Atlee, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atlee, Virginia
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 Atlee, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Atlee, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Hanover |
| Elevation | 194 ft (59 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1499069 |
Atlee or Atlee Station is an unincorporated community in central Hanover County, Virginia, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place where people live that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government. Atlee is located about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of Richmond. It is also about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Contents
Atlee's Past: A Look Back
Atlee was once famous for its two train stops. It probably got its name from Jacob S. Atlee, who was a delegate (a representative) in the state government and lived nearby.
Train and Telegraph Services
There were two train stations, called West Atlee and East Atlee. In 1921, these two stations were combined into one. Until 1931, Atlee also had a telegraph office. A telegraph office was a place where people could send messages over long distances using electrical signals.
From 1947 to 1960, Atlee was a "flag stop." This meant that trains would only stop there if someone waved a flag to get on, or if a passenger on the train asked to get off there. In the late 1950s, the C&O railroad asked for permission to stop handling freight (goods carried by train) at Atlee.
Atlee Today: Growing and Thriving
For a long time, the Atlee area was mostly rural, meaning it had a lot of open land and farms. This started to change in the 1980s.
Modern Roads and Development
Interstate 295, a major highway, was built through the area in the early 1980s. Before that, in the late 1960s, U.S. Route 301 was made wider. It changed from a two-lane road to a four-lane divided highway. These road improvements helped new neighborhoods, like King's Charter, to be built.
A Popular Place to Live
Atlee is now one of the fastest-growing communities in Hanover County. It is also known for having one of the best school districts in Virginia. Many families choose to live in Atlee because of the good schools.
The area also has one of the highest median household incomes in Virginia. This means that families living in the 23116 ZIP code generally earn good money. Many people who live in Atlee work in Richmond. Others travel to northern Virginia or Washington D.C. for their jobs. This is easy because Hanover County is centrally located. It has access to three major roads: U.S. Route 301, Interstate 95, and U.S. Route 1. There are also plans for a high-speed rail line in nearby Ashland.
