Buckland, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buckland
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Buckland Tavern, March 2007
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 Buckland
Location in Northern Virginia
Buckland
Location in Virginia
Buckland
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Prince William County |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Buckland is a small, historic place in Prince William County, Virginia. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's not an official city or town with its own local government, but it's still a recognized place where people live.
Buckland was officially started in 1798. It was special because it was the first town in Prince William County that wasn't built right on the coast. It was located along an important old road called the Fauquier and Alexandria Turnpike. Back in 1855, people described Buckland as having "one church and a few shops."
Today, Buckland is home to the Buckland Historic District, which protects many old buildings. It's also the site of the Battle of Buckland Mills, an important Civil War battlefield.
Contents
Buckland's Story
Early Days and Mills
Before Buckland became a town, in the 1770s, a family named Carter ran a mill on the Broad Run river. This mill was located right where Buckland would later be built.
In 1774, the Carter family sold their land to Samuel Love. Samuel Love decided to create a permanent settlement there. He built a large house called Buckland Hall, which was named after its designer, William Buckland. He also built other small buildings to help with farming. By the end of the 1700s, the area had grown and had everything a small town needed.
Becoming an Official Town
After Samuel Love passed away in 1797, his son John took over. John asked the Virginia General Assembly (which is like Virginia's state government) to officially establish the Town of Buckland. His request was approved.
The new town of Buckland was quite small, with only 48 plots of land. Even so, it became the very first inland town in Prince William County, marking an important step in the county's development.
Protecting History
Historic District Creation
Buckland has many old buildings and places that are important to history. To protect these, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (the local government) created the Buckland Historic Overlay District in 1978.
This special district means that any new building or major change to existing buildings in the area must be approved by the county's Architectural Review Board. This helps make sure that new construction fits in with the historic look of the area.
National Recognition
Buckland's historical importance has been recognized beyond just the local county. In 1987, the Buckland Historic District was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register. This is a list of places that are important to Virginia's history.
The next year, in 1988, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the entire United States that are important for their history, architecture, or archaeology. Today, many property owners in the district agree to protect their buildings' historical appearance through voluntary agreements.
