York County, Virginia

A Changed Scene A Union Advance Agenois Encampment American Approach Road American Encampment American Field Hospital An Archer House Aviation Field Yorktown Baron De Viomenil Baron Von Steuben Beaver Dam Creek Bellfield Plantation Bicentennial of the Treaties of Paris and Versailles Bourbonnois Brigade Encampment British Inner Defense Line Brotherhood Preserved Capture of Redoubt No. 10 Charles Church Charles Cox House Cheatham Annex Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Chesapeake Bay Watermen Civil War Hot-Air Balloons Cole Digges House, circa 1730 Cole Digges House, circa 1925 Colonial Grace Church Communicating Trench Comte de Grasse Comte de Rochambeau Cornwallis Headquarters Custom House, circa 1720 Don't Tread on Me! Dudley Digges House, circa 1760 D’Aboville’s Headquarters Early Colonial Custom House East Along Main Street First Allied Siege Line French American Revolutionary War Memorial French Artillery Park French Cemetery French Hospital French Soldiers and Sailors French Trench Fusiliers Redoubt George P. Coleman Bridge George Washington and Francois De Grasse Goodwin Neck Grace Church - circa 1697 Grand American Battery Grand French Battery Great Fire of 1814 Ground Your Firelocks! Headquarters Site of Henry Knox Headquarters Site of the Quartermaster General Heavy Artillery at Yorktown Home of Thomas Nelson In Memory of the Men of the French Fleet In Solemn Step Indian Field Creek John Smith Explores the Chesapeake Join the Adventure Kiskiack Kiskiak Indians Major General Benjamin Lincoln and His Division Marquis de Lafayette and His Division Mary Aggie and the Benefit of Clergy Medical Shop (Reconstructed) Monument to the Alliance and Victory Moore House N.S. Savannah Nathaniel Bacon Naval Weapons Station Naval Weapons Station Nelson House, circa 1730 News of Victory Nick's Seafood Pavilion Outer Works Patrick Napier, Colonial Surgeon Pirates in Yorktown? Powhatan's Village Ratification of the Treaty of Paris Redoubt 10 Redoubt 12 Redoubt 9 Redoubts 9 and 10 Regiment Royal Deux-Ponts (Zweibrücken) Remembering Ancestors Ringfield Plantation Saintonge Regiment Seaford Seat of the County of York Second Allied Siege Line Sessions-Pope-Sheild Property Shiloh Baptist Church Site of the Home of Nicolas Martiau Slabtown Soissonois Regiment Somerwell House St. Simon’s Headquarters Steamboats on York River Steuben’s Division Surrender at Yorktown Surrender Field Surrender Road Swan Tavern The Adjutant General The Betsy The Brig Betsy The Deposit The First Siege Line The Grand French Battery The Great Valley The Hornwork The Olympic Flame The Second Siege Line The Washington – Rochambeau Route to Victory The Watermen's Museum The York River The Yorktown Windmill The “NECK” Time, Tide and Erosion Tobacco Inspection Tobacco Road TransAmerica Bike Trail Trophies of War Two Mercenary Units Unknown Confederate Soldiers USS Yorktown Victory Monument Vineyard Tract Virginia Institute of Marine Science Virginia Militia Wars & Yorktown Washington-Rochambeau Route Washington’s Headquarters Wear Of Centuries West Along Main Street Whitaker's House William Nelson House Site William Rogers' (the "poor potter") Pottery Ruins Wormley Creek Crossing York County War Monument York Hall York River York River Ecosystem York River Ferry York Under Siege 1781 York “Under The Hill” Yorke Village Yorktown Yorktown Yorktown Yorktown Yorktown Yorktown Bicentennial Pine Trees Yorktown Campaign Memorial Yorktown National Cemetery Yorktown Victory Monument Yorktown Waterfront Yorktown's Stormy Past Yorktown's Sunken Fleet Yorktown's Tea Party Yorktown's Windmill Yorktown’s Waterfront
York County, Virginia has a rich and diverse history that dates back to the early 17th century. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Algonquian-speaking Powhatan Confederacy. The English arrived in 1607, with Captain John Smith exploring the Chesapeake Bay and establishing the first English settlement at Jamestown Island. Yorktown, located in present-day York County, became a strategic location during the American Revolution and played a pivotal role in the ultimate defeat of the British.

In the early 17th century, the Virginia Company established several settlements in the region, including Charles City, which eventually became York County in 1634. The county was named after James Stuart, Duke of York and Albany, who later became King James II. The area developed a thriving agriculture-based economy, with tobacco as the primary export crop in the 17th and 18th centuries.

During the American Revolution, Yorktown became the scene of the decisive 1781 Battle of Yorktown. The American and French armies, led by General George Washington and General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau respectively, laid siege to the British forces commanded by General Charles Cornwallis. After a 21-day standoff, Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war and paving the way for American independence.

In the years following the Revolution, York County experienced significant growth and development. The construction of the Yorktown and Back River bridges in the early 20th century improved transportation to the area, leading to increased tourism and commerce. Today, York County is a thriving community known for its historical significance, scenic beauty, and strong military presence. It continues to honor its past while embracing a vibrant future.
Brief timeline of the history of York County, Virginia:

  • 1607 - English colonists establish Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, in what is now York County.
  • 1622 - Native American uprising known as the Powhatan Uprising occurs, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of settlers in York County.
  • 1634 - Virginia is divided into eight shires, with York County being one of the original shires.
  • 1691 - York County becomes part of the newly formed Royal Colony of Virginia.
  • 1781 - American Revolutionary War battle, known as the Battle of Yorktown, takes place in York County, leading to surrender of British forces and end of the war.
  • 1861-1865 - York County experiences significant impact during the American Civil War, with Union and Confederate forces occupying the area multiple times.
  • 1908 - Construction of the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station begins, a major military installation in York County.
  • 1930s - Colonial National Historical Park is established, including historic sites in York County such as Yorktown Battlefield.
  • 1970s - York County experiences rapid suburban growth and development, with new residential and commercial areas being established.
  • Present - York County continues to be a thriving community in Virginia, known for its historical significance and quality of life.

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