Mechanicsville, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mechanicsville, Virginia
Census-designated place
Rural Plains
Location in Hanover County and the state of Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Hanover
Area
• Total	28.4 sq mi (73.6 km2)
• Land	28.3 sq mi (73.3 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	180 ft (50 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	39,482
• Density	1,393.4/sq mi (538.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	23111, 23116
Area code(s)	804
FIPS code	51-50856
GNIS feature ID	2389467

Mechanicsville is a community located in Hanover County, Virginia, in the United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a specific area that the government counts for population, even though it's not an official city or town. In 2020, about 39,482 people lived in Mechanicsville. This was an increase from 36,348 people counted in 2010.

History of Mechanicsville

Early Settlement and Historic Homes

English colonists began settling in the Mechanicsville area during the 1600s. One very old building here is Rural Plains, also known as Shelton House. It was built in 1670 and was home to the Shelton family for many years, until 2006. Today, the National Park Service owns and manages Rural Plains. It is part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park, which protects important historical sites.

Many other historic places in Mechanicsville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include Clover Lea, Cool Well, Hanover Meeting House, and Immanuel Episcopal Church. These sites help preserve the area's rich past.

In the center of Mechanicsville, you can see a unique stone windmill. This building was constructed in the 1970s as a bank office. In 2007–2008, it was updated and made larger for a new bank. The "windmill" part is just for decoration and is powered by an electric motor.

Mechanicsville During the Civil War

Mechanicsville and the surrounding areas were very important during the American Civil War. Several major battles took place here.

Battle of Beaver Dam Creek

The first battle in this area was the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, which started on June 26, 1862. Confederate General A.P. Hill led attacks against Union Major General Fitz John Porter's forces. The Union soldiers were positioned along Beaver Dam Creek, just east of Mechanicsville. The Union forces successfully fought off the Confederate attacks. After the battle, they moved to a new position. This battle was the second in a series of fights known as the Seven Days Battles. A small part of this battlefield is now preserved as part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Battle of Gaines' Mill

The Battle of Gaines' Mill was the third of the Seven Days Battles. It happened further east of Mechanicsville. A section of this battlefield, near the "Watt House," is also preserved by the National Park Service as part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Battle of Cold Harbor

Near Gaines' Mill was the Battle of Cold Harbor. This was the final major battle of Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign. This battle was fought on some of the same ground as the Battle of Gaines' Mill. The battlefield stretches from Walnut Grove Road and Mechanicsville Turnpike to "Turkey Hill" near the Chickahominy River. An area where many soldiers were lost and a nearby cemetery are now protected as historic monuments.

Geography and Location

Mechanicsville is located in the western part of Hanover County, Virginia. It sits north of the Chickahominy River. The southern border of Mechanicsville follows the Chickahominy River, which also forms the line with Henrico County. At its closest point, Mechanicsville is less than two miles from the city of Richmond.

Major Roads and Connections

U.S. Route 360 runs through Mechanicsville. It leads southwest about 6 miles to the center of Richmond. To the northeast, it goes about 40 miles to Tappahannock. Interstate 295, which is a highway that goes around the east side of Richmond, crosses Mechanicsville. You can get on or off I-295 at exits 41, 38, 37, and 34. U.S. Route 301 forms the northwest edge of Mechanicsville. It goes south about 9 miles to downtown Richmond and north about 29 miles to Bowling Green.

Neighborhoods and Area

The original small community of Mechanicsville is in the southwest part of the area, near US 360 and I-295 Exit 37. The larger area of Mechanicsville also includes many neighborhoods and places like Pearsons Corner, Oak Forest, Kings Charter, Rural Point, and Pole Green.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total area of Mechanicsville is about 73.6 square kilometers (28.4 square miles). Most of this area, about 73.3 square kilometers (28.3 square miles), is land. Only a small part, about 0.3 square kilometers (0.1 square miles), is water. The southern part of Mechanicsville is drained by the Chickahominy River and its smaller streams, which flow into the James River. The northern part is drained by streams that flow into the Pamunkey River, which is part of the York River system.

Population and People

In 2020, the census showed that 39,482 people lived in Mechanicsville. There were 14,675 households. This means there were about 1,393.4 people living in each square mile.

Most of the people in Mechanicsville are White (84.0%). Other groups include African American (8.9%), Asian (1.6%), Native American (0.2%), and Pacific Islander (0.1%). About 4.7% of the population identified as being from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 1.8% of the population.

The population of Mechanicsville is spread across different age groups. About 22.7% of the people are under 18 years old. About 5.7% are between 18 and 24, and 33.6% are between 25 and 44. People aged 45 to 64 make up 22.5% of the population, and 11.2% are 65 years or older. The average age in Mechanicsville is 36 years old.

The typical income for a household in Mechanicsville was $84,833. The average income per person was $38,487. About 5.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Notable people

• Willie Adler, guitarist for Lamb of God
• Akidearest, anime YouTuber
• Lucy Dacus, singer/songwriter
• Wes Freed, artist and musician
• Kevin Grubb, racing driver
• Wayne Grubb, racing driver
• Jock Jones, NFL Linebacker
• Tim Menzies, singer/songwriter
• Jason Mraz, singer/songwriter
• Connor Overton, MLB pitcher
• Billy Parker, Arena Football League defensive specialist for the New York Dragons
• Mary Ann Redmond, singer/songwriter
• Sam Rogers, NFL fullback
• Zuriel Smith, former New England Patriots wide receiver
• Matt Taylor, bassist in the band Motion City Soundtrack
• Tony Thaxton, drummer in the band Motion City Soundtrack
• Stacy Tutt, NFL fullback
• Joe Douglas, NFL GM

See also

In Spanish: Mechanicsville (Virginia) para niños