Reedville, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reedville
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A house in Reedville, June 2010
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 Reedville
Location in Virginia
Reedville
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Northumberland |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Reedville is a small place in Northumberland County, Virginia. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Reedville is located on the eastern side of Virginia, right on the Chesapeake Bay.
This community is famous for its fishing industry, especially for a small, oily fish called menhaden. These fish are found in large numbers along the Atlantic coast. A big company named Omega Protein uses many boats to catch and process menhaden right here in Reedville.
Reedville is also a fun place for visitors. You can start fishing trips from here or take a boat ride to Tangier Island. The town has a rich history tied to fishing. You can see beautiful old houses from the Victorian era along "Millionaire's Row." These homes, along with some old fishing boats at the Fishermen's Museum, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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How Reedville Got Started
Reedville is named after Captain Elijah W. Reed (1827-1888). He was a sea captain from Maine. In 1874, Captain Reed came to the Chesapeake Bay. He quickly saw how important the menhaden fishing industry could become here.
Long ago, in the 1620s, Native Americans taught early settlers in New England how to use menhaden. They would bury these fish with corn seeds to help the plants grow better. This showed how useful menhaden could be.
Captain Reed's Big Idea
Captain Reed moved his fishing business from Maine to Virginia. He brought a new way to get a lot of oil from menhaden. His method involved cooking millions of fish to extract their oil. This oil was used for lubrication and for lamps, much like whale oil.
The leftover parts of the fish, like bones and carcasses, were also valuable. They were used as fertilizer to help farms. Captain Reed opened the very first fish processing plant in Reedville.
A Town Built on Fish
By 1885, Reedville was a busy center for menhaden fishing. Factories along Cockrell Creek turned menhaden into oil, fish meal, and fertilizer. This industry brought a lot of money to Reedville and Northumberland County.
Even though Reedville had only about 500 people, it was once known as one of the wealthiest towns in the United States. This was all thanks to the successful menhaden fishing business. The captains of the fishing boats and the factory owners built large, fancy homes along what is now Main Street.
Many fish processing factories have operated near Reedville over the years. Today, Omega Protein Corporation is one of the main companies, continuing this long tradition.
Reedville Today: Fishing and Fun
Today, Omega Protein is still the biggest industrial company in the Reedville area. They have hundreds of employees. The company uses a fleet of large fishing boats that go out into the ocean. They also use small planes to spot schools of fish from above.
Once caught, the menhaden are cooked and processed. Their parts are used in many ways. For example, they become a protein boost for chicken feed. Big food companies like Tyson Foods buy a lot of these products.
Things to Do in Reedville
Besides the fishing industry, Reedville is a great spot for tourism. Many local businesses offer sport fishing trips. You can also take regular boat tours to Tangier Island, which is a unique island in the Chesapeake Bay.
If you want to stay overnight, Reedville has cozy bed and breakfast places and short-term rentals. Some of the beautiful old houses on Millionaire's Row are listed as historic places. New homes have also been built there in recent years.
The Fishermen's Museum
The Reedville Fisherman's Museum helps keep the history of the watermen alive. They have restored the oldest home in the community, called the Walker House, which is now part of the museum.
The museum also owns two historic boats: the Claude W. Somers (a type of sailboat called a skipjack) and the Elva C (a deck boat). Both of these boats are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum shares stories and facts about Reedville, the Chesapeake Bay, and the menhaden fishing industry.
