Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Yorktown
Established 1691
— Historic Yorktown —
“York-Town, Capital of the County of that Name, is situated on a rising Ground, gently descending every Way into a Valley, and tho’ but stragglingly built, yet makes no inconsiderable Figure.”
Edward Kimber, Observations in Several Voyages and Travels in America in the Year 1736
Before the American Revolutionary War, Yorktown was a prosperous, thriving tobacco port. Approximately 80% of the town was damaged or destroyed during the climactic military campaign of that war, General George Washington’s victory over British General Charles Lord Cornwallis in the 1781 siege.
While the town never regained its colonial prominence, Yorktown is still a vibrant community, boasting shops, restaurants, places of lodging, churches and a county courthouse. Reminders of the town’s 18th century history, such as historic homes and buildings, and military earthworks, can yet be found, providing visible symbols of Yorktown’s important contributions to the founding of the United States of America.
“the British pull’d down many of the houses in York & those they left have been much injured by the Bombardment …”
William Reynolds to William Murdoch, October 26, 1781
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is October 26, 1853.
Location. 37° 13.967′ N, 76° 30.321′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. Marker is on Main Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is across the street from the Yorktown Victory Monument. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Main St, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Victory Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Yorktown Victory Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Ratification of the Treaty of Paris (within shouting distance of this marker); Bicentennial of the Treaties of Paris and Versailles (within shouting distance of this marker); Yorktown Campaign Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Monument to the Alliance and Victory (within shouting distance of this marker); French American Revolutionary War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Memory of the Men of the French Fleet (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.
More about this marker. The lower left of the marker features a photograph of “Yorktown
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
2. Yorktown Marker
This is a previous iteration of the marker. While the information is identical, it has slightly different formatting.
Also see . . .
1. Yorktown Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on September 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Yorktown 1781. A British perspective of the Battle of Yorktown from BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on September 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
4. Yorktown Marker
The Yorktown Victory Monument can be seen in this photo across the street from the previous version of the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,278 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on March 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on September 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
