NEW KENT COUNTY

County Offices
12007 Courthouse Circle
New Kent 804-966-9655
www.co.new-kent.va.us

Chamber of Commerce
7324 Vineyard Pky
New Kent 804-966-8581
www.newkentchamber.org

Situated just 30 miles east of Richmond on the major thoroughfare of Interstate 64, New Kent County offers a rural expanse of land centrally located between Richmond and Colonial Williamsburg. Quiet country living is the attraction to this area, where acreage is plentiful and the sounds of nature are unbroken by city noise or the rush of passing traffic. Carved from York County in 1654, the New Kent area has managed to preserve its pristine environment over the centuries. While residents have quick and easy access to the vast resources of Greater Richmond and Hampton Roads, they can return home to timeless beauty in woodlands, meadows, and fields of wildflowers.

Easy access to Interstate 95 and the rustic serenity of the unspoiled countryside have transformed this region into a bedroom community for many commuters to major regional employment centers. The artistry of nature is evident around the four seasons in New Kent County. Contrasting with miles of open fields are heavily wooded areas with native pines, accented by spring azaleas and rhododendrons or wildflowers along the scenic roadsides. Famous as the home to thoroughbred and harness racing at Colonial Downs Race Track, New Kent County had established a reputation as an equestrian paradise long before the track was built. Boasting Virginia’s only pari-mutuel horse racetrack, Colonial Downs action claims such high interest that several Virginia cities opened simulcast wagering facilities. The track sponsors many promotions and special events that add to the racing excitement.

 

Services
Although New Kent County residents enjoy a slower pace and relaxed lifestyle, the close proximity of Virginia’s capital city ensures access to premier cosmopolitan amenities. Area youth receive an excellent education in the local school district, where a strong core curriculum complements the extra-curricular activities and special programs for the gifted and challenged. Select college classes are offered locally in association with the community colleges of J. Sargeant Reynolds and Rappahannock. Options for higher education are available close to home in Henrico County, Chesterfield County, the City of Richmond, and Williamsburg. John Tyler Community College in neighboring Chesterfield County and several campuses for JS Reynolds Community College offer associate degrees, certifications, career and vocational training, college-track programs,  and continuing education.

Several four-year institutions including nationally recognized public and private colleges and universities are available within a 40-mile radius. Randolph-Macon College in the town of Ashland in Hanover County is ranked among the nation’s leading private liberal arts colleges. The City of Richmond is home to the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, the renowned VCU Health System and School of Medicine, and Virginia Union University. To the east in Williamsburg is the College of William and Mary, one of the oldest and most revered institutions of higher learning.

Leading hospitals and medical centers in Greater Richmond include the Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville, conveniently located in Hanover County. In 1998, this state-of-the-art medical center replaced Richmond Memorial Hospital as one of the premier healthcare facilities in the region. Part of the Bon Secours Health System, this exceptional institution provides a full complement of advanced diagnostics and treatment specialties. Family practice clinics, emergency centers, rehabilitation and therapeutic services, chronic and long-term facilities, and skilled professionals in every major specialty are available within the Greater Richmond area.

 

Lifestyle
Located just east of the Historic Triangle, New Kent County is one of Virginia’s oldest and most charming counties. The roads that lead from New Kent to Williamsburg are among the oldest in America, bearing over the centuries the footsteps of the French, British, Revolutionaries, Confederate, and Union soldiers alike. Named for Kent in England, this land marks the place where an adventurous Captain John Smith was captured by Native Americans and saved by the Indian Princess Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan.

New Kent County is also the homeland of Martha Dandridge, who was immortalized as our nation’s First Lady with her marriage to General George Washington. One of the landmark buildings in this beautiful region is St. Peter’s Church at Talleysville, where George and Martha exchanged wedding vows in 1759. The Village of New Kent has probably served as the county seat since the late 1600s, although county records were destroyed on more than one occasion by fire. After two such sieges, the documents were carefully boxed and sent to Richmond for safe keeping — ironically, before the tragic and infamous Burning of Richmond.

Today, many vistas in New Kent County mirror the idyllic, pastoral landscape that John Smith himself encountered more than four centuries ago. Over time, land grants obtained by early settlers resulted in large plantations and palatial manor homes set along the rivers, a common hallmark of affluent colonial life. Although these homes are not regularly open to the public, they continue to dot the countryside as intriguing reminders of yesterday.

Wherever you choose to settle in New Kent County, you’ll discover a rare blend of the past and present with the sure promise of a bright future. Established neighborhoods and new subdivisions offer housing choices that range from elegant Victorians and charming colonials shaded by large old trees to prestigious communities like The Woods at Five Lakes. Newcomers can choose from the traditional colonial styling to Cape Cods, transitionals, contemporaries, two-stories, and ranches in communities that offer a small-town flavor and friendliness.

Recreational facilities within New Kent County include the Brookwood Golf Club in Quinton, a scenic 3.5 nature trail off State Route 33, tennis courts, and sports fields. The community swimming pool in Charles City County is also available to New Kent County residents. Vast expanses of county and state parkland and sparkling waterways throughout the region provide opportunities for outdoor adventures that include boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, and sledding.

Virginia Beach in the Hampton Roads area to the east offers 28 miles of surf and sand, a renovated boardwalk, and superb resort amenities. Closer to home is the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown Island and Yorktown. Celebrated as the largest historic attraction in the nation, Colonial Williamsburg covers 173 acres with restored shops, homes, taverns, and public meeting places. Jamestown marks the site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and Yorktown celebrates the birth of a nation as the British Army surrendered to General George Washington.

To the west of New Kent County, the Greater  Richmond metropolitan area provides a kaleidoscope of cultural and recreational delights. Opera, symphony, community theatre, ballet, Broadway hits, and musical concerts from classical to pop-rock are all available in magnificently restored venues and sprawling new amphitheatres. Golf courses, sports clubs, fitness centers, river parks, and entertainment complexes are available throughout the region. Those who enjoy nothing more than a day of shopping will appreciate the distinctive districts in historic Richmond or one of the regional malls where skylights and palm trees create a tropical atmosphere.

In New Kent County, everything you could possibly want or need is available close to home. With its sweeping landscapes, easy access to cosmopolitan amenities, and vast supply of untapped resources, New Kent County is guaranteed of a place among Virginia’s growth centers.