Tappahannock Seal
Essex County Seal
Tappahannock RivahFest
Tappahannock-Essex RivahFest Community


 
Tappahannock is older than Richmond , Fredericksburg and even Williamsburg. In 1608, this area was first visited by Captain John Smith. The area was inhabited by Native Americans and when Captain Smith attempted to land here he was fiercely driven back to his ship. It was a Native American village and so he gave both the river and the village Native American names. The river became the Rappahannock, which meant "rise and fall" of water, and the village, set upon it, became Tappahannock, which means "town on the rise and fall of water".

In the mid 1600's, a trading post was established by Jacob Hobbs. For a few years the area was known as Hobb's His Hole and later as New Plymouth. Eventually, the original name was returned in 1705. England desired to establish a port of entry in each county and Benjamin Goodrich sold the crown 50 acres of land for the town site. Today, many homes and buildings are included in Tappahannock’s Historic Landmark District.

The Tappahannock Historic District contains more historic structures than most areas of similar size in the United States. A variety of buildings illustrate important phases of community life over a period of almost three centuries. There are public and governmental buildings, private residences of the grand and simple type, a former Customs House, two former taverns and two churches. Two well known schools have been associated with several of the houses as well as persons of historic importance with many of them.

Today, Tappahannock is the county seat of Essex County, Virginia and has a population around 2,000. The importance of Tappahannock lays in its strategic river crossing of the Rappahannock River and the meeting of two major US Route 17 North/South and Route 360 East/West. Its location as a commercial hub for the surrounding ten counties has strengthened the business community with the presence of many national chain stores and services in the business district West of town.

 

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