New Bohemia, Virginia facts for kids
New Bohemia is a small place in Prince George County, Virginia, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but a community along a main road called U.S. Route 460. Long ago, people also called it Wells or Wells Station.
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The Story of New Bohemia
New Bohemia started in the early 1900s. It was founded by people who came from Bohemia and Slovakia. These families were immigrants who had first lived in busy factory and mining areas in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Why People Moved Here
Many of these families were farmers back in Europe. They moved to Prince George County because they could buy land cheaply. Over 700 Czech and Slovak families settled here and in nearby areas. They were very good at farming. They made old farms productive again, even though these farms had been worn out from growing only tobacco. They also started growing new crops like peanuts.
Their success encouraged more people to move to New Bohemia. More Bohemians and Slovaks came. Also, some people from Germany, Austria, Poland, Russia, and Lithuania moved here. Many came straight from their home countries. Some Czech and Slovak families who had tried farming in the Midwest also came back east to buy farms in Prince George.
Community Connections
The Czech and Slovak communities in Baltimore and Prince George County were very close. People would often travel between the two places. They worked together on events and helped each other out.
New Roads and New Growth
In the late 1980s, a big highway called Interstate 295 was built through the New Bohemia area. This highway brought many changes.
From Farms to Businesses
Building the highway meant that some farms were used for the road. A large road junction, called a cloverleaf interchange, was built where Interstate 295 meets U.S. Route 460.
Because of its great location near major roads and the Norfolk Southern Railway, New Bohemia started to change. Much of the farmland and forests were sold. Now, there are many businesses here. You can find a large truck stop and places where goods are moved between different types of transport, like trains and trucks.
Future Plans
In the early 2000s, Prince George County bought more land in the area. This land included a spot once used by the U.S. Army from nearby Fort Lee. The county plans to turn this land into an Industrial Park. This means even more businesses and jobs could come to New Bohemia.
