Central Virginia
Central Virginia, also known as the Piedmont, is the largest region of the state of Virginia and contains the state capital, Richmond. It is marked on the east by the Fall Line, and on the west by the Appalachian Mountains. The southern part of this region, bordering on North Carolina, is generally referred to in the state as "Southside Virginia".
Cities and towns
Understand
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Richmond began as a small trading town on the James River, at the Fall Line, where ships could no longer progress inland. Cities such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Martinsville grew as trade centers on roads traveled by pioneers heading west through gaps in the Appalachian Mountains.
The capital of Virginia was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond during the Revolutionary War, as it was inland and was safe from the firepower of the British Navy (it was captured by the British Army at a later date). Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death," speech took place at St. John's Church.
Richmond was named the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In the spring of 1865, the city was captured and burned by Union Forces. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, east of Lynchburg, shortly after.
Talk
The accent is very light in areas bordering Northern Virginia but gets much stronger in the southern rural areas. The accent is typically the strongest and most southern in Southside Virginia by the North Carolina border. The dialect in Richmond is very unique that it combines elements of Urban dialects with elements of British Colonial English. However, most people in Richmond today will speak general American English.
Get in
By plane
Richmond International Airport (RIC IATA) is the largest airport in Central Virginia with flights from most of the United States. International flights to Canada and Mexico are sometimes seasonally available. This is usually the cheapest airport to fly to and from in Central Virginia.
By train
Amtrak offers several lines that run through central Virginia. The crescent originating in New Orleans Louisiana and running to New York City has stops in Danville and Lynchburg. The Staples Mill Road station in Richmond is serviced by the Silver Star and the Palmetto, providing service up and down the east coast.
By car
Central Virginia is served by two interstate highways. I 64 runs from West Virginia to the west and Norfolk to the east while I-95 runs north/south from Florida all the way up the East Coast of the United States.
Get around
- Interstate 95 runs through the region north and south.
- Interstate 64 runs through the region east and west.
- Route 29 runs from Charlottesville to Lynchburg.
See
- Appomattox Court House National Historic Park, Appomattox, Virginia. The site of the surrender of the Confederate forces, marking the end of the Civil War, is restored to tell the story of that day.
- Fairy Stone State Park, west of Martinsville, Virginia. Located near the southern border, Fairy Stone State Park is named for the unique cross-shaped brown crystals found here. Local legends claim they guard against sickness and danger.
- Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia. The house depicted on the back of the nickel is more than yet another Presidential residence. Monticello reflects a wide variety of third President Thomas Jefferson's interests and hobbies, including his inventions, the neo-classical architecture repeated at UVA, and mementos from the William and Clark expedition.
- National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Virginia. Bedford was chosen for the memorial for having lost more young men during the invasion of Normandy than any other town in America, per capita.
Do
- Fairy Stone State Park, near Martinsville, is home to the mysterious "fairy stones", or staurolite. The stone, prevalent in the region, may have the St. Andrew's or Roman shape.
- Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia. One of Virginia's two nationally known theme parks.
- Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia. The other nationally known theme park.
- Scott's Addition, Richmond, Virginia. Well known neighborhood for local craft alcohol scene of breweries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries, all of which are walkable between each other.
Eat
If visiting the shopping district of Historic Fredericksburg, all of the restaurants on Caroline St. are popular with locals.
Drink
Central Virginia is home to a booming wine industry, centered around the Charlottesville area.
- Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville, Virginia. A vineyard set on a historic estate in Jefferson country.
- Buskey Cider, Richmond, Virginia. A local craft cidery serving pints in an industrial setting in the historic Scott's Addition neighborhood.
Stay safe
Richmond has some issues with crime, though you can have a perfectly safe trip if you brush up on where the sketchy neighborhoods are.