Gloucester County, Virginia

Gloucester is a county of the. Formed in 1651 in the, it was named for , third son of King of Great Britain. Located in the region, it borders the  and the lower. It is about 75 miles east of Virginia's capitol,. As of the, the population was 34,780.

Gloucester is steeped in history of the region of. It was the site of, a capital of the group known as the. It was home to members of early and important colonial leaders leading up to the. is said to have composed much of his early work for Virginia and colonial independence at overlooking the, then the home of his close friend and fellow student in  at the ,. From one of the, John Page himself was a famous patriot serving as both and in the ; Gloucester County Public Schools named Page Middle School in his honor. As the war came to a conclusion at directly across from, the county almost served as the escape route for the British land forces led by. A French effort kept British naval forces from assisting him.

Long the domain of Virginia watermen and its fishing industries, Gloucester County is also rich in farmland. It is home to a as well as several smaller companies  and a regional, family-owned chain of s which contribute to its small town, friendly, southern atmosphere, such as the stores around the main street area at the,.

Despite the retention of rural and small-town aspects, Gloucester County and adjacent are also considered a portion of the greater  region of southeastern Virginia, linked by the  a  across the York River carrying  to the  area. The zip code is 23061, and the telephone area code 804. Gloucester County is also referred to as the capitol of the world, and features an annual daffodil parade.

Native Americans
The recorded history of Gloucester County, located in the first district of the United States, began soon after the settlement of in. Prior to that time, it was long-inhabited by the groups of  during the late  and earlier. By the late 16th century, the had been formed in the area. , a stronghold of Chief was located on the north side of the, in what is now Gloucester.

Arrival of Europeans
Around 1570, Spanish s priests attempted to establish what was called the across the  from Gloucesterbut were eliminated by Natives led by a supposed Christian-convert named  who was affiliated with a village in current  (on the gorunds of the current ) which was known as.

When English settlers arrived at in, they soon came into conflict with the natives (who they called "Indians") as well. In late 1607, when captured along the, was brought to Powhatan at his eastern capitol in Gloucester County,. According to legend, his daughter, the Princess saved the gallant John Smith from death at the hands of the Indians, and thus, entered the pages of Virginia's history. Some historians question the accuracy of Smith's account of that ceremony, but the existence of Werowocomoco as a capital of Chief Powhatan was confirmed by a later visit when Smith was accompanied by other Englishmen.

Lost site of Werowocomoco
The site of Werowocomoco was lost during the 17th century, after it was abandoned around 1609, when the chief moved his capital to a safer more inland location. The current site of (a town established at the confluence of the  and  at the headwaters of the  clearly meets a description in writings of, and early leader at Jamestown. From there, a distance downstream to Werowocomoco was provided.   It was long thought that Werowocomoco was located near , which is the site of , and is about 25 miles east of present-day , based largely upon the mileage figure provided by Smith. However, also according to Smith, when  was established by the English colonists in 1607, it was 12 miles away from Werowocomoco as the crow flies. The long-thought location near Wicomico is much further from Jamestown than that.

A location some distance from Wicomico on was first identified in 1977 as the possible location by Daniel Mouer, an archaeologist at. An associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Dr. Mouer collected artifacts from the surface of plowed fields and along the beach. He found fragments of Indian ceramic from the Late Woodland/Contact Period and determined that this area was the "possible site of Werowocomoco.

After years of collecting artifacts at ground level, a later landowner authorized additional archaeological exploration. Between March 2002 and April 2003 archaeologists conducted an archaeological survey of a portion of the property. Initial testing included digging 603 test holes, 12 to 16 inches deep and 50 feet apart, where thousands of artifacts, including a blue bead that may have been made in Europe for trading, were found. There, along with historical descriptions, suggest the farm was the site of Werowocomoco. We believe we have sufficient evidence to confirm that the property is indeed the village of Werowocomoco," said Randolph Turner, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources' Portsmouth Regional Office in 2003.

Two Gloucester-based archaeologists, Thane Harpole and David Brown, were instrumental in the work at the site since 2002 and are involved in the excavations there. Starting that year, the Werowocomoco Research Group began excavations at the Werowocomoco site. The Research Group is a collaborative effort of the, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and Virginia tribes descended from the Powhatans. The excavations have identified a dispersed village community occupied from A.D. 1200 through the early seventeenth century. Artifacts recovered during the excavations include Native pottery, stone tools, as well as floral and faunal remains from a large residential community. The Research Group has also recovered large numbers of English trade goods produced from glass, copper, and other metals originating from Jamestown. The colonists' accounts of interaction at Werowocomoco emphasize Powhatan's efforts to obtain large numbers of English objects, particularly copper, during the early days of the Jamestown colony.

It is notable that, unlike some earlier projects, at this site, the archaeologists and other researchers have carefully incorporated ongoing consultation with members of the local tribes, the  and, who are prominent among the decedents of the Powhatan Confederacy, as such sites which include burial artifacts are sacred to these tribes.


 * "When I step on this site folks...I just feel different. The spirituality just touches me and I feel it." Stephen R. Adkins, chief of the Tribe and a member of the Virginia Indian advisory board

Even through the controversy over years of the purported location of Werowocomoco, Gloucester County has been able to embrace the fact that Werowocomoco and a lot of other significant Powhatan heritage are portions of the county's history. It has been noted that both the newly identified site on and the site of  at, also long-thought to have been the site of Werowocomoco, are each located within an area that the Native Americans may have considered as Werowocomoco. It has been noted in the minutes of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors that the village of the chief in the language was not a place name, but more correctly translated, a reference to the lands where he lived, and the lifestyle included frequent relocations of various quarters within a general area.

English developments
In 1619, the Virginia Company divided its developed areas into four incorporations, also called "citties" (sic). At that time, most of not all of the area which became Gloucester County would have been considered part of, although essentially not settled. Then, in 1634, by order of, the colony was divided into the. was originally named, to be renamed in 1642 during the. (The York River was earlier known to the natives as "Pamunkey" (as a portion upstream from West Point still is) and to the English colonists as Charles River, also renamed during the English Civil War).

Early land patents in the area were granted in, but it was not until after that Gloucester was considered safe for settlement. 's great grandfather received a Gloucester County land patent in.

County Divisions
By order of the Virginia General Assembly, Gloucester County was formed from in, and consisted of four parishes: Abingdon, Kingston, Petsworth and Ware. It was named for, third son of , Gloucester County figured prominently in the history of the colony and the Commonwealth of.

Kingston parish became in  and the remaining three parishes stayed Gloucester, as the county was split on what is now the Eastern county line.

Farming and notable people
In the 1600s and 1700s, Gloucester was a producing area, and many old plantation homes and magnificent private estates remain today in perfect condition. From time to time, these establishments are open to public visitation during Historic Garden Week. In addition, there are fine examples of Colonial architecture in the churches of Ware (1690) and Abingdon (1755), and some early buildings remain at the county seat on the Courthouse Green actively serving the public.

In the seventeenth century, the tip of land protruding into the, across from , was named Tyndall's Point by , mapmaker for. Later named Gloucester Point, fortifications were built here in, and were rebuilt and strengthened many times from colonial days through the. This site is also known as the "Second Surrender" by General to General  at.

Following English settlement, Gloucester became home to many colonial leaders. Several other points of interest include, 's maternal grandmother's home, which is now a ; the site and ruins of , where spent many nights with his friend ; and both presidents Washington and Jefferson worshiped (often spotted together at the same service) at Abingdon Episcopal Church. Other notable Gloucestonians include, who in brought the colony its first ; , world renowned ; , born in the  area of Gloucester, conqueror of  during the building of the ; Lawyer and civil rights activist , though born in slavery, broke those chains and became one of Gloucester's first and most respected, successful  businessman; and , who successfully fought and lobbied for a Black man to be appointed as an assistant to the.

Guinea
One interesting area of Gloucester County is known as, containing , , and. Located near, the area has historically been the center of the seafood industry of the county, being led by some of the founding families of Gloucester, such as , , and. While the number of participants in this industry has declined over the years, it still remains the industrious and cultural core of the community. These are known locally as "Guineamen." This term is not inherently derisive, but is often used as such by residents in other parts of Gloucester County. Guineamen speak a distinct, heavily-accented form of Southern, but not necessarily a distinct dialect.

The name "Guinea" is of uncertain origin; however, a commonly held explanation is that this area of Gloucester County was named "Guinea" in an effort to deride the (Loyalists) who quartered Hessian mercenaries in service of the British Crown during the  soldiers who were paid one Guinea per day. It is believed the were attached to General Charles Lord Cornwallis' (of Yorktown fame) army and either occupied lower Gloucester during the closing days of the Revolutionary War or deserted their service fighting for the British. What is known is Cornwallis sent British troops and cavalry (under the command of Colonel ) to Gloucester in October 1781, and Hessians may have been a part of that  and were sent to secure lower Gloucester due to its  importance at the mouth of the.

Daffodils
The history of the in Gloucester County, Virginia, is almost as old as the county itself. When Gloucester was formed in from part of York County the early settlers brought these soft reminders of English springs as they  themselves in the area. The soil and weather conditions were ideal for daffodils. The bulbs were passed from neighbor to neighbor and spread from the orderly beds and burying grounds of the great houses to the fields. Some, such as the hardy variety, seemed to  on. By the beginning of the 20th century daffodils grew wild in the untended fields of Gloucester. It is from this of natural beauty that grew the extensive daffodil industry which earned the county the title "Daffodil Capital of America" in the 1930s and 40s. They also hold an annual Daffodil Festival to commemorate this stapled flower.

Daffodil Festival
As previously mentioned, Gloucester county is known for its daffodils which are a major boost to business each year at the spring daffodil festival, for local store owners. The 22nd annual Daffodil Festival will be on March 29th and 30th, 2008.

Black Powder and Paint festival
Gloucester also has a historic court circle, which is also where the annual black powder and paint festival is held, at which you can buy high-quality handmade crafts like powder horns, and sea shell jewelry.

Beaver Dam Park
Beaverdam is a combination of a park and a reservoir, where visitors can go hiking, boating, fishing, and picnicking. The park is very large, and is surrounded by trails all around the reservoir.

VIMS
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is the professional graduate school in marine science for the, the country's second-oldest university which is headquartered in nearby. It is located at Gloucester Point along what would be the county's beach, taking samples and measurements for the Chesapeake Bay, and putting specimens on display. Many people flock to VIMS from the surrounding counties during the Marine Science Day each year.

Schools
has nine total public schools, of which, six elementary (grades -5), two intermediate (grades 6-8), and one high school (-). There have been numerous proposals to make the school system switch to year round school like a few neighboring counties, but the board has rejected each proposal. In mathematics and language, advanced courses are offered. In mathematics, attendees can take courses two years before they're required, and in language, students can take "advanced language" which is at a higher level than their peers.

Elementary Schools
In Gloucester county the six elementary schools start class at 8:00 am, and end 3:30 pm. The six schools are as follows: "Abingdon, Achilles, Bethel, Botetourt, Petsworth, and T.C. Walker." Unlike the middle and high schools, these schools give a group of around twenty students to a teacher for a whole school year.

Middle Schools
Gloucester county also has two middle schools that start at 7:50 am with homeroom and end at 2:25 pm. The schools have block scheduling, and teams (basically a complete division of the grade). The schools' names are Peasley, and Page.

High School
The county has one high school, simply called (GHS). The school mascot is the former Duke of Gloucester, and their school hours are 7:40 am to 2:40 pm. Notable at Gloucester County High School is coach, who after his own collegiate and professional football careers, became a high school. While at nearby, Coach Reamon helped developed the potential of future collegiate and professional footballers , , and during their high school years.

Main Street
The county's main street has had a long and vibrant past. As of present Gloucester county has three courthouses, with one now considered historical, along mainstreet. Gloucester's mainstreet is well preserved, even having a shop, but the county is conducting a major overhaul of the sidewalk system, which takes away from the old world feel of the street. Every year Gloucester has a parade along main street, where vendors travel to rack up on the local's love of their past.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 746 (288 ). 561 km² (217 mi²) of it is land and 185 km² (71 mi²) of it (24.79%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2005, there were 38,293 people, 15,663 households, and 9,884 families residing in the county. The was 62/km² (161/mi²). There were 14,494 housing units at an average density of 26/km² (67/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.20%, 8.6% or , 0.5% , 0.7% , 0.4% , 0.40% from , and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.9% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 13,127 households out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,421, and the median income for a family was $48,760. Males had a median income of $35,838 versus $24,325 for females. The for the county was $19,990. About 6.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.