Hickory Ridge, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hickory Ridge, Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
|
Extinct unincorporated town
|
|
 Hickory Ridge, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Hickory Ridge, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Hickory Ridge, Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County |  Prince William |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Hickory Ridge was a small town that no longer exists in Prince William County, Virginia. It was located on land that is now part of Prince William Forest Park. This park is managed by the National Park Service and is next to Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The town of Hickory Ridge started around 1889. It grew because of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, which opened nearby. Many people who worked at the mine lived in Hickory Ridge.
Contents
Life in Hickory Ridge
The main part of Hickory Ridge was about half a mile west of the mine. It was located where Scenic Drive and Pyrite Mine Road are today. The town had a few important buildings.
Community Buildings
One key building was an Odd Fellows hall. This building was very important to the community. It served as a church and a school, especially for Black families living in the area.
There was also Porter's Inn, which was one of the few restaurants that would serve Black people. The town also had a company store where residents could buy supplies. At its busiest, Hickory Ridge had about 171 homes spread across the area.
The Resettlement Program
Between 1933 and 1937, the United States government started a program called the Resettlement Administration. The goal was to help rural farmers move to better farming areas. As part of this program, the government bought land in Hickory Ridge and a nearby town called Batestown.
Forming a New Park
The government bought 79 pieces of property. They also took over 48 other properties to create the Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area. This area was meant to become a park for people to enjoy.
Residents' Resistance
The people living in Hickory Ridge did not want to leave their homes. They tried to resist the government's efforts to move them. Some residents even tried to hide within the park boundaries to avoid being found.
This situation continued until World War II began. During the war, the park was taken over by the Office of Strategic Services. This group used the park as a secret training ground for spies.
Forced Eviction
To make the park secure for spy training, it was surrounded by barbed wire fences. Armed guards and dogs patrolled the area. Because of this, all 44 families who were still living in the park were forced to leave. Some residents were physically removed from their homes.
After the war ended, the displaced families hoped they would get their land back. However, this did not happen. Instead, the property was given to the National Park Service. It was then renamed Prince William Forest Park, which it remains today.
