Toano, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toano, Virginia
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Former bank in the Toano Historic District
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 Toano, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Toano, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | James City |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
23168
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Toano is a small community in James City County, Virginia, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community," meaning it's part of the larger county area. Toano is located in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.
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Toano's Interesting History
Toano has a cool history that goes back a long time! It was first settled in the late 1800s. Before it was called Toano, this area had a different name: "Burnt Ordinary."
How Toano Got Its Name
The name "Burnt Ordinary" came from an old roadside inn, or "ordinary," that burned down way back in the 1700s. Imagine a place where travelers could stop for food and rest, and then it caught fire! Later, the name changed to Toano. This new name comes from a Native American word. It means "high ground," which makes sense because of the area's geography.
Railroads and Roads in Toano
In 1881, something big happened for Toano: the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) built a railroad right through the area. This railway connected Richmond to Newport News, helping to move coal to ships. Toano even got its own train station!
Toano was also on an important old road called the Richmond-Williamsburg Stage Road. Today, this road is known as U.S. Route 60. In the 1970s, a major highway, Interstate 64, was built nearby. If you take Exit 227, you'll see signs for "Toano-West Point."
Nearby Fun and History
Toano is close to some really famous places in Virginia's Historic Triangle. These include Colonial Williamsburg, where you can step back in time, and fun theme parks like Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA. There are also smaller attractions nearby, like Lakewood Trails and Go-Karts Plus.
A Glimpse into the Past
A special sign, called a Virginia Historical Marker, tells more about Toano's past. It explains that the "Burnt Ordinary" inn burned down in January 1780. Later, in 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, a French army leader named Alexander Berthier saw "two old chimneys" where the inn used to be. George Washington's mapmaker, Samuel DeWitt, also noted the "Burnt Brick Ordinary" on his maps. Soldiers from Lafayette's army even camped near here after a battle in July 1781.
Historic Buildings and Sites
Several places in or near Toano are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their historical value. Some of these places include the Chickahominy Shipyard Archeological Site, Hickory Neck Church, Stone House Site, White Hall (Toano, Virginia), and Windsor Castle (Toano, Virginia).
The Waving Tiger of Toano
One of Toano's most famous landmarks is a giant, 7-foot (2.1 m) waving tiger statue! It stands in front of a service station at a place called Anderson's Corner. Back in 1990, the oil company that owned the station wanted to remove the tiger because it didn't fit their new look. But the people of Toano loved their tiger! They rallied together to save it, and the company agreed to let it stay. This friendly tiger has even inspired the mascot for Toano Middle School!
Places of Worship
Toano is also home to some historic churches. Hickory Neck Episcopal Church has been around since 1734, which is a very long time! Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church also has a long history, dating back to 1887.
