Pocahontas Island facts for kids
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Pocahontas Island Historic District
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Pocahontas Island welcome sign
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pocahontas, Witten, Rolfe, Logan, and Sapony Sts., Petersburg, Virginia |
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| Built | 1952 |
| Architect | Lee, William Edward, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Federal, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000977 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 03, 2006 |
Pocahontas Island is a special area in Petersburg, Virginia. It used to be a peninsula (land almost surrounded by water) across the Appomattox River from Petersburg. In 1915, the river's path changed, and now it's connected to the city.
This area was first planned in 1749 with warehouses and docks. A big tornado hit in 1993, causing a lot of damage. But people worked together to create the Pocahontas Island Historic District. In 2006, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It's important because of its rich African-American history and ancient Native American sites.
Archaeologists have found signs of Native American settlements from as far back as 6500 BC. The Appomattoc people lived here and met European settlers in the early 1700s. This is also when the first enslaved Africans were brought to work in the area.
In the 1800s, Pocahontas Island became a famous "freedom colony." It was the first place in Virginia where mostly free Black people lived. By the mid-1800s, it was one of the biggest free Black communities in the country. Even though some enslaved people also lived on the island, and a few free Black people owned slaves, it was a unique place. In 1860, more than half of Petersburg's population was Black, and about one-third of them were free. This was the largest free Black population at that time.
During the 1900s, fewer people lived on the island as many moved north during the Great Migration. In 1975, residents fought to keep their homes from being turned into industrial areas. They won, helping to protect their historic neighborhood.
Island History: A Look Back
Ancient Roots: Native American Life
Archaeological findings show that Native Americans lived on Pocahontas Island around 6500 BC. This was during the Middle Archaic Period, a very long time ago!
When European settlers came to Virginia and started Jamestown in 1607, the Appomattoc people were living here. They were part of the Powhatan Confederacy.
Early European Settlement and Growth
The first European settlement on the peninsula began in the 1700s. In 1732, a group of enslaved Africans were brought to work in John Bolling's tobacco warehouses.
In 1749, the land was officially mapped out, and white settlers called the village "Wittontown." When it became an official town in 1752, it was renamed Pocahontas. This name honored the Native American daughter of Powhatan. She was important in early Virginia history.
Pocahontas Island: A Free Black Community
In 1757, Petersburg built a bridge to connect the island to the city. After the American Revolutionary War, in 1784, Pocahontas Island became part of Petersburg. It quickly grew into a major center for free Black people. This community is the oldest free Black residential area in the nation. Its businesses also became a key place for free Black people across Virginia.
By 1797, free Black people started the Sandy River Baptist Church. In 1818, some members moved across the river and built the Gillfield Baptist Church in the city center. More free Black people moved to Petersburg because of the many industrial jobs. Skilled workers like artisans and craftsmen could find work. Others worked as boatmen and fishermen on the river. By 1860, half of Petersburg's population was Black, and one-third of them were free. This was the largest free Black population in the entire country.
Railroad and Civil War Times
From 1830 to 1860, Pocahontas Island had a railroad depot. This was the end point for the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. It was Petersburg's main station for goods and passengers. During the American Civil War, it also moved many Confederate soldiers and supplies.
The island had many docks and warehouses, along with homes. While no signs of Civil War forts remain, the island was a busy place. The city government, however, often focused more on developing white areas, sometimes neglecting Pocahontas Island.
Underground Railroad Connections
Many old houses still stand, especially on the east side of the island. Archaeologists have also found the foundations of the old railroad depot. Two houses on the island are linked to the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. The Jarratt House (808-810 Logan Street) is the only brick building left from that time. The double house at 215 Witten Street is known as the "Underground Railroad House." It once had a special fake brick front.
Many 19th-century houses on the island were built in the "shotgun style." This style was popular in cities like New Orleans and Houston. It helped make the most of small city lots and allowed for good airflow.
After the Civil War and New Challenges
It took many years for Petersburg to rebuild after the Civil War. The original Pocahontas Chapel was built after the war by the New York Freedman's Relief Society. It also served as a school for freed slaves. A windstorm destroyed it in 1993, but it was rebuilt and is still a community center today.
After the war, William N. Stevens, a free Black man born on Pocahontas Island, became a lawyer. He was the first African American to serve in both parts of the Virginia General Assembly. His house on the island still stands.
More factories in Petersburg and nearby Hopewell created jobs for Black people. However, in the late 1800s, Virginia's government passed unfair laws. These laws created segregation (keeping people separated by race) and made it harder for Black people to vote.
By the early 1900s, companies selling ice, coal, oil, and lumber operated on Pocahontas Island. The island faced big floods in 1910 and 1920. The DuPont company built a munitions factory nearby in 1914. Many Black people chose to live on Pocahontas Island.
Since they were often kept out of the political system, Black people created their own chances. As the 1900s went on, younger and more ambitious people often left the island. Many moved to northern cities during the Great Migration, starting around World War I. Islanders often say this was when they "lost the 'cream of the crop'." Most people left on the island were older retirees.
Protecting the Island's Future
In 1971, the Petersburg city government changed some of the island's zoning. This meant 250 homes were at risk of being taken by the city. It also made it impossible for homeowners to get loans for repairs. In 1975, residents fought back and won the right to keep their homes as residential areas.
Groups then began to study and record the many historic buildings. The Pocahontas Island Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This was because of its many archaeological sites, from ancient times to historic periods. It also has many old buildings that show its history as a free Black community.
A tornado in 1993 badly damaged some houses and the chapel. In 2015, the neighborhood was still listed as one of Virginia's most endangered historic sites. By the late 1900s, fewer than 100 people lived on the island, down from a high of 1700 earlier.
Recognition
Pocahontas Island Historic District is very important. It is listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is also home to the Pocahontas Island Black History Museum.
Images for kids
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Pocahontas Island welcome sign
