Carrsbrook near Earlysville in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Rio Mills

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 7, 2017

1. Rio Mills Marker

Inscription. The 19th-century mill village of Rio Mills stood 600 yards west of here, where the former Harrisonburg-Charlottesville Turnpike crossed the South Fork of the Rivanna River. Following the Battle of Rio Hill on 29 February 1864, Union General George Armstrong Custer burned the covered bridge and gristmill at Rio Mills. Immediately rebuilt under the direction of Abraham L. Hildebrand, the gristmill continued to grind wheat and corn for the Confederacy. The milling operation apparently closed down soon after 1900.

Erected 1990 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number G-26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 29, 1864.

Location. 38° 6.168′ N, 78° 27.64′ W. Marker is near Earlysville, Virginia, in Albemarle County. It is in Carrsbrook. It is at the intersection of Rio Mills Road (County Route 643) and Seminole Road (U.S. 29), on the right when traveling west on Rio Mills Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Earlysville VA 22936, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Monacan Indian Village (here,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

next to this marker); Skirmish at Rio Hill (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rio Hill 1864 Skirmish (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rio Hill (approx. 1.3 miles away); Old Springs (approx. 1.8 miles away); Six Miles of Trails (approx. 1.9 miles away); Legacy of Hugh Carr / The Village of Hydraulic Mills (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Origins of Ivy Creek Natural Area (approx. 1.9 miles away).

More about this marker. Marker was originally erected at this intersection, but on U.S. 29 itself, on the right when traveling south. In 2016 when Route 29 was widened, it and its neighbor were removed for a while and returned around the corner where they can be found today.

Regarding Rio Mills. The word “Rio” in “Rio Mill” and “Rio Hill” is pronounced “Ryo” locally.

Monacan Indian Village (left) and Rio Mills Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 7, 2017

2. Monacan Indian Village (left) and Rio Mills Markers

Rio Mills (left) and Monacan Indian Village Markers at their old location on Route 29 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

3. Rio Mills (left) and Monacan Indian Village Markers at their old location on Route 29

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,364 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on August 11, 2017, by Pete Payette of Orange, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 7, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 10, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.