Ashland
Originally developed by RF&P Railroad as a resort for Richmonders, trains still run through Ashland. The visitor’s center is a 1920s train station in the heart of downtown. Beautiful historic houses, antique shops, and unique eateries are some of the town’s attractions. Ashland is also home to Randolph-Macon College. A farmer’s market is open downtown on Saturday mornings from May to November.
Chester
Originally a stop on the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, today Chester is a small commuter community along State Route 10, about 16 miles south of Richmond. Most commercial development in the area is at the intersection of SR-10 and the Jefferson Davis Highway. Civil War sites in the area include Battery Dantzler and Howlett Line Park.
Colonial Heights
The city of Colonial Heights is directly across the Appomattox River from Petersburg. Of historic interest is the Violet Bank Museum, where General Lee had his headquarters during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864. General Lafayette was also headquartered here during an artillery bombardment on Petersburg in 1781. Swift Creek Mill, built in 1663, is possibly the oldest grist mill in the U.S.
Glen Allen
Glen Allen is a suburb 12 miles northwest of Richmond in the “West End” district, known for its upscale shopping and dining. This small community is home to The Dominion Club, where Virginia’s only PGA Tour event is played, and the prestigious Innsbrook Office Park, the headquarters for corporations like Wachovia, Capital One, and Circuit City.
Hopewell
Situated in the Tri-Cities area of Central Virginia where the Appomattox and James rivers meet, the city of Hopewell is home to large chemical plants, as well as historic plantations and manors. General Ulysses S. Grant headquartered here during the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War, and the DuPont Company manufactured guncotton here during the First World War.
Midlothian
Founded as a coal mining village in the 1700s, Midlothian produced the coal that heated the White House when Thomas Jefferson was President. In the late 1800s, after the mines shut down, the railway link to Richmond contributed to Midlothian’s growth as a commuter town. Today, this Richmond suburb is one of the region’s faster-growing communities.
Petersburg
The site of famous battles during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Petersburg is home to numerous museums recounting the city’s history. In recent years, a large antique mall and other historic buildings have been renovated in Old Towne. Downtown Petersburg has also experienced a rebirth with the development of upscale condos, restaurants, and boutique shops.
Richmond
During the American Civil War, Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. Today, it is a center for arts, commerce, and state government. The Canal Walk, running 1.25 miles along the James River, is a trendy zone of restaurants, shops, and residential lofts. Other attractions include St. John’s Church (the site of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty” speech), and the Edgar Allen Poe Museum.
Richmond Airport - Sandston
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is 8 miles southeast of downtown Richmond. The airport completed extensive renovations to its terminal building in 2007, adding a second level and increasing the number of gates. Currently, the airport is the fourth-busiest in Virginia behind Dulles, Reagan International, and Norfolk. Sandston is the adjacent unincorporated community.
Ruther Glen
Ruther Glen is a small unincorporated community 30 miles north of Richmond and 30 miles south of Fredericksburg at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Virginia State Highway 207. Paramount’s Kings Dominion amusement park is 7 miles south.
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