Colonial Beach, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colonial Beach, Virginia
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Pier and Riverboat Off Track Betting, Restaurant, and Lounge.
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| Nicknames:
Golf Cart Town, Playground on the Potomac
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Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| County | Westmoreland | |
| Founded | 1892 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.78 sq mi (7.21 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.45 sq mi (6.34 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2) | |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) | |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 3,542 | |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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3,619 | |
| • Density | 1,478.35/sq mi (570.72/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
22443
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| Area code(s) | 804 | |
| FIPS code | 51-18400 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1493549 | |
| Website | http://www.colonialbeachva.net/ | |
Colonial Beach, Virginia (CBVA) is a fun river and beach town. It's located in the northwestern part of Westmoreland County on Virginia's Northern Neck peninsula. This means it's on a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. Colonial Beach is bordered by the Potomac River, Monroe Bay, and Monroe Creek.
It's about 65 miles (105 km) from Washington, D.C. and 70 miles (113 km) from Richmond, Virginia's capital city. It's also 35 nautical miles from the Chesapeake Bay.
In 2018, USA Today newspaper named Colonial Beach the Best Virginia Beach. The next year, Reader's Digest called it "The Nicest Place in Virginia."
Colonial Beach was a very popular vacation spot in the early to mid-1900s. This was before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge made it easier for people from Washington, D.C. to reach ocean beaches. Many famous people have connections here. The family of Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, had a summer home in Colonial Beach. This house, called the Bell House, is still standing today. Sloan Wilson, a famous author, also lived and died here. George Washington, America's first president, was born very close to Colonial Beach. The birthplace of another president, James Monroe, is also nearby.
Contents
History
A Look Back in Time
People have lived in the Colonial Beach area for a very long time! Scientists have found evidence, like old oyster pits, that show Native Americans lived here as far back as 500 B.C.
The area that is now called 'The Point' was first claimed by John and S. Lancelott in 1651.
Becoming a Resort Town
Colonial Beach started to become a popular place for swimming and fishing in the late 1800s. It was known as the "Playground on the Potomac." Before cars were common, most visitors arrived by boat from Washington, D.C.
The town officially became a town on February 25, 1892. After this, many houses, summer cottages, and hotels were built. One of the most famous buildings is the Bell House. It was built as a summer home for Alexander Graham Bell and you can still see it today on Irving Avenue.
Oyster Wars and Gambling Piers
The area was also involved in something called the Potomac River Oyster Wars. This was a conflict between Virginia watermen (people who fished for oysters) and the Maryland State Oyster Police. It lasted from the late 1800s until the 1960s.
Over time, as cars became more popular, people could travel to beaches farther away. This caused Colonial Beach to become less popular. However, from 1949 to 1958, the town had a special time. Because gambling was allowed in Maryland, and the state line ended at the low-water mark of Virginia's Potomac River shore, Colonial Beach had slot machines on piers that went out into Maryland waters. This brought many visitors and helped the town for a while. It was sometimes called "the poor man's Las Vegas." But in the 1960s, the piers burned down in a big fire, and the town's popularity continued to decline.
Today, Colonial Beach is considered the fifth-safest place to live in Virginia by Safewise.
Geography
Where is Colonial Beach?
Colonial Beach is located at 38°15′14″N 76°58′8″W / 38.25389°N 76.96889°W. It's in the northwestern part of Westmoreland County, on Virginia's Northern Neck. It is about 65 miles (105 km) from Washington, D.C. and 70 miles (113 km) from Richmond.
The Potomac River forms the northeast border of Colonial Beach. The southern part of the town is a peninsula that ends near Monroe Bay. This peninsula separates Monroe Creek from the Potomac River. North of Colonial Beach, you'll find Potomac Beach and the mouth of Rosier Creek. Inland from the town are the communities of Monroe Hall and Maple Grove. Monroe Hall is near the birthplace of President James Monroe.
Land and Water
The town covers a total area of about 2.8 square miles (7.2 km2). Most of this, about 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), is water. Colonial Beach has about 2.5 miles (4 km) of beaches. This makes its beaches the second longest in Virginia, after Virginia Beach.
Climate
The weather in Colonial Beach usually has hot, humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
Population
How Many People Live Here?
As of the 2010 census, there were 3,542 people living in Colonial Beach. In 2000, there were 3,228 people.
The population includes people of different backgrounds. In 2000, about 79% of the people were White, and about 17% were African American. About 3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Colonial Beach in 2000 was 44 years old. About 22% of the population was under 18 years old.
Getting Around
Colonial Beach is served by Virginia State Route 205. A smaller road, State Route 205Y (Colonial Avenue), goes through the middle of town. You can also reach the town by boat. It's the last deepwater port for pleasure boats going north on the Potomac River.
Education
Most of the homes in Colonial Beach are served by Colonial Beach Public Schools. This school system started in 1907. It has two schools with about 580 students as of 2024. Some business areas in town are part of the Westmoreland County Public Schools.
Notable people
- Ed Mirvish – A Canadian businessman.
- Sloan Wilson – Author of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.
- Torrey Smith – A two-time Super Bowl winning NFL player.
- Sherryl Woods – Author of the Chesapeake Shore Series of novels and producer of the Chesapeake Shores TV show.
- Krystal Ball – A political commentator and journalist for The Hill.
Images for kids
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Entrance to the Colonial Beach Municipal Pier
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Golf carts are a popular way to get around downtown Colonial Beach.
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Alexander Graham Bell's summer home in Colonial Beach, Virginia.
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See also
In Spanish: Colonial Beach para niños
