Rappahannock County (1656), Virginia facts for kids

Rappahannock County, Virginia, has an interesting history, with two different counties sharing the same name at different times! Let's explore how these counties came to be and what happened to them.

Old Rappahannock County: The First One

The very first county named Rappahannock was created in 1656. It was formed from a part of Lancaster County, Virginia. People often called it "Old Rappahannock" County to tell it apart from the one that came later.

Why Was It Called Rappahannock?

This county got its name from the Native American people who lived in the area. The word Rappahannock is believed to mean "people of the alternating stream." This refers to the Rappahannock River, which has tides that make its water level go up and down.

Settling the Area

English colonists started moving into this area in the 1640s. They wanted to settle the land along both sides of the lower Rappahannock River. Travel was very difficult back then. The county was also quite large, making it hard for settlers to reach the county seat (the main town where official business was done).

How Old Rappahannock County Ended

Because it was so hard for people to travel and do business, the Virginia General Assembly (Virginia's law-making body) decided to divide the county. In 1691, they passed a law to split Old Rappahannock County into two smaller counties. By 1692, Old Rappahannock County no longer existed. It was divided to form Essex County and Richmond County, Virginia.

The New Rappahannock County

Much later, in 1833, a completely new county was created and also named Rappahannock County. This new county was formed from the northwest part of Culpeper County, Virginia. It was located much further up the Rappahannock River, closer to where the river begins.