Lodore, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lodore, Virginia
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 Lodore, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Lodore, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Amelia |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
23002
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| Area code(s) | 804 |
| FIPS code | 51/46520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1477496 |
Lodore is a small, quiet place in the countryside of northern Amelia County, Virginia. It's located just south of the Appomattox River. You can find Lodore along SR 616 (S. Genito Road), where it meets SR 636 (N. Lodore Road). It's an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
Contents
Lodore's Past: A Look at History
Early Post Office Days
Lodore was once known as Houston. It was a "post village," meaning it had its own post office. The name changed to Lodore around 1845. On old maps from the Civil War era, "Lodore" often referred to a specific home. A nearby intersection was called Giles Crossroads or Giles Chapel. This was named after William Branch Giles, who was a U.S. senator and a governor of Virginia. His old home is not far from there.
The Lodore post office stayed open until the early 1900s. Many small post offices like it closed when "rural free delivery" started. This new system meant mail carriers delivered mail directly to homes in the countryside. Today, people in Lodore get their mail from the post office in Amelia Court House, which is the main town of the county.
Lodore During the Civil War
The area right around Lodore didn't see much fighting during most of the Civil War. However, in April 1865, battles happened just a few miles south and west. This was during the final days of the war. General Robert E. Lee and his army were trying to retreat west. Federal (Union) troops were chasing them.
On April 5, 1865, a Confederate wagon train was carrying important supplies from Richmond. It couldn't cross the Genito bridge over the Appomattox River because of wet weather. So, it had to go around Lodore. Union troops found and destroyed this wagon train near Paineville, southwest of Lodore.
Tornadoes in Amelia County
Amelia County is in a part of Central Virginia that sometimes gets tornadoes. Many tornadoes have touched down here. Luckily, no one has died from a tornado in Lodore itself. But on January 12, 2018, an EF1 tornado hit northeast of Lodore. It destroyed a carport and damaged another small building. An EF1 tornado is considered a weak tornado, but it can still cause damage.
Old Buildings and Homes Near Lodore
Several important old buildings near Lodore are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special and protected because of their history.
- The Wigwam: This was the home of William Branch Giles, who was the 24th governor of Virginia. It's about 4 miles northeast of Lodore.
- Haw Branch plantation house: This old house is about 2 miles south.
- Grub Hill Church: This historic church is about 4 miles southeast.
- Egglestetton plantation house: Another old plantation house, also about 4 miles southeast.
There are other historic churches in Lodore too. One is Flower Hill Baptist, which is an African American church. Its building is on S. Genito Road, just east of N. Lodore Road.
Famous People From Lodore
- William S. Archer (1789 – 1855): He was a United States senator from Virginia. He was born and buried at a place called "The Lodge" (or "Red Lodge"), which is northeast of Lodore.
- William Branch Giles (1762 – 1830): He was a U.S. senator and also served as the governor of Virginia.
Local Businesses
Oakmulgee Dairy Farm is about 4 miles northeast of Lodore. It sits on a hill along SR 637 (Giles Road). This farm has been running since 1898, making it the oldest dairy farm in Amelia County. It's one of several working dairy farms in the area.
