Urbanna: A Walking Tour of a Colonial Port Town
Date Posted: July 23, 2019
Source: Ed Tillett, Editor-In-Chief

Tucked up a creek off the Rappahannock River is one of the most delightful yachting destinations on the Chesapeake Bay.

Originally settled in 1680, Urbanna, VA, is flanked by the Colonial plantations of Hewic(circa 1678) to the north and Rosegill Farm(circa 1650) to the south. Both are on the National Register of Historic Places, as is Urbanna’s entire Historic District comprising 65 historic buildings. A short walk from the waterfront brings you to the heart of this charming and friendly colonial port. To the Algonquin Indians who originally settled the area, it was called “Nimcock” (which translates as “Indians who live in towns”).

The town was officially named Urbanna (“Burgh of Anne”) in 1705 as a nod to England’s Queen Anne. Urbanna enjoys the distinction of being one of the original 1680 tobacco ports designated by the English Crown in the days of Charles II. Other ports on the list include Yorktown, Hampton, Jamestown, Onancock and Norfolk. The Virginia leaf was the most desired tobacco in the world, with varieties developed along the James and Rappahannock Rivers being particularly favored.

Prior to the official tobacco port designation, Virginia’s only cash crop was shipped directly to market from private plantation wharfs. Although Urbanna’s commercial activities initially revolved around the tobacco trade, the economy eventually shifted toward the fishing industry. Urbanna enjoyed over 100 years of oyster drudging, packing, canning and shipping.

Sail-powered log canoes, bugeyes, skipjacks and pungys plied the waters of the Rappahannock. These and other historic sailing vessels are featured at the waterfront during the Urbanna Oyster Festival held annually in November. (See sidebar.)

With the advent of the steamboat era in the 1870s, passengers as well as cargo from distant cities found their way to Urbanna and the town became a popular summer resort, which continues to this day.

Read the full story in Waterway Explorer 2019.

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