Williamsburg, Virginia This article is about the autonomous town/city in Virginia.
Williamsburg, Virginia City of Williamsburg Official seal of Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an autonomous town/city in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads urbane area.
It is bordered by James City County and York County.
Williamsburg was established in 1632 as Middle Plantation, a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers.
The town/city served as the capital of the Colony of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and was the center of political affairs in Virginia dominant to the American Revolution.
The College of William & Mary, established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of college studies in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial universities located in the South; its alumni include three U.S.
The city's tourism-based economy is driven by Colonial Williamsburg, the restored Historic Area of the city.
Along with close-by Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle, which attracts more than four million tourists each year. Modern Williamsburg is also a college town, inhabited in large part by William & Mary pupils and staff.
Main articles: History of Williamsburg, Virginia; Middle Plantation (Virginia); and Colonial Williamsburg Prior to the arrival of the English colonists at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia in 1607, the region which became Williamsburg was inside the territory of the Powhatan Confederacy.
A village was laid out and Middle Plantation was retitled Williamsburg with respect to King William III of England, befitting the town's newly elevated status.
Following its designation as the Capital of the Colony, immediate provision was made for assembly of a capitol building and for plotting out the new town/city according to the survey of Theodorick Bland.
In 1722, the town of Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a town/city (now believed to be the earliest charter in the United States).
Middle Plantation was encompassed in James City Shire when it was established in 1634, as the Colony reached a total populace of roughly 5,000.
(James City and the other shires in Virginia changed their names a several years later; James City Shire then became known as James City County).
As Middle Plantation and later Williamsburg developed, the boundaries were adjusted slightly.
During this time, and for nearly 100 years after the formation of the Commonwealth of Virginia and 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.
The first purpose-built psychiatric hospital in the United States was established in the town/city in the 1770s: 'Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds'.
The Gunpowder Incident began in April 1775 as a dispute between Governor Dunmore and Virginia colonists over gunpowder stored in the Williamsburg magazine.
Virginia militia led by Patrick Henry responded to the 'theft' and marched on Williamsburg.
During the War, the capital of Virginia was moved again, in 1780, this time to Richmond at the urging of then-Governor Thomas Jefferson, who feared Williamsburg's locale made it vulnerable to a British attack.
Having lost the Capitol from 1780, Williamsburg was reduced in prominence, although not to the degree Jamestown had previously experienced.
As it had been assembled on 'high ground' Williamsburg was not sited on a primary water route, unlike many early communities in the United States.
Even with the loss to Williamsburg of the company activeness involved in government, the College of William and Mary continued and expanded, as did the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, with the latter becoming known as Eastern State Hospital.
At the outset of the American Civil War (1861 1865), enlistments in the Confederate Army depleted the pupil body of the College of William and Mary and on May 10, 1861 the faculty voted to close the College for the duration of the conflict.
The Williamsburg region saw combat in the spring of 1862 amid the Peninsula Campaign, an accomplishment to take Richmond from the east from a base at Fort Monroe.
This 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 primary roads dominant to Williamsburg from the east.
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 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.
Williamsburg Transportation Center is an intermodal facility positioned in a restored Chesapeake and Ohio Railway station positioned inside strolling distance of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area, the College of William and Mary, and the downtown area.
Huntington's Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (C&O) assembled its Peninsula Extension through the area, eventually establishing six stations in Williamsburg and the encircling area.
Williamsburg allowed tracks to be placed down the chief street of town, Duke of Gloucester Street, and even directly through the ruins of the historic capitol building.
Ewell's accomplishments to restore the historic school and its programs amid and after Reconstruction became legendary in Williamsburg and at the College and were ultimately successful, with financing from both the U.S.
Benjamin Ewell remained in Williamsburg as President Emeritus of the College until his death in 1894. The locale earlier known as Vaiden's Siding on the barns just west of Williamsburg in James City County, was retitled Norge.
Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg was still a sleepy little town in the early 20th century.
On June 26, 1912, the Richmond Times-Dispatch journal ran an editorial which dubbed the town 'Lotusburg' for "Tuesday was election day in Williamsburg but nobody remembered it.
However, even if such complacency existed, a dream of one Episcopal priest was to grew and change Williamsburg's future thus providing it a new primary purpose, turning much of it into a massive residing exhibition.
However, upon returning to Williamsburg in 1923 after serving a number of years in upstate New York, he realized that many of the other colonial-era buildings which remained were also in deteriorating condition: their survival was at stake.
Their combined accomplishments created Colonial Williamsburg, involving restoration of much of the downtown Williamsburg region and the creation of a 301-acre (1.22 km2) Historic Area, celebrating the patriots and the early history of America.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is Virginia's biggest tourist attraction (based upon attendance) and is the cornerstone of the Historic Triangle with Jamestown and Yorktown joined by the Colonial Parkway.
In addition to the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg, the city's barns station was restored to turn into an intermodal traveler facility (see Transportation section below).
Nearby in James City County, the old c.
On May 3, 2007 Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attended Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia. Her previous visit to Williamsburg had been in 1957. Many world leaders, including US President George W.
According to the United States Enumeration Bureau, the town/city has a total region of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km2), of which 8.9 square miles (23.1 km2) is territory and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) (1.8%) is water. Williamsburg is spread upon a ridge on the Virginia Peninsula between the James and York Rivers.
James City County is positioned to the west and south of Williamsburg, while York County is to the north and east.
As with all metros/cities in Virginia, Williamsburg is legally autonomous of both counties.
Within Hampton Roads, the town/city of Norfolk is recognized as the central company district, while the Virginia Beach seaside resort precinct and Williamsburg are primarily centers of tourism.
Williamsburg is positioned in the humid subtropical climate zone, with cool to mild winters, and hot, humid summers.
Climate data for Williamsburg, Virginia (1981 2010 normals) Average snowy days ( 0.1 in) 0.6 0.7 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 2.0 Williamsburg is eminent for the fact that a high proportion of town/city residents derive a momentous percentage of their annual income from investment sources, either in addition to or in lieu of income from work.
The tourist volume of Colonial Williamsburg has thriving many other related businesses to the area.
Notable among these was Anheuser-Busch, which established large operations in James City County and York County just outside the city.
The business also used to operate two infamous parks near the brewery, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Water Country USA; however, both properties were sold to private investors following Anheuser-Busch's takeover by foreign brewer In - Bev in 2010.
Williamsburg includes one supply mall, Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
Metro region being the eminent exception), Williamsburg is most often associated with the larger American South.
View of Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg.
Williamsburg is perhaps best known for its tourist and historical points of interest, the centerpiece of which is Colonial Williamsburg, which is essentially a residing history exhibition, depicting the lifestyles and culture of the 18th century colonial reconstructionin American history.
Major points of interest in this historic precinct include the Virginia's first capitol building, the Governor's Palace, Bruton Parish Church (the earliest continually operating church in the United States), the Peyton Randolph House (home of Peyton Randolph, the first President of Continental Congress and rumored to be haunted) and The College of William & Mary.
Other highlights in the town/city include The Williamsburg Winery (Virginia's biggest winery), the Williamsburg Botanical Garden, the National Center for State Courts and the Virginia Musical Museum.
Also positioned in Williamsburg are two primary infamous parks, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, as well as Go-Karts Plus action park and 2 miniature golf courses.
The 200-acre (0.81 km2) Williamsburg Pottery Factory shopping complex attended by 3 million citizens annually is positioned at close-by Lightfoot, Virginia.
Williamsburg is primarily served by two newspapers: The Virginia Gazette and Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. The Gazette is a bi-weekly, presented in Williamsburg, and was the first journal to be presented south of the Potomac River, starting in 1736. Its publisher was William Parks, who had similar ventures in Maryland. After Parks death in 1750, the journal was started up again by William Hunter (Parks' shop foreman) in 1751. The College of William & Mary has two pupil newspapers; the pupil-fee-supported ground journal is The Flat Hat while the autonomous ground journal is The Virginia Informer. William & Mary pupils produce many other publications and run their own airways broadcast, WCWM.
Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly county-wide magazine for Williamsburg and the Hampton Roads area. Williamsburg is served by a range of airways broadcasts on the AM and FM dials, with towers positioned around the Hampton Roads area. Williamsburg is served by the Norfolk Portsmouth Newport News designated market region (DMA), which is the forty-second biggest in the U.S.
City of Williamsburg presidential election results Federally, Williamsburg is part of Virginia's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Rob Wittman, voted for in 2007.
The "city" which Williamsburg became in 1722 had portions positioned in both James City and York County.
In 1870, the Virginia General Assembly changed the boundaries so that it was entirely inside James City County.
The new state constitution which took effect that year also created the political entity known as an autonomous city, which is not positioned in any county.
The town/city also operates a joint school division with James City County, under voluntary agreement which leaders revisit at prepared intervals.
Williamsburg, as an autonomous city, has directed under the council-manager form of government since 1932.
The Mayor is voted for by the town/city council, and presides over council meetings and served as the Chief Elected Official for the city.
A town/city manager is hired by the town/city council, and is comparable to a corporation's chief executive officer.
As of 2016, the current Mayor of the town/city of Williamsburg is Paul Freiling, and the Vice Mayor is Scott Foster.
Other members of the town/city council are Douglas Pons, Barbara Ramsey, and Benming Zhang. The current town/city manager is Marvin L.
The town/city now shares all constitutional officers, courts, and the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools fitness (WJCC) with contiguous James City County, and is the county seat. Until 1998, the town/city had its own Sheriff's Office.
It was merged with the James City County Sheriff's Office, becoming Williamsburg-James City County Sheriff's Office. As a college town, Williamsburg's large pupil populace has also resulted in a several conflicts with the small-town town/city government.
For example, in addressing concerns of property values and noise complaints near the campus, the council has undertaken initiatives to reduce pupil off-campus residentiary existence in the town/city by instituting a maximum occupancy rule of three unrelated persons for single-family dwellings, as well as a plan to buy rental homes with taxpayer dollars and resell them with the stipulation that the new owners must occupy them. Prior to July 1, 2007, the voting registrar, David Andrews, had interpreted Virginia law to exclude a high percentage of pupils.
The new voter registrar, Win Sowder, said she is registering pupils as she would "any other resident of the city.
If they're residing in the dorms for eight months out of the year, and have an address positioned inside the town/city limits on a Virginia driver's license, they're entitled to register to vote." In presidential elections, Williamsburg was a Republican-leaning town/city in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s until the 1990s when Democrat Bill Clinton won Williamsburg in both of his presidential campaigns.
Democrat John Kerry won the town/city by a single-digit margin over Bush in 2004, however in the elections since Williamsburg has turn into an overwhelmingly liberal Democratic city.
In the 2016 election, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Republican Donald Trump in Williamsburg by a 45-point margin, Clinton receiving 68% of the city's vote to only 25% for Trump, and 7% who preferred neither.
Main articles: Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and The College of William & Mary The enhance school fitness is jointly directed by the town/city of Williamsburg and James City County.
The Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools fitness (known informally as "WJCC") comprises roughly 9,000 pupils in 15 schools 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
James River Elementary School, positioned in the Grove Community in the county's southeastern end, is a magnet school.
The town/city has also been the home to The College of William & Mary since its beginning in 1693, making it America's second earliest college (behind Harvard University).
As they began creating what is now generally known as Colonial Williamsburg.
Students contribute over 300,000 hours of volunteer service to the Williamsburg improve annually. There are also three improve colleges, offering associate degrees and college transfer programs, inside a twenty-five mile radius of Williamsburg: Thomas Nelson Community College, Paul D.
A branch of Thomas Nelson Community College is positioned just east of the town/city limits in James City County.
Main articles: Transportation in Williamsburg, Virginia and Williamsburg (Amtrak station) Williamsburg is positioned contiguous to Interstate 64 and U.S.
State Route 199, officially titled the Humelsine Parkway after a former Colonial Williamsburg president, surrounds the town/city in a semicircle.
State Route 5 links the town/city with the James River Plantations along the north shore of the James River, Interstate 295 and Richmond.
The Colonial Parkway provides a bucolic low-speed link to Jamestown and Yorktown, passing under Colonial Williamsburg in a tunnel.
The community's enhance bus system, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA), has its central core at the transit center.
A network of disabled-accessible transit bus routes serve the city, James City County, and most portions of York County contiguous to the Williamsburg area, with hourly service seven days a week, and half hourly service on select routes amid peak weekday hours.
The fitness also provides paratransit services and operates replica street car buses at the Yorktown Riverfront attraction. WAT joins with the much larger Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) bus fitness at Lee Hall in northwestern Newport News and at the Williamsburg Transportation Center. Walking is a primary mode of transit in Williamsburg, with about a fifth of citizens strolling to work between 2006 and 2010. Walk Score, a website which algorithmically determines how friendly communities are to walkers, describes the town/city as "very walkable". With several exceptions, motorized traffic is not allowed on Duke of Gloucester Street, which passes through Colonial Williamsburg and the shopping precinct of Merchant's Square. The town/city is also increasingly bicycle-friendly, having assembled 48 miles of bicycle facilities in the region since 1992. Upon culmination, the Virginia Capital Trail will furnish a paved off-road path to Richmond for bicyclists and pedestrians via the Colonial Parkway.
The major airport for the Virginia Peninsula is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News, a twenty-minute drive from Williamsburg. Norfolk International Airport and Richmond International Airport also serve travelers from the city.
Waller Mill Reservoir is the chief water origin for the City of Williamsburg.
Colonial Williamsburg National Register of Historic Places listings in Williamsburg, Virginia Tayloe House (Williamsburg, Virginia) The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
"Williamsburg Was Site Of First Confederate Hospital".
"WPA_Guide: Colonial Williamsburg: The Corporate Town-Before".
"Williamsburg Pottery Homepage - Virginia".
"The Williamsburg Winery -".
"Williamsburg Yorktown Daily - Your origin for no-charge news and knowledge in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties".
Williamsburg City Manager Archived April 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
"City Council".
City of Williamsburg, VA.
"City of Williamsburg : City Manager's Office".
Williamsburg-James City Courthouse Archived April 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
James City County, VA.
"Walk Score of Williamsburg VA".
City of Williamsburg.
City of Williamsburg.
James City County: Keystone of the Commonwealth.
Williamsburg: A City that History Made.
Williamsburg, Virginia Colonial Williamsburg Official Website City of Williamsburg at the Wayback Machine (archived January 10, 1998) James City County York County Williamsburg, Virginia James City County Colonial Williamsburg City of Williamsburg, Virginia, United States
Categories:
Cities in Virginia - Williamsburg, Virginia - Rockefeller family - County seats in Virginia - Hampton Roads - Populated places on the James River (Virginia)University suburbs in the United States - Former colonial and territorial capitals in the United States - 1638 establishments in Virginia - Populated places established in 1638 - William III of England
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