical Museum | Exhibits highlight naval history and archaeological discoveries
• Nelson House | Home of Thomas Nelson Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence

RICHMOND

Like many other areas along Virginia’s James River, Richmond was explored by colonists soon after landing in Jamestown. Discovering Indigenous peoples living on the lands, they made contact but returned to Jamestown afterwards.

Decades went by with the English colonists making only short expeditions to the region, but in 1673, William Byrd I gained a grant for the lands along the James River that would eventually be called Richmond. His son, William Byrd II, inherited the lands, but in the early 1700s, the population of the small town was still below 200 colonists. It wasn’t until 1737 that a street plan was laid out for a full town. Byrd would dub the lands “Richmond” because the curve of the James River reminded him of the Thames in Richmond, England. 

Bonus: See the view that named Richmond for yourself at Libby Hill Park.

Richmond received an official town charter in 1742, and quickly grew to become a hotspot for political and influential figures. Patrick Henry would give his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech in 1775 at St. John’s Church, which is still standing and open for tours today. The speech ignited the colonists’ desire for independence from British rule and would convince Virginia’s House of Burgesses to pass a resolution that would send troops to fight in the American Revolution.

As the town’s population grew, so did its importance in the Virginia colony. In 1780, the capital of Virginia officially moved from Williamsburg to Richmond, where it has remained since.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Richmond:

• Virginia State Capitol | Designed by Thomas Jefferson 
• Tuckahoe Plantation | Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home
• Henricus Historical Park | Living history recreation of the second permanent English settlement
• Hanover Tavern | Historic tavern which once hosted George Washington, Lord Cornwallis, and the Marquis de Lafayette

WINCHESTER

Located in the northern part of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Winchester was first documented by colonists when German explorer John Lederer trekked the region in 1670. More thorough charting and mapping of Winchester occurred in the early 1700s, first by Swiss explorer Louis Michel in 1705 and then by Governor Alexander Spotswood in 1716.

By the late 1720s, then-Governor William Gooch was encouraging colonial settlements in the area with expansive land grants. An inrush of settlers occurred in 1729, with large groups of new immigrants—including Quakers, Germans, and Scots-Irish—traveling south from Pennsylvania and New York to take advantage of the offer.

While Virginia was technically an Anglican colony, Governor Gooch promoted tolerance of religion, allowing for several religious groups to coexist in Winchester. As a result, the area became home to some of the oldest Presbyterian, Quaker, Lutheran, and Anglican churches in the valley. While the region was previously known as Frederick Town, it was granted a charter by the Virginia House of Burgesses and renamed Winchester in 1752 for the English hometown of Colonel James Wood, the area’s first County Clerk.

General George Washington traveled to Winchester in 1756, during the French and Indian War. Washington, granted land by Colonel Woods, designed and constructed Fort Loudoun in present-day downtown Winchester as a base for military operations. The colonial structure would be occupied and manned until the start of the American Revolutionary War.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Winchester:

• Old Stone Presbyterian Church | Meeting house for Scots-Irish settlers built in 1788
• George Washington’s Office Museum | Log cabin where Washington oversaw construction of Fort Loudoun
• Opequon Presbyterian Church and Cemetery | Oldest Presbyterian congregation west of the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Mount Hebron Cemetery | Historic cemetery dating back to the 1760s 
• Museum of the Shenandoah Valley | Cultural center with galleries, formal gardens, trails, and an art park
• Abram’s Delight Museum | Site of the oldest home in Winchester

NORFOLK

The colonial history of Norfolk starts in 1636, but the town was not formally established until 1680 and not incorporated in the Colony of Virginia until 1736. As soon as colonists moved to the region, however, they recognized its strategic military placement due to its location at the mouth of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay.

In 1673, the colonists built Half Moone Fort, which is now where Town Point Park sits on Norfolk’s downtown waterfront. No traces of this early fort remain, but the location was used once again by British forces during the American Revolution to erect another temporary fort that would limit access to the waterways.

By 1775, Norfolk was one of the most prosperous cities in Virginia, functioning as a major shipbuilding center and a port city that exported goods like tobacco, corn, cotton, and timber from Virginia and other southern colonies and imported manufactured goods from Europe that would be sent throughout the colonies.

The American Revolution reached Norfolk in 1776, as it was burned to the ground by retreating British forces under orders of the outgoing colonial governor. Americans took control and rebuilt the town, creating a thriving port that still brings massive ships to the shores of Virginia today.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Norfolk:

• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | Norfolk's oldest building, built in 1739
• Hampton Roads Naval Museum | Trace over 240 years of naval history

PETERSBURG

By 1635, early colonists had traveled to the region that is now Petersburg and settled along the banks of the Appomattox River, which connected to the James River north of the town. Around 1675, a trading post named Peter’s Point began operations in the region, trading goods, food, and other items with the local Indigenous peoples as well as other nearby Colonial settlements.

The early settlements were haphazardly laid out, with little cohesion or thought to proper structure. By 1733, Colonel William Byrd II, who also founded Richmond, drew up plans for a fully organized town in the area, changing the name from Peter’s Point to Petersburgh. In 1748, the new town was officially incorporated into the Colony of Virginia.

During the American Revolutionary War, the British attempted to regain control of Petersburg, leading to the Battle of Blandford in 1781 just east of the town’s borders. While the American forces retreated back to Petersburg, the British never regained control of the area, and Petersburg stayed in American hands throughout the rest of the war.

Historic Colonial Sites in Petersburg:

• Blandford Church | 18th century Anglican church and part of the inspiration for Memorial Day 
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Bristol Parish | Episcopal Church in Old Towne Petersburg founded in 1643
• First Baptist Church | Oldest continuously operating Black church in Virginia

FREDERICKSBURG

The exploration of Fredericksburg by colonists dates back to 1608, when Captain John Smith journeyed through the region, documenting his encounters with the Indigenous settlements. In the following decades, many more Colonial groups would travel through the area intermittently. In 1671, Sir William Berkeley granted a patent for 50 acres of land at the falls of the Rappahannock River, a tract that would become the center of Fredericksburg.

This new settlement received an official charter from the House of Burgesses in 1727 and was named Fredericksburg for Frederick, Prince of Wales. The town began to grow due to the rise in tobacco exports, becoming the seat of Spotsylvania County in 1732.

Tobacco exports increased over 150% between 1733 and 1773, and Fredericksburg’s population growth mirrored the boom. The burgeoning town served as an inspection point for exports and was also an integral trade location along the Rappahannock, where European exports would arrive and be stored until further travels.

A ferry service between Stafford and Fredericksburg began in 1784, solidifying both towns as port and commercial centers for the northern part of the Virginia Colony. As the trade business grew, retail merchants positioned themselves near the port to sell these goods as they came in—and craftsmen, doctors, lawyers, and tradesmen followed the merchants to provide their services.

Fredericksburg's status grew during the years leading up to the American Revolution, as it served as a frequent meeting ground for patriots. The Rising Sun Tavern was originally built in the Colonial era as the home of George Washington’s youngest brother, Charles Washington. 

After Charles moved to found Charles Town, West Virginia, the property became a Federal Tavern, welcoming guests to the bustling port town of Fredericksburg. The building still stands as a museum to the era today. By the time the independence from Britain came, Fredericksburg was one of the largest towns in the Colony of Virginia.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Fredericksburg:

• Mary Washington House | Cottage home of Mary Washington, mother of George
• Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop | 18th century building which houses a museum of medicine, pharmacy, and military affairs
• James Monroe Museum | Museum, archives, and library with items owned by James Monroe
• Historic Kenmore | Georgian-style mansion built by George Washington's sister, Betty Washington Lewis, and her husband Fielding
• George Washington’s Ferry Farm | Boyhood home of George Washington

ALEXANDRIA

Located just north of George Washington’s colonial estate, Mount Vernon, Alexandria began its Colonial history in 1669 when Sir William Berkeley granted an English ship captain roughly 6,000 acres in the region. However, less than a month later, the captain would sell and parcels of the lands would continue trading hands for the next few decades. During the end of the 1600s, settlements began to spread further north, with Fredericksburg as a focal point for the region.

As the profitability of tobacco continued to rise, the northern section of the Virginia colony expanded, and a warehouse was built along the bluffs of the Potomac River to house the cash crop before transportation. Captain Philip Alexander II farmed much of the remaining waterfront property. But during the 1740s, the neighboring residents of Fairfax began to realize the need for a port to ship the grains and other crops grown in the farmlands to the west.

Although Alexander at first resisted the petition to place their new town on part of his land along the Potomac, the townspeople offered to name the new town Alexandria in honor of his family, and he accepted. The town was officially incorporated into the Virginia Colony in 1779, becoming a port of entry and a major export center.

More Historic Colonial Sites in Alexandria:

• Christ Church | English country-style church built between 1767 and 1773 and attended by George Washington
• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum | Tavern patronized by George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison
• Carlyle House Historic Park | 18th century Georgian home built in 1753
• Ball-Sellers House | Arlington's oldest building, a colonial farmhouse