THE INDEPENDENT CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA – HISTORY AND LOOKUP
Table of Contents
- In-Print County History Books
- Free Public Domain County History Books
- Related Books
- Concise County History
- Comments & Suggestion
In-Print City History Books
These titles are currently in print and selected for their relevance to local and county history. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s purchase page.
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Free City History Books
This section features a curated collection of county history books sourced from public domain archives. Each book provides valuable insights into local history and heritage. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s public domain resource.
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Related Books
This section highlights additional county and local history titles that complement the main collection. These books are selected for their relevance, historical value, and research usefulness. Click anywhere on the book listing below, and each listing links directly to the corresponding resource or purchase page.
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Independent City of Colonial Heights, Virginia: A Genealogical Overview
As one of Virginia’s younger independent cities, Colonial Heights has a past deeply intertwined with its larger and older neighbor, Chesterfield County. Its 20th-century origins as a city, born from a small community with a rich colonial and Civil War history, create a focused and accessible landscape for genealogical research.
I. City Formation and Jurisdictional History
Understanding Colonial Heights’s transition from a small part of a large county to an independent city is crucial for locating the correct records.
- 1607 – 1926: Part of Chesterfield County: The area now known as Colonial Heights was simply a part of Henrico County, one of the original shires of Virginia. In 1749, the area became part of the newly formed Chesterfield County. All records created before 1926 are Chesterfield County records.
- 1926: Town Incorporated: The community was officially incorporated as the Town of Colonial Heights within Chesterfield County.
- 1948: Becomes an Independent City: In a move to control its own services and avoid annexation by the neighboring city of Petersburg, the town was chartered as an Independent City of Colonial Heights. From this year forward, it became a separate legal entity from Chesterfield County, with its own independent government and court systems.
Summary for Genealogists:
- Before 1926: The area was part of Chesterfield County, VA. Look for records there.
- 1926 – 1948: It was the Town of Colonial Heights in Chesterfield County, VA. Town-level records may exist, but most official records are with the county.
- 1948 – Present: It is an independent city. All court and government records created from this point forward are held by the city itself.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The land along the Appomattox River was originally inhabited by the Appomattoc, a tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy.
- Colonial and Revolutionary Period: The area holds significant historical importance. It is believed that the name “Colonial Heights” derived from the fact that French soldiers under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette shelled British-held Petersburg from the heights in this area in 1781 during the American Revolution. The historic Ellerslie Plantation and Violet Bank Museum are key landmarks from this era.
- Civil War Significance: During the Civil War, the area was a critical part of the defense of Petersburg. General Robert E. Lee made his headquarters at Violet Bank for a significant portion of the Siege of Petersburg (1864-1865), and a large portion of the Confederate line of defense ran through what is now the city.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides the practical information needed to locate ancestral records specific to the city.
- Courthouse: The city’s records since 1948 are maintained by its own clerk’s office.
- Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk: Located at 550 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. This is the primary repository for city records from 1948 to the present, including deeds, wills, court orders, and marriage records.
- Historic Records of Chesterfield County: For all records prior to 1948, researchers must consult the records of Chesterfield County, held at the Chesterfield County Courthouse.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Official state registration began in 1853. Records for city residents are held by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records in Richmond.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1948 to the present are held by the Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk. Earlier marriages would have been recorded by Chesterfield County.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Colonial Heights Public Library: Located at 1000 Yacht Basin Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. The library offers a Local History collection that includes city directories, high school yearbooks, maps, and other materials related to the history of Colonial Heights and its residents.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Chesterfield County (north, west, and south)
- City of Petersburg (south and east)
This county history was generated by AI and may be inaccurate or incomplete; please verify important information independently.