Ettrick in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Railroad Crossing Over The Appomattox River
Virginia State University
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 8, 2020
1. Railroad Crossing Over The Appomattox River Marker
The Southside Railroad, completed in 1854, was one of the most important supply routes in southern Virginia during the American Civil War (1861-1865). With tracks laid east to west across the state, the railroad began began at City Point in Hopewell on the James River and extended westward through Petersburg, Burkeville, Farmville, Appomattox Stations, and finally Lynchburg, in western Virginia, for a total of about 132 miles.
During the 1890s, the Seaboard Rail Line System developed a passenger service between Atlanta and the Northeast. The trestles at this site supported an elevated bridge constructed in 1931 and that spanned more than 2,000 feet. The bridge was dismantled in 1983.
Erected by Virginia State University.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 37° 13.977′ N, 77° 25.014′ W. Marker is in Ettrick, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It is on Chesterfield
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 walking distance of this marker: Simms Hall (here, next to this marker); Silk Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Beginning of Ettrick (within shouting distance of this marker); The History of Virginia State University (within shouting distance of this marker); Shaping Of The Town (within shouting distance of this marker); Local Workforce At The Mills
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 8, 2020
2. Railroad Crossing Over The Appomattox River Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 937 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 9, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
