Deatonville, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deatonville, Virginia
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 Deatonville, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Deatonville, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Amelia |
| Elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
23083, 23966
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| Area code(s) | 804 |
| FIPS code | 51-21680 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1477253 |
Deatonville is a small, quiet community in western Amelia County, Virginia. It's not a city or town with its own government, but an "unincorporated community" where people live. It is located along two main roads, Route 616 and Route 617. Deatonville is also part of a long bike path called U.S. Bicycle Route 1, which goes all the way from Richmond.
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History of Deatonville
Deatonville has a long and interesting history. It played a part in early mail delivery and even during the Civil War.
How Deatonville Got Its Name
In the early 1800s, this area was sometimes called Thompson's Tavern. A post office, which is where mail is handled, was first set up here in 1812 or 1813. It was one of the first post offices in Amelia County. Back then, many small mail places in the countryside didn't operate all the time. By the late 1800s, there were thousands of these small post offices across America. Deatonville was known as a "post village" even into the 1920s. However, many of these small mail centers closed when "rural free delivery" started. This meant mail carriers delivered mail directly to homes in the countryside.
Sandy Creek Church: An Old Church
Sandy Creek Baptist Church, located on Route 617, is a very old church. It claims to be the oldest Baptist church in Amelia County. It is also one of the oldest in the entire state of Virginia. The church was first started in 1771. The original building, which had just one room, survived the Civil War. However, it unfortunately burned down in 1908. The church building you see today was finished in 1910 and has been made bigger since then.
Deatonville During the Civil War
Deatonville is located along a path that was very important during the Civil War. Just days before the war ended, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his army retreated through this area. They were heading west towards Appomattox, where Lee would surrender to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865.
Some of the most intense fighting of the war happened near Deatonville. There are many historical markers along the roads here. One marker in Deatonville explains what happened:
During this day [April 6], the entire Confederate line [marched] west on the Rice–Deatonville Road toward Farmville. Constantly pressing Lee's rearguard, Union troops [fought] a brief action at every turn. These delays would eventually lead to the Battle of [Sayler's] Creek.
This means that Union soldiers kept pushing Lee's army as they tried to escape. These small fights eventually led to a much bigger battle nearby called the Battle of Sayler's Creek. A special historical plaque in Deatonville gives even more details about these events.
St. James School: A Rosenwald School
St. James School was built between 1917 and 1920. It was one of the first of many Rosenwald Schools in Amelia County. These schools were part of a special project that built thousands of schools across the southern United States. The main goal was to help improve education for African American children during a time when schools were separated by race.
The design for St. James School was made for two teachers. It was located on Route 617, which is now called St. James Road, east of Deatonville. The school building is no longer standing today. After schools became integrated (meaning students of all races could attend together), the Rosenwald school model was no longer needed. Many of these former Rosenwald properties were either torn down or sold.
Historic Buildings in Deatonville
The Wootton House, built around 1850, is an interesting old house. It has a style called Gothic Revival, which means it looks a bit like old castles or churches. This house and other buildings nearby were studied in the 1990s. They were considered for a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. Being on this list means a building is important to history and should be protected. The Farmer House, which is a few miles south of Deatonville, was added to this Register in 1978.
