Full Answer
What is the Southside region of Virginia called?
This article is about the region of the state of Virginia. For the portion of metropolitan Richmond, Virginia known as "Southside", see Southside (Richmond, Virginia). For the portion of the Hampton Roads area commonly called the "Southside", see South Hampton Roads.
What is the southside of Richmond?
Depending on context, the term "Southside of Richmond" can include some northern areas of adjacent Chesterfield County, Virginia in the Richmond-Petersburg region.
What is the Southside region?
This is the southern portion of Virginia's Piedmont region. This definition describes an area often considered to be the heart of Southside. It also accounts for social and economic changes as the eastern counties developed dense populations, and the Richmond suburbs expanded to occupy large portions of Chesterfield and Powhatan counties.
What is Southside NC known for?
In addition, the western part of Southside has long been reputed for its isolated, rural, and culturally conservative character. Associated counties are Patrick, Henry, Bedford, Pittsylvania, Halifax, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Campbell, Lunenburg, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Powhatan, and Greensville counties.
What is the Southside region?
One way to define the Southside region is to use the boundaries of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News VA-NC, Richmond VA, Lynchburg, and Danville Metro Areas. Whatever is not within those metropolitan areas would be "Southside," by defintion a rural region.
When was the Southside defined?
A traditional (but potentially outdated now) definition of the boundaries of Southside was provided in "Sunlight on the Southside" in 1934 :1
What river is south of the Nortern?
The nortern edge of Southside could be defined by the Roanoke and James river watersheds, excluding Petersburg and Lynchburg. Everything south of the divides separating the Nottoway/Appomattox and Roanoke/James rivers could be defined as "Southside" now.
What river runs through Southside Virginia?
Southside Virginia includes the Roanoke River watershed, south of the James River
What are the characteristics of the Roanoke River?
One characteristic of the modern Roanoke River watershed is the number of large hydropower reservoirs. There may be as many large powerboats in Southside as in Tidewater. Those reservoirs enhance the water quality downstream, in contrast to most Virginia rivers which have less pollution near their headwaters.
What can be used to define the edges of Southside?
Population statistics and local government finances can be used to define the edges of Southside.
What watershed divides the Chesapeake Bay?
The watershed divide separating the Chesapeake Bay drainage from the Chowan/Albemarle Sound watershed could be used to define the eastern edge of Southside. However, this would separate the northern and the southern halves of the modern-day cities of Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.
What is the Southside of Richmond?
The Southside of Richmond is an area of the Metropolitan Statistical Area surrounding Richmond, Virginia. It generally includes all portions of the City of Richmond which lie south of the James River, and includes all of the former city of Manchester. Depending on context, the term "Southside of Richmond" can include some northern areas ...
Who controlled the southern part of Virginia?
When the English arrived, there were two main groups of natives occupying Central Virginia, separated by the Fall Line of the James: (1) the Manakins controlled the southern Virginia Piedmont west of the fall line from Richmond to the Blue Ridge Mountains; and (2) the Powhatan Confederacy (led by leader named Wahunsonacock) who controlled land in the Richmond area below the Fall Line towards the Virginia Tidewater region .
What county is Chippenham Parkway in Virginia?
With minor exceptions, Chippenham Parkway (State Route 150) forms the border between the City of Richmond and the County of Chesterfield . Several ZIP codes on the Southside have a preferred place name of "Richmond Virginia" even though in some cases that land falls under the completely separate municipal authority of Chesterfield County.
When was Southside 288 extended?
Southside developments 2000 to present. In 2004, 288 was extended northwards from Brandermill through Powhatan and Goochland Counties, to cross the river at the World War II Veterans Memorial Bridge (Virginia) and complete the beltway around Richmond.
When was Southside Plaza built?
The Southside Plaza opened up in 1957-58 outside the city limits on Belt Boulevard in what was then Chesterfield County. In 1958, after three years of construction, the limited access Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike tollway opened between Richmond and Petersburg.
What is the border between Virginia and Virginia?
Since there is no one municipal organization that represents this specific region, the boundaries are loosely defined as being south of the James River and west of Interstate 95 (formerly Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike) with a southern border extending approximately to Chester, Virginia and extending west along Virginia State Route 288 beltway.
What bridge was used to bypass downtown Richmond?
Inter-state traffic along Jefferson Davis Highway and its James River toll bridge led to Belt Boulevard by 1933 that bypassed downtown and directed some traffic to the Nickel Bridge. This easier automobile access spurred development in Southside. By 1940, a Works Projects Administration guide to Virginia announced "South of Richmond U.S. 1 is lined with tourist cabins, garages, and lunchrooms swathed in neon lights that at night convert the road as far as Petersburg into a glittering midway."
What are the cities in the Southside?
The Southside, also known as South Hampton Roads, comprises the five cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. The Peninsula is made up of the independent cities of Hampton, Newport News (these two are officially part of the seven cities of Hampton Roads as well), Williamsburg and Poquoson and the counties of York and James City. While the area represents 400 years of American history, the region is culturally diverse and offers something for everyone.
What is the military role in Hampton Roads?
The military has played a pivotal role in Hampton Roads, a nautical term meaning protected anchorage or safe harbor, since the English set foot here in 1607. The soldiers who accompanied the first settlers are the predecessors of the thousands of men and women who have donned uniforms to protect the United States. More then 95,000 uniformed men and women are currently stationed here. Many of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines actively engaged in America’s War on Terror call Hampton Roads home.
How many cities are there in Hampton Roads?
Hampton Roads is made up of seven independent cities. Like other major metropolitan areas, it may be difficult at first to figure out when one city leaves off and the next begins. Many call the region “Tidewater” or simply refer to one of its cities. With a landmass of nearly 1,500 square miles and a population of more than 1.7 million people, Hampton Roads is the 34th largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States.
What is the southwestern edge of Virginia?
The southwestern edge of Virginia is Cumberland Gap today, but Virginia once stretched much further west. After Virginia ceded its western land claims to the new national government in the 1780's, the southwestern edge of the state was on the Mississippi River.
Where is Southwest Virginia?
After Virginia ceded its western land claims to the new national government in the 1780's, the southwestern edge of the state was on the Mississippi River.
What is the name of the gateway center on I-81 in Southwest Virginia?
The commission obtained nearly $20 million in state and Federal funds to build a tourism gateway center on I-81 known as Heartwood, where visitors could "see the work of regional artisans and musicians and find out about Southwest Virginia's history, heritage, outdoor recreation and scenic beauty".
Which towns in Virginia did the coal industry grow?
Virginia places that did grow as a result of Appalachian coal were port and railroad towns between the Appalachian Plateau and Hampton Roads. Norfolk and Newport News saw more economic benefit from coal mining than Tazewell, Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties.
When did the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad connect with Lynchburg?
It was not until the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad connected the region with Lynchburg in 1852 that crops and goods produced west of the Blue Ridge and south of the James River could be transported easily to the Fall Line cities of Richmond and Petersburg.
When did West Virginia become independent?
The shape of Virginia's western boundaries changed again after West Virginia became an independent state in 1863, leaving only a tiny portion of the Levisa Fork, Big Sandy, and Tug Fork watersheds in what became Southwest Virginia.
Is the Southside of Virginia in sync with Tidewater?
Economically, Southwest Virginia still remains far out of synch with Tidewater and Northern Virginia. The 2010 Census statistics show how little has changed since 1995: 4
Overview
Late 1800s: Development along the rail lines
During the Civil War, the Confederacy was generally able to keep the Union troops west of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, with the main exception being the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Until the end of the war, Drewry's Bluff prevented the Union army from accessing Richmond over water.
While the Clover Hill Railroad went bankrupt in 1877, it was reconstituted in 18…
Definition
Since there is no one municipal organization that represents this specific region, the boundaries are loosely defined as being south of the James River and west of Interstate 95 (formerly Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike) with a southern border extending approximately to Chester, Virginia and extending west along Virginia State Route 288 beltway. Some portions of the Southside of Richmond closest to the downtown area north of the river are also considered part of Downtown …
North Chesterfield
Several ZIP codes on the Southside have a preferred place name of "Richmond Virginia" even though in some cases that land falls under the completely separate municipal authority of Chesterfield County. For example, the 23235 ZIP code (Bon Air) straddles the city-county boundary.
In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service approved Chesterfield County's request to refer to ZIP codes 232…
History
A primary feature defining the Southside of Richmond is the James River and the limited means to cross it to get to other parts of metro Richmond. The oldest bridge across the James River in Richmond was Mayo Bridge (1788). Before that, commerce was limited to individual enterprises passing their goods in boats, bateau, and ferries over the James River as well as to fixed port area…
Unincorporated towns and neighborhoods
• Adams Park
• Beaufont
• Bellemeade
• Belmont Woods
• Belt Center
Industrial and commercial sites
• Defense Supply Center, Richmond (DSCR)
• Philip Morris USA manufacturing center
• Overnite Transportation (recently bought out by United Parcel Service)
• Deepwater Terminal (Port of Richmond)
Commercial districts
• Stonebridge Shopping Center (formerly Cloverleaf Mall) and Spring Rock Green (Formerly Beaufont Plaza)
• Old Manchester
• Hull Street Corridor
• Midlothian Turnpike