Tri-Cities, Virginia facts for kids
The Tri-Cities of Virginia is a special area in the Greater Richmond Region of south-central Virginia. It gets its name from three main independent cities: Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell. Parts of nearby counties like Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, and Prince George are also included.
Other smaller communities in the Tri-Cities area are Ettrick, Fort Gregg-Adams, and City Point. City Point used to be a historic town but is now part of Hopewell.
Contents
- What is the Tri-Cities Area Like?
- How to Get Around the Tri-Cities
- News and Entertainment in the Tri-Cities
- Culture and Arts in the Tri-Cities
- Learning Opportunities in the Tri-Cities
- Important Services and Facilities
- Fort Gregg-Adams: A Military Base
- Industries in the Tri-Cities
- Tri-Cities and the Civil War
What is the Tri-Cities Area Like?
The Tri-Cities area is located around the Appomattox River. This river is about 25 miles (40 km) south of Richmond. The Appomattox River flows into the James River near historic City Point in Hopewell.
The Tri-Cities area is part of the larger Richmond, VA MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area). This means it's grouped with Richmond and nearby counties for economic and planning purposes. The economy here is very diverse, meaning many different types of businesses exist. This helps the area stay strong even if one type of business has a tough time. Its central spot also helps it grow as other parts of Virginia grow.
How to Get Around the Tri-Cities
Getting around the Tri-Cities is easy with many major roads and public transport options.
Major Roads and Highways
Interstate 95 is a big highway that runs north and south through the area. Other important highways include Interstate 85 and Interstate 295. You'll also find U.S. Route 1 (called The Boulevard in Colonial Heights), U.S. Route 301, and State Route 144 (Temple Avenue).
For east-west travel, major roads are U.S. Route 460, State Route 10, and State Route 36.
River Crossings
Several bridges help people cross the rivers. The Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge and the two Charles Hardaway Marks Bridges cross the Appomattox River. The Varina-Enon Bridge and the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge cross the James River.
Train and Bus Services
You can catch an Amtrak passenger train at the station in Ettrick. This community is right next to Petersburg and Colonial Heights. For moving goods, both CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Corporation provide freight train services.
Bus transportation is offered by the Petersburg Area Transit (PAT). There are nine bus routes that connect parts of Petersburg, Ettrick, Colonial Heights (near Southpark Mall), Fort Gregg-Adams, and Prince George County. All these routes meet in Old Town Petersburg. PAT and GRTC also offer express bus service between Richmond and Petersburg. Some of these express buses stop at Brightpoint Community College in Chester.
News and Entertainment in the Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities area has its own local newspapers and shares radio and TV stations with Richmond.
Local Newspapers
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch is a daily newspaper for Richmond.
- The Progress-Index is the local daily newspaper for the Tri-Cities and Sussex. It's based in Petersburg.
- The Colonial Voice is a weekly newspaper for Colonial Heights.
- The Chester Village News covers news for Chesterfield County.
- The Hopewell News & Patriot used to cover Hopewell, Prince George County, and Colonial Heights, but it is no longer published.
Radio and Television
The radio and television stations you can tune into in the Tri-Cities are the same ones available in Richmond, Virginia.
Culture and Arts in the Tri-Cities
Like many cities, Petersburg and Hopewell have worked to make their downtown areas lively again by supporting arts and culture.
Petersburg's Old Town
In the 1990s and 2000s, areas like "Old Town" in Petersburg saw many old buildings renovated. These buildings were turned into new apartments and unique restaurants. In 2004, an arts group called Shockoe Bottom Arts moved to Petersburg from Richmond because real estate was more affordable. Old Town Petersburg now features several antique shops, a former train station, and a theater.
Hopewell's Revitalization
Hopewell has also started projects to improve its harbor area, "Town Triangle," and the historic Beacon Theatre. These efforts help bring new life and activities to the city.
Local Performances
You can also find cultural events and performances at local colleges and at the playhouse located on Fort Gregg-Adams.
Learning Opportunities in the Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities area offers many schools and colleges for students of all ages.
Schools for Kids (K-12)
- Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts And Technology
- Chesterfield Public Schools
- Hopewell Public Schools
- Petersburg Public Schools
- Prince George Public Schools
- Dinwiddie Public Schools
- Colonial Heights Public Schools
Colleges and Universities
- Richard Bland College (in Petersburg)
- Virginia State University (in Ettrick)
- Brightpoint Community College (in Chester)
- Army Logistics Management College (at Fort Gregg-Adams)
Important Services and Facilities
The Tri-Cities area has several hospitals and a large shopping mall.
Hospitals
The area is served by several hospitals, including:
- John Randolph Medical Center (in Hopewell)
- Hiram Davis Medical Center (in Petersburg)
- Southside Regional Medical Center (in Petersburg)
- Poplar Springs Hospital (a mental health facility in Petersburg)
Southpark Mall
Southpark Mall is a big regional shopping mall in the Tri-Cities area. It was built in 1988 where State Route 144 and Interstate 95 meet. The mall has grown a lot and now includes many large stores. While the mall itself is in Colonial Heights, Virginia, other stores and businesses have also grown around it throughout the Tri-Cities.
Fort Gregg-Adams: A Military Base
Fort Gregg-Adams is a United States Army base that plays a big role in the Tri-Cities. It is home to important Army commands and schools. Many military personnel live and work in the Tri-Cities area, making them a significant part of the community.
The fort has two Army museums: the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum and the U.S. Army Women's Museum.
The fort is named after two African American officers: Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Before April 2023, it was named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Industries in the Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities area has several important industries.
Puddledock Sand & Gravel in Prince George County, Virginia is a large quarry. It digs up natural sand, asphalt, and concrete aggregates (like gravel) for building. This quarry is owned by Vulcan Materials Company.
The Ruffin Mill Industrial Park (also called Appomattox Industrial Park) is a large area for businesses, covering about 298 acres (1.2 km²). Hopewell is also known for having several chemical manufacturing plants.
Tri-Cities and the Civil War
Many places in the Tri-Cities area have names that remind us of the region's role in the American Civil War.
A major supply base for the Union Army was at City Point. The City Point Railroad, which helped during the siege of Petersburg, is still used today. You can learn about the history of the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg National Battlefield Park. Nearby, "Crater Road" and the "Mahone Gate" at Fort Gregg-Adams are named after Confederate Brigadier General William Mahone. He was at the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864.
