Charles City County is a county in Virginia, United States, on the north bank of the James River between Richmond and Williamsburg. It had a population of 6,773 at the 2020 census and covers 204 square miles (530 km2) centred near 37°21′N 77°04′W.
Charles City is the county seat; its postal code is 23030. The county has no incorporated towns — every named place is either the Charles City census-designated place or an unincorporated community. It observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Charles City County
Charles City County has one census-designated place and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and historic plantation seats scattered along State Routes 5 and 106. None are incorporated towns or cities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City | CDP · seat | — | 23030 |
| Barnetts | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Berkeley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blanks Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ednas Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Granville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Haxall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holdcroft | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kennon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kimages | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Milton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Montpelier | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Airy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nance | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roaches Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rolands Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roxbury | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rustic | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ruthville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandybottom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sherwood Forest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shirley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tettington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| The Row | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wayside | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westover | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weyanoke | Unincorp. | — | — |
Several place names here mark James River plantation houses rather than settlements: Sherwood Forest was the retirement home of President John Tyler, and Westover and Shirley are working plantation estates open for tours — not villages with their own population counts.
ZIP Codes
- 23030 — Charles City, the county’s only dedicated post office town, serves most of the surrounding communities
The scattered unincorporated communities along Route 5 and Route 106 use the Charles City ZIP or nearby New Kent and James City County post offices rather than codes of their own.
Geography
Charles City County sits on the James River peninsula, bounded by the James River to the south and the Chickahominy River to the east. The land is flat coastal plain, mixing cropland, pine forest, and tidal marsh; about 10 percent of the county’s area is water.
It borders New Kent County to the north, James City County to the east, Surry County across the James River to the southeast, Prince George County to the south, and Chesterfield County and Henrico County to the southwest and west.
Demographics
Charles City County had 6,773 residents at the 2020 census, spread across a mostly rural county with a density of roughly 37 people per square mile. Charles City, the CDP and seat, and Ruthville are the county’s largest named communities. The county’s typical household income runs below the Virginia median of $89,931, reflecting its small, largely rural tax base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and forestry remain central to the county’s economy, alongside county government and the James River plantation properties — Shirley, Westover, and Berkeley among them — which draw visitors for tours and events. The Chickahominy Indian Tribe and the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern both maintain tribal government offices in the county, and Charles City County Public Schools is one of the largest local employers.
History
Charles City was one of the original eight shires the Virginia General Assembly created in 1634, and traces its roots to the 1619 Charles Cittie settlement founded by the Virginia Company and named for Prince Charles, second son of King James I. It was renamed Charles City County in 1643 and is among the oldest continuously organized local governments in the United States. Berkeley Plantation, within the county, is the traditional site of the first official Thanksgiving in English North America in 1619, and both Presidents William Henry Harrison and John Tyler were born in Charles City County.
Getting There
State Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway) runs the length of the county between Richmond and Williamsburg, with SR 106 and SR 155 as secondary connectors; there is no interstate access within the county.
- Richmond — 25 miles west
- Williamsburg — 25 miles east
- Petersburg — 20 miles south
- New Kent Courthouse — 12 miles north
Richmond International Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Charles City County?
It is in Virginia, United States, on the James River between Richmond and Williamsburg.
What is the population of Charles City County?
6,773 at the 2020 census.
How big is Charles City County?
204 square miles (530 km2), of which about 10 percent is water.
What is the county seat of Charles City County?
Charles City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Charles City County?
None are incorporated; the county has one CDP (Charles City) and about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Charles City County?
The main ZIP code is 23030, covering Charles City and most surrounding communities.
Are Shirley and Westover open to the public?
Yes — both James River plantations in the county operate as working farms with visitor tours.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.