POWHATAN COUNTY

County Offices
3834 Old Buckingham Road
Powhatan804-598-5610
www.powhatanva.com

Chamber of Commerce
3829 Buckingham Road
Powhatan 805-598-2636
www.powhatanchamberofcommerce.org

Located to the west of the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County, Powhatan is one of nine Virginia counties that bear a Native American name. Those who are familiar with local history will recognize the name as honoring the great Chief Powhatan, father of the famous Indian Princess Pocahontas. This verdant rural community is ideally situated just minutes from Richmond’s city center and less than an hour from Charlottesville. Here, in this region of unspoiled woodlands and fertile soil, newcomers will discover some of the most beautiful countryside in all Virginia. Offering a small-town atmosphere and an attractive array of growing residential developments, Powhatan County is rapidly evolving from its agricultural roots into a desirable suburban community.

Although many sections of the county seem relatively unchanged by centuries of steady progress, local planners and civic leaders are poised to accommodate the inevitable expansion of residential, commercial, and industrial development. Prime property is being rezoned to accommodate companies who are showing interest in this land-rich region. Rezoning of prime acreage for prime development is evidence of the progressive and visionary attitude that prevails in this land-rich area filled with natural resources.

 

Services
At the apex of growth and development in eastern Powhatan County and stretching into Chesterfield County is the proud home of the Virginia State Golf Association. The $12.8 million VSGA Golf Center offers 18 holes of championship golf, an additional 9-hole course, and outstanding practice facilities. Tom Fazio, the world renowned golf course architect, was commissioned to design the center’s premier layout.

In the areas of healthcare and education, Powhatan County residents enjoy quick and easy access to the wealth of colleges and universities, hospitals, medical centers, and internationally famous research centers that are scattered throughout Greater Richmond. The urban resources in Richmond’s highly developed West End and the Midlothian area of Chesterfield County are just minutes from home. Residents of all ages are served by the Powhatan Public School System, which operates a county vocational center that includes adult education programs.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and John Tyler Community College both provide a number of convenient campuses for continuing education, career training,  degrees and certifications, and college-track programs. Colleges and universities include Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, and Virginia Union University. The University of Virginia is another possibility, with its main campus located in Charlottesville and an extension of its Continuing Education Division in the City of Richmond. U.S. Route 60 provides an efficient route from Powhatan County to Midlothian and other Chesterfield County destinations, although extensions to the Route 288 beltway have also improved the transportation efficiencies into employment hot spots like Glen Allen in Henrico County. As the West End of the county continues to mature and populate, Powhatan is capturing attention as a land-rich bedroom community and a desirable location with room to grow for businesses and corporations.

 

Lifestyle
Retirees, young professionals, and families in all stages are attracted to the country lifestyle available in Powhatan County, where quiet roads meander through miles of greenery and wildflowers. Anxious to provide recreational amenities that are close to home, county planners are developing beautiful expanses of lush land for picnics, hiking, biking, and nature study. The 150-acre Fighting Creek Park is just one example of the county’s commitment to preserve the vast open spaces and rural beauty of a land preparing for the continuation of the new-millennium wave of construction.

Just off Route 60 lies the Powhatan WildLife Management Area, where numerous small streams meander toward Sallee Creek. Deer join small game like quail, rabbit, squirrel, dove, and woodcock in this area. Trails are available for hiking and horseback riding, although the area is popular for seasonal hunting. Just a short drive from home in panoramic Chesterfield County, Pocahontas State Park features more than 7,600 acres of recreational opportunities and facilities include the state’s largest swimming pool, the Heritage Amphitheater, boat rentals, and camp sites.

Newcomers who enjoy horseback riding will discover a wide variety of excellent equestrian academies in Powhatan, while golfers can perfect their backswing at the Mill Quarter Plantation Country Club. Area youth will enjoy taking part in the sports activities of the local athletic association or investigating the events and facilities in neighboring county parks. The Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chesterfield County offers more than 800 acres of land for exploration and wildlife observation. One of the most popular of Henrico County’s 28 parks is the living history center of Meadow Farm, where a full calendar of outstanding annual events are held that include such regional draws as the Independence Day celebration and the colorful October harvest celebration. Cultural attractions that are close to home range from programs in college performing arts centers and concert halls or community theatre to world-class professional companies and organizations. Live stage performances combine with symphony, opera, ballet, pop concerts, children’s programs, comedy clubs, and internationally acclaimed galleries in the Greater Richmond area. The Richmond Braves play AAA baseball at The Diamond, and the Richmond Kickers never fail to bring avid soccer fans to their feet in the University of Richmond Stadium. From the high-speed excitement of NASCAR racing at Richmond International Raceway to thoroughbred and harness racing at Colonial Downs, the metro region is home to some of Virginia’s most celebrated sports events.

Wonderful museums, Civil War battlefields, historic sites, famous monuments, and many important markers abound in the Greater Richmond area. Native American artifacts, African-American contributions, interactive science exhibits, Jewish history, and local heritage are just a few of the subjects that are showcased in well-managed venues. Adjacent to the James River and lining the historic State Route 5 is a selection of the most lavish plantations and manor homes in the Metropolitan Richmond region, a living memorial to Virginia’s leading cash crop for more than 300 years—tobacco.

Those sifting through remnants of the past often explore Powhatan County, seeking out beautiful older homes and architecturally important churches in the countryside. Sublet Tavern and Norwood Plantation are two of the popular sites for history students. Even in the newer residential villages, the charm of yesterday is evident in magnificent Victorians and colonials set against the backdrop of lush woodlands. Cape Cods, ranches, lakefront properties, brick single-stories, transitional, and spacious two-story contemporaries are all possibilities.

If your dream is a magnificent custom home surrounded by breathtaking views, several prestigious developments provide an idyllic setting. At a time when generous parcels of land are either non-existent or at a premium in many locales, Powhatan County excels in open space and pure potential. Although the present minimum lot size is two acres, some of the county’s older subdivisions offer the affordable luxury of secluded, spacious 10-acre lots. Abundant land is easy to find for private home sites, productive gardens, sweeping lawns, and acreage for boarding or even raising horses.

Touting itself as the “new frontier” of the Greater Richmond area, Powhatan County is aware of the inherent value of its prolific resources and scenic landscape. Carefully planned development will enable the county to preserve the tranquility and small-town flavor that makes the area so appealing.