Tappahannock, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tappahannock, Virginia
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| Town of Tappahannock | |
The historic district of Tappahannock
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Location in Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Essex |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.75 sq mi (7.11 km2) |
| • Land | 2.67 sq mi (6.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,375 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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2,402 |
| • Density | 899.96/sq mi (347.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
22560
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| Area code(s) | 804 |
| FIPS code | 51-77568 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498542 |
Tappahannock is the oldest town in Essex County, Virginia, United States. It is located on the Rappahannock River. In 2010, about 2,375 people lived there. Tappahannock is the main town, or county seat, of Essex County.
The town's name comes from an old Algonquian language word. It means "Town on the rise and fall of water" or "where the tide ebbs and flows." This is because the Rappahannock River here is a tidal estuary. This means the water level changes with the ocean tides.
In 1608, an English explorer named John Smith visited Tappahannock. He first fought with the local Rappahannock people but later made peace with them.
Contents
History of Tappahannock
How Tappahannock Began
In the mid-1660s, Captain Richard Hobbs owned land near the Rappahannock River. In 1680, Virginia law said that port towns needed warehouses. That year, a map was made showing "Hobbs His Hole Harbour."
"Hole" meant a deep part of the water where ships could drop anchor. Captain Hobbs used to park his ship, the Elizabeth and Mary, here. This area soon became known as Hobbs Hole.
From New Plymouth to Tappahannock
The settlement was planned on 50 acres of land, divided into half-acre squares. The port was first called New Plymouth. Later, its name was changed back to the Native American name, Tappahannock.
In 1730, the Tobacco Inspection Act was passed. This law created public warehouses at Hobbs Hole for checking and shipping tobacco. Tobacco was a very important crop for the colony. Large ocean ships could reach this port.
Events and Challenges
War of 1812 Attack
During the War of 1812, British naval forces attacked Tappahannock. On December 2, 1814, Captain Robert Barrie and his forces took over the town. They burned down the courthouse and two jails. The British left two days later.
Historic Places and Natural Disasters
The Tappahannock Historic District is a special area in town. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its important history.
On February 24, 2016, a strong EF3 tornado hit the town. It caused a lot of damage. More recently, on July 15, 2022, a big fire destroyed many businesses and homes in downtown Tappahannock. The fire started at the Martin-Sale Furniture Company. No people died, but one pet cat was lost.
Geography of Tappahannock
Tappahannock is located on the east side of Essex County. It sits on the southwest bank of the Rappahannock River. The river here is a wide, tidal estuary. This means it's where the river meets the sea, and the water level changes with the tides.
The town covers about 2.75 square miles (7.11 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
Population of Tappahannock
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 574 | — | |
| 1890 | 452 | −21.3% | |
| 1900 | 554 | 22.6% | |
| 1910 | 478 | −13.7% | |
| 1920 | 422 | −11.7% | |
| 1930 | 427 | 1.2% | |
| 1940 | 783 | 83.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,011 | 29.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,086 | 7.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,111 | 2.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,821 | 63.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,550 | −14.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,068 | 33.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,375 | 14.8% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 2,402 | 1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,068 people living in Tappahannock. There were 857 households, which are groups of people living together. About 495 of these were families.
The town's population was made up of different groups. About 54.6% were White, and 41.6% were African American. There were also smaller numbers of Asian and Native American people.
About 27.8% of households had children under 18. About 36.6% were married couples. The average household had 2.23 people. The average family had 2.91 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 22.4% were under 18. About 21.4% were 65 or older. The average age in town was 39 years.
Transportation in Tappahannock
Two main roads, U.S. Routes 17 and 360, go through Tappahannock. US 17 runs through the middle of town as Church Lane. It goes northwest to Fredericksburg and southeast to Newport News.
US 360 also uses Church Lane with US 17. But then it turns east onto Queen Street. It crosses the wide Rappahannock River on the Thomas J. Downing Bridge. From there, it continues east to Reedville. US 360 also goes southwest from Tappahannock to Richmond, which is the state capital.
The Tappahannock–Essex County Airport (KXSA) is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Tappahannock. It opened in 2007. Before this new airport, there was an older one called Tappahannock Municipal Airport right inside the town.
Notable Buildings and Places
- Lowery's: This was a popular seafood restaurant that was open for a long time, from 1938 until March 2020. It closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- June Parker Marina: This small marina is on what was once called Hobbs His Hole Harbor. It was the original port of Tappahannock. The town was designed so that tobacco could be easily moved from Marsh Street to this harbor for shipping.
- St. Margaret's School: Tappahannock is home to St. Margaret's School, which is a private boarding school for students.
- Tappahannock Debtors' Prison: This historic building was built before 1769. It is one of only three such buildings left in Virginia. A debtors' prison was a place where people who could not pay their debts were held. This building is part of the Tappahannock Historic District.
Notable People from Tappahannock
- Chris Brown: A famous R&B pop singer, actor, songwriter, and dancer who has won a Grammy Award.
- Lorenzo Bundy: A coach in Major League Baseball.
- Bill Dennis: A NASCAR driver who was named Rookie of the Year in 1970.
- Darryl Hammond: A member of the Arena Football Hall of Fame.
- Audrey Long: An actress who went to school in Tappahannock.
- Catharine Flood McCall: A businesswoman and plantation owner from the 1800s.
- William "Bill" Moore: A blues musician.
- Stacy Tutt: A former running back for the New York Jets football team.
See also
In Spanish: Tappahannock para niños
