Charles River Shire
Encyclopedia
Charles River Shire was one of eight shires of Virginia
created in the Virginia Colony in 1634.
During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of Jamestown, Virginia
in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1634, the English colony of Virginia consisted of eight shire
s or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants.
Charles River Shire took its name from King Charles I of England
. It was located on the Virginia Peninsula on the Charles River (also named for the younger son of King James I
. During the English Civil War
, Charles River County and the Charles River were changed to York County and York River
, respectively. The river, county, and town of Yorktown
are believed to have been was named for York
, a city in Northern England
.
Charles River Shire became York County
in 1643. The first courthouse and jail were located near what is now Yorktown
although the community, founded as a port for shipping tobacco
to Europe, as variously called Port of York, Borough of York, York, Town of York, until and Yorktown was established in 1691. Never incorporated as a town, Yorktown is the county seat
of York County.
The Chiskiack Tribe of Native American
s lived on the south side of the York River on the grounds of the present-day Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
near Yorktown until the 1630s, when conflicts with the English colonists caused them to move.
Charles River Shire (and York County) were the antecedents of dozens of counties and cities in Virginia and West Virginia
due to the way the original boundaries were defined.
It is one of the five original shires of Virginia considered extant in the original form almost 400 years later, making it one of the oldest counties in the United States.
Shires of Virginia
The eight Shires of Virginia were formed in 1634 in the Virginia Colony. These shires were based on a form of local government used in England at the time, and were redesignated as counties a few years later...
created in the Virginia Colony in 1634.
During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1634, the English colony of Virginia consisted of eight shire
Shire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
s or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants.
Charles River Shire took its name from King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. It was located on the Virginia Peninsula on the Charles River (also named for the younger son of King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, Charles River County and the Charles River were changed to York County and York River
York River (Virginia)
The York River is a navigable estuary, approximately long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. It ranges in width from at its head to near its mouth on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed drains an area including portions of 17 counties of the coastal plain of Virginia north...
, respectively. The river, county, and town of Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
are believed to have been was named for York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, a city in Northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
.
Charles River Shire became York County
York County, Virginia
York County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Situated on the York River and many tributaries, the county seat is the unincorporated town of Yorktown...
in 1643. The first courthouse and jail were located near what is now Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
although the community, founded as a port for shipping tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
to Europe, as variously called Port of York, Borough of York, York, Town of York, until and Yorktown was established in 1691. Never incorporated as a town, Yorktown is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of York County.
The Chiskiack Tribe of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s lived on the south side of the York River on the grounds of the present-day Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is a United States Navy base in York County, James City County, and Newport News in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia...
near Yorktown until the 1630s, when conflicts with the English colonists caused them to move.
Charles River Shire (and York County) were the antecedents of dozens of counties and cities in Virginia and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
due to the way the original boundaries were defined.
It is one of the five original shires of Virginia considered extant in the original form almost 400 years later, making it one of the oldest counties in the United States.
See also
- York County, VirginiaYork County, VirginiaYork County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Situated on the York River and many tributaries, the county seat is the unincorporated town of Yorktown...
- Yorktown, VirginiaYorktown, VirginiaYorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
- List of extinct U.S. counties