Henrico
National Register of Historic Places

Henrico

Dutch Gap, Henrico County, Virginia
Listed
April 12, 1972
Type
Site
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
72001400

About this property

The "Citie of Henricus"—also known as Henricopolis, Henrico Town, or Henrico—was a settlement in Virginia founded by Sir Thomas Dale in 1611 as an alternative to the swampy and dangerous site of the original English settlement at Jamestown. Named for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1594–1612), the eldest son of King James I of England, Henricus was located on a former meander of the James River, about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of present-day Richmond, Virginia, and about 15 miles (24 km) below the fall line. Today, the site is preserved and interpreted at Henricus Historical Park, a living history museum. It is surrounded by the Dutch Gap Conservation Area, an 810-acre (330 ha) preserve of woodlands and wetlands operated by Chesterfield County. Captain Dale, who had previously served as a mercenary with Dutch forces, ordered a channel dug across the neck of the river meander in an attempt to shorten navigation; the effort was unsuccessful and gave rise to the name "Dutch Gap". During the American Civil War, the canal was enlarged by Union forces, creating Farrar's Island. Subsequent dredging in the late 19th century diverted the main channel of the James River through the canal. The park and conservation area are located on the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

Location

Dutch Gap, Henrico County, Virginia

Categories

HISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINAL
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Questions about this property

When was Henrico listed on the National Register?

Henrico was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 12, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Henrico?

Henrico is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Henrico?

The period of significance for Henrico is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1611.

Can I research the history near Henrico?

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