Tuckahoe culture facts for kids

Tuckahoe culture was a unique way of life that developed in the early days of the Colony of Virginia. It was formed when different groups of people — including Algonquin-speaking Native Americans, English settlers, other Europeans, and West Africans — shared their customs and traditions. Over time, these different ways of living blended together, creating what became known as Tuckahoe culture. This culture first grew in the large farms, called plantations, along the James River. From there, it spread throughout the Tidewater area and then to other parts of Virginia.

Who Were the Tuckahoes?

The people who lived in eastern Virginia and followed the Anglican Church (a type of Christian church) were often called Tuckahoes. They saw themselves as different from other settlers who moved into Virginia.

Tuckahoes vs. Cohees

The Tuckahoes were mostly "old Virginians" from the low-lying areas near the coast. They were different from the German, Irish, and Scotch-Irish immigrants who settled in the Shenandoah Valley. These new settlers in the valley called themselves Cohees. So, "Tuckahoe" and "Cohee" became nicknames to tell apart the older, coastal Virginians from the newer settlers in the western mountains.