Yorktown, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yorktown, Virginia
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Yorktown customhouse, May 2011
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Location of Yorktown in Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | York |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.6 sq mi (2 km2) |
| • Land | 0.6 sq mi (2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 195 |
| • Density | 325/sq mi (125/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
23690–23693
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| Area code(s) | 757, 948 |
| FIPS code | 51-88240 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1500081 |
Yorktown is a small town in York County, Virginia. It is the main town of York County, which was one of the first eight areas created in colonial Virginia way back in 1682. In 2010, only 195 people lived in Yorktown.
This town is super famous because it was the site of a very important battle during the American Revolutionary War. On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington and the French Fleet here. This defeat for the British basically ended the war in North America. Yorktown was also important during the American Civil War (1861–1865). It was a key port for supplies, used by whichever side controlled the town at the time.
Yorktown is one of three special places in what's called the Historic Triangle. The other two are Jamestown and Williamsburg, which were also important settlements long ago. Yorktown is at the eastern end of the Colonial Parkway, a scenic road that connects these historic spots. It's also the starting point for the TransAmerica Trail, a long bike route for adventurers!
Did you know Yorktown has a sister city in Germany? It's called Zweibrücken. This connection comes from a German army unit that helped fight in the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
History of Yorktown
Yorktown got its name from the old city of York in England. It was started in 1691 as a port on the York River. English colonists used it to send tobacco to Europe. Thomas Ballard and Joseph Ring were the main people who founded the town. It became the county seat in 1696. Even though it never had more than about 200 houses, it was a very busy trading center until the American Revolutionary War. At first, it was just called "York," but after the war, "Yorktown" became its common name.
The town was at its busiest around 1750. It had about 250 to 300 buildings and nearly 2,000 people living there. It was the base for British General Charles Cornwallis during the 1781 siege. This was the last big battle of the American Revolutionary War.
Back when rivers were the main way to travel, Yorktown was in a great spot. It controlled parts of the York River and its smaller rivers, which led to the Chesapeake Bay. In 1781, Thomas Jefferson wrote that the York River at Yorktown had "the best harbour in the state for vessels of the largest size." He noted that the river was narrow there, with high banks where ships could safely dock.
The number of people living in Yorktown and other nearby areas went down after Virginia's capital moved from Williamsburg to Richmond. Richmond, located on the James River, started to grow more. Also, growing tobacco used up all the good soil. Farmers then started growing different crops, which needed fewer workers. Many younger people moved away from the coast to new lands farther west, like Kentucky and Tennessee.
Yorktown in the Civil War
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Yorktown was captured by the Union army in 1862. This happened after the Siege and Battle of Yorktown. The Union Army of the Potomac, led by General George B. McClellan, used Yorktown as a base to attack Richmond.
Sister Cities and Military Presence
Yorktown has two sister cities. One is Zweibrücken, Germany. A German army unit from there, called the Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment, fought alongside the Americans in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. The other sister city is Port-Vendres, France. This is a small port where French forces left Europe to help fight the British in America.
During World War I, the U.S. government bought a large area near Yorktown in 1918. They built a naval base there called Mine Depot, Yorktown. This base has grown and is now known as Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.
Today, the Training Center Yorktown is a school for the United States Coast Guard. Other important military places nearby include Camp Peary, Naval Station Norfolk, and Langley Air Force Base.
Exploring Historic Yorktown
Today, Yorktown is a popular place for people who love history. They come to see the old buildings and learn about the past. Historic Yorktown is located right by the York River, close to the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge.
Historic Yorktown has two main parts. First, there's Water Street, which is a small area along the river's beach. Here you'll find restaurants, a park, a hotel, a pier, and an antiques shop. In 2005, more shops and restaurants were added, making the "Riverwalk" area even nicer.
Above Water Street, on a small hill, is Main Street. Most of the buildings here are original from the colonial times. Nine buildings, including the Nelson House (built around 1730) and the Somerwell House, are still standing from before the Revolutionary War. You can also see the old courthouse, small shops, and the Yorktown Victory Monument along this street. Grace Episcopal Church, known for its beautiful design, is also nearby.
Honoring Yorktown's History
Yorktown and the area around it are very important to the early history of the United States. The Colonial National Historical Park protects the Yorktown National Battlefield and the Yorktown National Cemetery. The battlefield still has many of the earth walls that American and French soldiers dug during the siege.
The Yorktown Victory Monument is located just outside the town. It celebrates the victory, the help from France, and the peace that followed the war. The monument was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and put up in 1884. The top part, a figure of Liberty, was destroyed by lightning in 1942. In 1957, a new figure of Victory was added. There are also plans for a memorial to French soldiers who died during the Yorktown campaign.
Getting Around Yorktown
U.S. Route 17, also called George Washington Memorial Highway, is the main road in Yorktown. It crosses the York River using the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge. York County has grown a lot, and this part of U.S. 17 is now very busy with many shops and businesses. However, most of the new homes and businesses in York County are not close to Yorktown itself. Yorktown is being kept as a historic colonial village, much like Williamsburg, with help from the National Park Service.
You can also reach Yorktown directly by the Colonial Parkway. This road has two lanes and doesn't allow commercial vehicles. It connects Yorktown to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and major highways like Interstate 64. Williamsburg, the closest city, is only about a 20-minute drive from Yorktown.
Public Transportation Options
The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) runs a special trolley for tourists around Yorktown every day. This trolley service has been available since 1999. However, WATA does not offer bus service between Yorktown and other cities in the Hampton Roads area.
For longer trips, Yorktown is served by airports in Newport News and Norfolk. You can also find Amtrak train stations in Newport News and Williamsburg.
People and Numbers
In 2010, there were 195 people living in Yorktown. Most of the people living there were White (about 91.79%), and a smaller number were Black or African American (about 6.67%).
The population is spread out in terms of age. About 56.41% of the people are between 18 and 64 years old, and about 34.87% are over 65.
The average income for someone living in Yorktown is about $42,775 a year. The average household income is about $60,192 a year. In September 2019, the unemployment rate was very low, at 2.7%.
Yorktown is part of Virginia's 2nd congressional district. This district is currently represented by Jen Kiggans, who won against Elaine Luria in 2022.
News and Media
Yorktown has its own daily newspaper called the Daily Press and Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. Other newspapers available include the Port Folio Weekly and the New Journal and Guide. For business news, there's the Hampton Roads Business Journal. Hampton Roads Magazine is a magazine that comes out every two months and covers Yorktown and the wider Hampton Roads area. The Hampton Roads Times is an online magazine for all the cities and counties in Hampton Roads.
You can listen to many different radio stations in Yorktown, both on AM and FM. These stations have towers located around the Hampton Roads area.
Yorktown also receives several television stations. The Hampton Roads TV market is the 42nd largest in the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has a station called WHRO-TV on channel 15. Residents can also watch independent stations like WSKY-TV (channel 4) and WGBS-LD (channel 11). Cox Cable provides a local 24-hour news channel called LNC 5. DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular choices for TV in Yorktown.
See also
In Spanish: Yorktown (Virginia) para niños
