Guinea, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guinea, Virginia
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Unincorporated community
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![]() The Stonewall Jackson Death Site in Guinea, Virginia
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Country | United States |
State | Virginia |
County | Caroline |
Elevation | 135 ft (41 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Area code(s) | 804 |
GNIS feature ID | 1495630 |
Guinea is a small, quiet community located in Caroline County, Virginia, in the United States. It's not a big city with its own government, but rather a group of homes and businesses that are part of the larger county. Guinea is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) northwest of a town called Bowling Green. The name "Guinea" comes from an old family who lived there long ago, the Guineys.
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A Look at Guinea, Virginia
Guinea is known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own separate city government or mayor. Instead, it's governed by the larger Caroline County. The area is mostly rural, meaning it has a lot of open land and natural spaces.
The Name's History
The name "Guinea" might sound a bit unusual, but it has a simple origin. It used to be spelled "Guiney" or "Guiney's." This name came from an old family who lived in Caroline County many years ago. Their last name was Guiney, though it was sometimes spelled Guinney, Gwinny, or Ginny in old records. Over time, the spelling changed to what we see today: Guinea.
A Place in History: The Civil War
Guinea played an important role during the American Civil War. It was the location of a train station called Guiney's Station. This station was part of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, which was a vital transportation route during the war.
Guiney's Station and Soldiers
After a major battle called the Battle of Chancellorsville, about four thousand Union soldiers who had been captured were gathered at Guiney's Station. This shows how important the train station was for moving people and supplies during the war.
The Death of Stonewall Jackson
The most famous event connected to Guinea is the death of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. After being wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville, General Robert E. Lee ordered Jackson to be moved from the battlefield to a safer place. That place was a small building near Guiney's Station. Sadly, General Jackson died there on May 10, 1863.
The next morning, on May 11, 1863, Jackson's body was placed on a special one-car train at Guiney's Station. It was then transported to Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy at the time. Later, he was buried in Lexington. Today, the place where he died is a historic site that people can visit.