Yorktown, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Yorktown customhouse, May 2011 | |
 Location of Yorktown in Virginia | |
| Coordinates:37°14′4″N76°30′35″W / 37.23444°N 76.50972°W /37.23444; -76.50972 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | York |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| • Land | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 201 |
| • Density | 340/sq mi (130/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 23690–23693 |
| Area codes | 757, 948 |
| FIPS code | 51-88240[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1500081[2] |
Yorktown is atown inYork County, Virginia, United States. It is thecounty seat of York County,[3] one of the eight original shires formed incolonial Virginia in 1682. Yorktown's population was 221 as of the 2020 census, while York County's population was 66,134 in the 2011 census estimate.
The town is most famous as the site ofthe siege and subsequent surrender of GeneralCharles Cornwallis to GeneralGeorge Washington and theFrench Fleet during theAmerican Revolutionary War on October 19, 1781. Although the larger European war would last for another year, this British defeat at Yorktown effectively ended the war inNorth America. Yorktown also figured prominently in theAmerican Civil War (1861–1865), serving as a major port to supply both northern and southern towns, depending upon who held Yorktown at the time.
Yorktown is one of three sites of theHistoric Triangle, which also includesJamestown andWilliamsburg as important colonial-era settlements. It is the eastern terminus of theColonial Parkway connecting these locations. Yorktown is also the eastern terminus of theTransAmerica Trail, abicycle touring route created by theAdventure Cycling Association.
One of Yorktown's historicsister cities isZweibrücken, inGermany, due to the participation of a unit from there during the American Revolutionary War.
Yorktown was named for the ancient city ofYork inYorkshire,Northern England. It was founded in 1691 as a port on theYork River for English colonists to export tobacco to Europe. The lawyer Thomas Ballard was the principal founder of the city along with Joseph Ring.[4] It became the county seat in 1696, and although it never had more than about 200 houses its trade was considerable until the American Revolutionary War.[5] It was called "York" until after the war, when the name "Yorktown" came into common use.[6]
The town reached the height of its development around 1750, when it had 250 to 300 buildings and a population of almost 2,000 people. It was the base ofBritish GeneralCharles Cornwallis during the 1781siege, which was the last major battle of theAmerican Revolutionary War.
When waterways were critical to transportation, Yorktown was thought to occupy a strategic location controlling upstream portions of the York River and its tributaries and their access to theChesapeake Bay. In hisNotes on the State of Virginia published in 1781–82,Thomas Jefferson noted that the York River at Yorktown "affords the best harbour in the state for vessels of the largest size. The river there narrows to the width of a mile, and is contained within very high banks, close under which the vessels may ride."[7]
The population dropped in Yorktown and other areas of the mostly rural peninsula after the state's capital was relocated from Williamsburg toRichmond on theJames River, attracting more development there. In addition, tobacco exhausted the soil, and planters shifted to mixed crops, which required less slave labor. Many generations of younger sons migrated out of the Tidewater area to new lands further west, into thePiedmont and beyond to Kentucky, Tennessee and what became the Northwest Territory.
During the 1862Peninsula Campaign of theAmerican Civil War (1861–1865), the town was captured by the Union following theSiege and Battle of Yorktown. It was used as a base by theUnionArmy of the Potomac under GeneralGeorge B. McClellan to launch an attack on Richmond.
One of Yorktown's sister cities isZweibrücken, Germany. During the American Revolutionary War, theRoyal Deux-Ponts Regiment was commanded by ComteChristian de Forbach (son ofChristian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, and the deputy commander was his brotherPhilippe Guillaume (later renamed to Wilhelm). This was one of the four regiments that arrived atNewport, Rhode Island withRochambeau in 1780. It participated on the side of Americans in theBattle of Yorktown in 1781.
Yorktown's other sister city isPort-Vendres, France. It's from this small port on the Mediterranean coast that the French expeditionary force left Europe to fight the British army in America.
DuringWorld War I, to support Atlantic defenses, the federal government in 1918 acquired about 13,000 acres (53 km2) for development by the US Navy as Mine Depot, Yorktown. This large installation straddled York,Warwick andJames City counties. It has since expanded and been developed asNaval Weapons Station Yorktown.[8][9] Cheatham Annex, a facility which was developed over the former town ofPenniman, is also included as part of the base.
Training Center Yorktown serves as a training school for theUnited States Coast Guard. Also relatively close to Yorktown areCamp Peary (in York County), theHuntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding yards and facilities, andFort Eustis Army base (both inNewport News). Other major installations in the area areNaval Station Norfolk, located atNorfolk, andLangley Air Force Base inHampton.
In the early 21st century, Yorktown is popular as a destination for heritage tourism. Yorktown Village or Historic Yorktown is located close to theYork River near theGeorge P. Coleman Memorial Bridge that spans the river toGloucester Point. Historic Yorktown is comprised first of Water Street, a small strip along the beach of the river; it contains several small restaurants, a park, a hotel, a pier, and an antiques shop. In May 2005 a building was constructed with more shops and restaurants, enhancing what is known as the "Riverwalk" section on the waterfront.
Next, Main Street is located on a bluff above the floodplain. Architecture in this area is almost exclusively original to the colonial era. Nine buildings, including the circa-1730Nelson House and Somerwell House (see photo), survive from the pre-Revolutionary period. The old court house, several small shops, the Nelson House, and theYorktown Monument are located along this road. Around the center of the town are residential streets. Grace Episcopal Church, situated on Church Street near the old courthouse, is noted for its architecture.
Yorktown and the nearby area are significant to the early history of the United States.Colonial National Historical Park, which contains and preservesYorktown National Battlefield andYorktown National Cemetery, is located on the outskirts of town. The battlefield has many of theearthworks dug by thebesieging American and French forces.
TheYorktown Victory Monument, commemorating the victory, the alliance with France that brought it about, and the resulting peace with Great Britain after the war, is located just outside the current town. Designed byNew York City architectRichard Morris Hunt, the monument was installed in 1884 and topped by a figure of Liberty sculpted byJohn Quincy Adams Ward. That element was destroyed by lightning in 1942. It was replaced in 1957 by a figure of Victory byOskar J. W. Hansen.[10] A memorial to the French war dead of the Yorktown campaign is being planned for construction at the French cemetery on the site of the battle.[11]
U.S. Route 17, also known as George Washington Memorial Highway, is the primary thoroughfare of Yorktown. It carries traffic via theGeorge P. Coleman Memorial Bridge across the York River. York County has grown rapidly, and since the late 20th century, the stretch of U.S. 17 that passes through this area has become a heavily traveled route on which numerous strip malls and commercial areas have been developed. Many of the residential areas of York County branch off Route 17 or are near Interstate 64. Little of the recent residential or business development of York County has occurred close to Yorktown. It is being protected and managed as a historical colonial village, much likeWilliamsburg, under the guidance of theNational Park Service.
Yorktown is directly accessible viaColonial Parkway, a two-line, commercial vehicle-free highway that connects withWilliamsburg,Jamestown,State Route 199,U.S. Route 60 andInterstate 64. The closest city, Williamsburg, is a 20-minute ride from Yorktown.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 203 | — | |
| 2010 | 195 | −3.9% | |
| 2020 | 221 | 13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 2000[13] 2010[14] 2020 | |||
Yorktown was first listed as acensus designated place in the2000 U.S. census.[13]
As of the2010 U.S. census, there were 195 people living in Yorktown, down from 203 in 2000. There were 126 housing units in the CDP. The population density was 325 inhabitants per square mile (125/km2). There were 126 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile (81/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.79%White, 6.67%Black orAfrican American, 0.51%Asian, 1.03% other races.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 3.08% under the age of 4, 5.64% from 5 to 17, 56.41% from 18 to 64, and 34.87% above 65. There were 101 males for every 100 females.[15]
The average income of a Yorktown resident is $42,775 a year. The Median household income of a Yorktown resident is $60,192 a year. The unemployment rate as of September 2019 was 2.7%.
Federally, Yorktown is part ofVirginia's 2nd congressional district, formerly represented by DemocratElaine Luria, elected in 2018 and currently represented by Jen Kiggans, who defeated Luria in 2022 and Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal in 2024.[16]
Yorktown's daily newspaper is theDaily Press andWilliamsburg-Yorktown Daily. Other papers available to residents of the county include thePort Folio Weekly, theNew Journal and Guide, and theHampton Roads Business Journal.[17]Hampton Roads Magazine is a bi-monthly regional magazine for Yorktown and theHampton Roads area.[18]Hampton Roads Times serves as an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties.
Yorktown is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around theHampton Roads area.[19]
Yorktown is also served by several television stations. The Hampton Roadsdesignated market area (DMA) is the 42nd-largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.).[20] ThePublic Broadcasting Service station isWHRO-TV 15. Yorktown residents can receive independent stations, such asWSKY broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina andWGBS-LD broadcasting on channel 11. Yorktown is served byCox Cable which providesLNC 5, a local 24-hour cable news network.DirecTV andDish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Yorktown.
Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) operates a sightseeing trolley route around Yorktown on a daily basis. The loop service has been in place since 1999.[21] However, WATA does not provide bus service between Yorktown and any other place inHampton Roads.
Yorktown is served by commercial airports inNewport News andNorfolk, and byAmtrak stations inNewport News andWilliamsburg.
York County Public Schools is the sole school district in the county.[22]
The area schools, all a part of the school district's "York Zone," which are outside of the town limits but have Yorktown addresses, include Yorktown Elementary School,[23] Yorktown Middle School,[24] andYork High School.[25]
131 Siege Lane Yorktown VA 23692
11201 George Washington Memorial Hwy Yorktown VA 23690
9300 George Washington Memorial Hwy Yorktown, VA 23692
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