Oilville, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oilville, Virginia
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Unincorporated community
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 Oilville, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Oilville, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Goochland |
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
23129
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| Area code(s) | 804 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1497060 |
Oilville is a small, unincorporated community located in Goochland County, Virginia, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but no separate local government like a town or city.
Oilville is about 22 miles (35 km) west-northwest of Richmond, Virginia's capital city. It sits along U.S. Route 250. Even though it's a small place, Oilville has its own post office with ZIP code 23129.
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Why is it called Oilville?
The name "Oilville" might sound a bit unusual, but it has a cool story! It comes from a sassafras oil factory that used to be in the area in the 1900s.
The Sassafras Oil Mill
Long ago, people used to make oil from sassafras trees. A local historian named Wendell Watkins shared memories of his childhood in Oilville. He recalled seeing sassafras logs and holes where tree stumps had been dug out. This was because the factory used only the stumps and roots of the sassafras trees to make the oil.
From Horsepen Mills to Oilville
Before it was called Oilville, this area was known as Horsepen Mills. It was an important stop for stagecoaches traveling along a road called Three Chopt Road. When the sassafras oil mill started operating, the area became known as Oilville. This unique name stuck, telling a story about the community's past.
Historic Places in Oilville
Oilville is also home to a historic place called Woodlawn Plantation. This old plantation was recognized for its historical importance and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
