Varina (/vəˈraɪnə/ və-RY-nə) is a former unincorporated community and current magisterial district in the easternmost portion of Henrico County, Virginia, United States.
Varina, Virginia | |
|---|---|
Former settlement | |
  Varina, Virginia | |
| Coordinates: 37°22′55″N 77°20′10″W / 37.38194°N 77.33611°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
History
John Rolfe and Varina Plantation
Varina was named for Varina plantation established by John Rolfe about 1615 on the James River[1] about 50 miles (80 km) from the first settlement at Jamestown[2], and across the river from Sir Thomas Dale's 1611 settlement at Henricus.[3] The Plantation and neighboring Henricus were part of Henrico City, an incorporation formed in 1611 by the [Virginia Company, headquartered in London, 1606-1624].
County seat and town
The Native American massacre (Powhatan attack of 1622) resulted in the downfall of the Henricus settlement. The Varina settlement built up around much of Varina Plantation.[1][4] Varina covered an area of 18 by 25 miles, but it later became known as Henrico. After that, Varina generally referred to the plantation.[4] Varina became the county seat of Henrico when it was formed as one of the eight original shires of Virginia in 1634.
In 1666, the first courthouse was built at Varina for Henrico County.[5] Varina was established as an unincorporated community in 1680.
By 1640, a church for Henrico Parish and other buildings were built either on the Varina plantation or in the settlement of Varina, but their location is unknown. By 1640, Varina was the site of the Henrico Parish glebe.[5] From 1685 to 1694, Rev. James Blair was the minister at Varina Parish. He was made College of William & Mary's first rector in 1694[5] and was one of the founders of the school.[1] After Blair, William Stith lived at the glebe at Varina.[1]
In 1741, the Henrico Parish church had also been relocated to the present location of St. John's Episcopal Church in the Church Hill section of Richmond. Varina remained the county seat of Henrico County until 1752, when the seat was relocated to the growing city of Richmond, located at the head of navigation on the north side of the James River.
Varina districts include: Cedar Hill and Armour House, Curles Neck, Dabbs House (Clover Forest Plantation), Dorey Barn, Gravel Hill, and Osborne School House.[4]
Civil War
After the emergence of Richmond as a major community and port in the mid-18th century, and as land transportation became better, the location of Varina, which was not on any major roadway, became more isolated, gradually slipping into primarily farming use.
During the Civil War (1861–1865), the Varina plantation was owned by a man named A.M. Aiken and was known as "Aiken's Landing", and came into frequent use for the exchange of Union and Confederate prisoners.
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See also
References
- ^ a b c d "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Varina Plantation" (PDF). National Park Service. April 29, 1977. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Hall, Edward Hagaman (1902). Jamestown [1607-1907]: A Sketch of the History and Present Condition of the Site of the First Permanent English Settlement in America. American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. p. 18.
- ^ Cooke, John Esten (1883). Virginia: A History of the People. Houghton, Mifflin & Company. pp. 88–91, 98.
- ^ a b c "Varina District". Henrico County (Virginia) Historical Society. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c "043-0020 Varina Plantation". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved January 8, 2020.