James City County, Virginia

A Campsite pre-1607 A Diverse Jamestown Household 1620-1640 A Famous African-American Dream A Jamestown Warehouse 1630s-1699 A Place of Work A Remarkable Collection 1670-1700 A Site of Habitation Alabama Alaska An Upper-Class Neighborhood 1630s-1699 Angelo (fl. 1619-1625) Archers Hope Argall Town Arizona Arkansas At Jamestown Began: Attempted Settlement Backstreet – Jamestown’s Main Street 1620-1699 Bacon's Rebellion Barracks Battle of Green Spring Battle Of Green Spring Battle of Green Spring Memorial Blockhouses Near Jamestown Bowl, Pot, and Pipe Burial Burnt Ordinary California Captain John Smith Carter's Grove Chickahominy Church Church On The Main Church On The Main Church On The Main Church on the Main College Creek Colonial Highway Colonial Parkway Colonist on Neck of Land Colorado Community of Grove Confederate Earthworks Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument Connecticut Delaware Discovery Ditch and Mound Doncastle's Ordinary Early Medical Discoveries Eastern State Hospital Eastern State Hospital Efforts of a Virginia Tradesman 1670s Efforts to Build a Town 1660-1699 Engagement at Spencer's Ordinary Excellent Good Timber Fences and Livestock First Africans in English America First Africans In Jamestown First Germans at Jamestown First Poles First Poles Arrive Florida Fort Magruder Foundations at Jamestown French Troops At Jamestown Gardens and Crops Georgia Glebe Land Godspeed Governor Harvey’s House 1630s Governor Yeardley’s Lot 1620’s Governor's Land Governor’s Land Green Spring Green Spring Road Harvesting Ice Hawaii Hickory Neck Church History of Fort Magruder Homes to Last Hot Water / Centerville Idaho Illinois In Memory of Early Settlers Indiana Inside a Home Interpreting Jamestown Iowa Iron and Industry Iron for Corn Jackson Home 1620s James City County / York County James Fort James Fort Site 1607 – 1624 James River Jamestown Jamestown Jamestown Jamestown Island Jamestown Island Jamestown Road Jamestown Settlement Jamestown Tercentenary Monument Jamestown’s Churches John Smith Explores the Chesapeake Kansas Kentucky Kingsmill Lafayette's Visit Louisiana Magruder’s Defenses Maine Martin's Hundred Martin's Hundred Church Maryland Massachusetts May-Hartwell Site 1660-1699 Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Neck of Land Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Kent County / James City County New Kent Road New Mexico New York Norge Depot North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Old Stage Road Olive Branch Christian Church On Roads of Water Oregon Oyster Shells to Mortar Palisades Paspahegh Peninsula Campaign Pennsylvania Pitch and Tar Swamp Pocahontas Pocahontas Powhatan Indian Village Powhatan’s Headquarters Quarterpath Road Real Estate Remembering Ancestors Rhode Island Robert Hunt Row Houses Samuel H. Yonge, Civil Engineer (1843-1935) Sealing of the Magna Carta Ships Silk Worn and Silk Spun Sir William Berkeley Six-Mile Ordinary South Carolina South Dakota Spencer's Ordinary State Shipyard Statehouse Foundations Storehouse & First Well Susan Constant Swann’s Tavern 1670s Tennessee Texas The Ambler House The Archaearium The English Inns of Court The First General Assembly of Virginia The Golden Weed The Greate Road The Greate Road – An Early Highway pre-1607-1700s The Hardwood Harvest The Hunt Shrine The Jamestown Riverfront 1630-1690 The Site of the First Landing The Statehouse The Tombs of James and Sarah Blair The Tombstones The “Island House” These Foundations This land called Tsenacomoco Tradesmen on Governor Harvey’s Lot 1630s Trebell's Landing Utah Vermont Virginia Virginia’s Vintage Voyage to Virginia Washington Water and Well Well West Virginia White Hall Tavern Wisconsin Wowinchapuncke Wyoming
James City County, Virginia, holds a significant place in American history. It was first settled in the late 16th century by English colonists, making it one of the oldest communities in the country. The area was named after King James I of England and served as the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1607 to 1699.

In 1607, the Jamestown settlement was established here, becoming the first permanent English settlement in America. However, the early years were marked by hardship and conflict with the Native American Powhatan Confederacy. The settlers faced challenges such as disease, famine, and lack of supplies. The area's fortunes began to improve with the arrival of new colonists and the establishment of a self-sufficient agricultural economy.

During the 17th century, James City County played a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of the American colonies. It was the site of the first representative assembly in English America, known as the House of Burgesses, which met in Jamestown in 1619. The county was also witness to the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in 1619, marking the beginning of the institution of slavery in the English colonies.

In the late 17th century, the capital of Virginia was moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg, which would become the county seat of James City County. Williamsburg served as the political, economic, and cultural center of Virginia for much of the 18th century. However, in 1779, the capital was relocated again, this time to Richmond, and Williamsburg began a slow decline.

Today, James City County showcases a rich historical legacy. Visitors can explore Jamestown Island, which preserves the ruins of the original settlement, and Colonial Williamsburg, one of the country's premier living history museums. The county continues to grow and evolve, with a diverse population and a mix of historic charm and modern amenities.
Brief timeline of the history of James City County, Virginia:

  • 1607 - James City County is established as one of the original shires of Virginia
  • 1619 - First General Assembly, America's first representative assembly, is held in James City County
  • 1705 - Williamsburg becomes the capital of Virginia, located in James City County
  • 1776 - Declaration of Independence is read aloud in the historic Capitol building in Williamsburg
  • 1781 - American Revolutionary War Battle of Green Spring takes place in James City County
  • 1861-1865 - During the American Civil War, many significant military engagements occur in and around James City County
  • 1928 - The Colonial Parkway, connecting Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, is completed
  • 1999 - James City County celebrates the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of James City County, Virginia.

Audiobooks about the history of Virginia.