Brucetown, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brucetown, Virginia
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 Brucetown, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Brucetown, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Frederick |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 274 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1495313 |
Brucetown is a small community in northern Frederick County, Virginia, in the United States. It's not a big city but a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a special area counted by the government. In 2020, about 274 people lived there. Brucetown is located where Brucetown Road and Sir John Road meet. It got its own post office way back in 1819. The community also had its own school from 1871 to 1941.
Contents
Discovering Brucetown's Past
Brucetown is named after the Bruce family. They were some of the first European settlers to arrive in this area.
The Bruce Family's Arrival
Sir John Robert Bruce, I, came to the area between 1731 and 1737. He built a grist mill (for grinding grain) and a sawmill (for cutting wood). These mills helped start the village. John Bruce was christened in Scotland in 1690. He later gave 150 acres of land to each of his sons, George and James.
How Bruce's Mills Became Brucetown
His son, George Bruce, continued to run the mill in Brucetown, Virginia. George also opened a tavern, which is like an old-fashioned inn or restaurant. Because of the Bruce family's mills and tavern, the area became known as "Bruce's Mills." Later, it was officially named Brucetown.
Exploring Brucetown's Historic Marker
Today, you can find a historic marker for Brucetown, Virginia. It shares important facts about the town's past.
What the Brucetown Marker Tells Us
The marker says "BRUCETOWN 1740." It explains that the area was first called "New Design." It was settled in 1740 by a Quaker named John Littler. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. John Littler also ran several mills nearby.
During the French and Indian War, John Littler's wife, Mary, ran an inn called the "Blue Ball Inn." British soldiers stayed there. In 1761, George Bruce, who was John Littler's son-in-law, officially established the village. It was then known as "Bruce's Mill" or "Bruce's Village."
Brucetown During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, famous generals visited the village. These included Generals George Armstrong Custer, Jubal Early, and Fitzhugh Lee.
Official Naming and Notable Births
When the first post office opened in 1819, the village officially became known as Brucetown. An important person, Virginia Governor Charles T. O'Farrell, was born in Brucetown in 1840. He later served as governor from 1894 to 1898.
