History

Welcome to Chesterfield County!

Chesterfield County traces its past to the Native Americans who lived here for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the first English settlers in 1611 to establish the second permanent settlement in the New World. It also is the place of Revolutionary War engagements and major Civil War campaigns, and boasts of many firsts, including the first commercial cultivation of tobacco, the first ironworks and the first commercially-mined coal in North America. Find out about all this interesting history and more!

Chesterfield is a place of incredible beauty - there is so much to see and do. With the James and Appomattox rivers forming much of its borders, there are countless opportunities for boating and fishing. The county is the location of Pocahontas State Park, which is rated among the top 10 campsites in the country, and the Dutch Gap Conservation Area, an 800-plus-acre bounty of woodlands, wildlife and waterways on a 4.5-mile trail loop. Dutch Gap also offers locations for peaceful relaxation in an open-air oasis. The county provides more than 4,000 acres of green space among its 60 public parks and numerous athletic complexes make it an ideal host for sports events and tournaments. Chesterfield County’s central location is just south of Virginia’s capital, Richmond, and is convenient to interstates 95, 85 and 64.

Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia

The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia, established on Sept. 23, 1981, serves as the center for Chesterfield County history. The mission of the historical society is to collect, preserve, interpret and promote Chesterfield County’s unique past. The historical society provides exhibits (in the museum and Magnolia Grange are in partnership with Chesterfield County), information to support educational goals and quality programs.

Chesterfield Historical Society Library

The Chesterfield Historical Library is a research facility focused primarily on the history of the county and its families. Located at Historic Trinity Church, it is open to the public, free of charge. The library maintains manuscript collections, vertical files, maps and pictures. The collection has been carefully assembled and preserved through the years by members and friends of the Historical Society.

Historic Programs and Activities

Chesterfield County boasts unique attractions for visitors to enjoy ranging from Revolutionary War and Civil War historic sites, historic museums and houses, and a wide range of historical landmarks. It is proud of the many firsts that have been documented here, from the first iron furnace and commercially mined coal to the first hard surfaced road in Virginia, the second railroad established in the state, and one of the last preserved African American schoolhouses in the county. Parks and Recreation manages more than 18 separate historic sites and 5,100 acres of parkland at 59 park sites. Approximately 2,500 visitors each year attend its historical programs, activities and events. Learn more about historical programs in Chesterfield.

Fallen Military Heroes

Find information regarding roads and facilities named in honor of Chesterfield County's fallen military heroes, along with their stories and commemorations.

Chesterfield Fallen Military Heroes banner

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