Rio in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Free State

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 9, 2021

1. Free State Marker

Inscription. Free State, a community of free African Americans, stood here. Its nucleus was a 224-acre tract that Amy Farrow, a free black woman, purchased in 1788. Her son Zachariah Bowles lived here and married Critta Hemings of Monticello, an older sister of Sally Hemings. Free State residents farmed and practiced trades, accumulated personal property, and did business with local whites. The small community expanded after the Civil War and by the early 20th century was home to the Free State Colored School and the Central Relief Association, a local benevolent society.

Erected 2014 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number G-5.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1788.

Location. 38° 4.32′ N, 78° 27.671′ W. Marker is in Rio, Virginia, in Albemarle County. Marker is on Belvedere Boulevard, 0.1 miles east of Belvedere Place, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 880 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville VA 22901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

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flies. Rio Hill 1864 Skirmish (approx. 1.2 miles away); Rio Hill (approx. 1.2 miles away); Skirmish at Rio Hill (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Dogwood Vietnam Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); “The Albemarle 26” (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Dogwood Vietnam Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Rio Mills (approx. 2.1 miles away); Monacan Indian Village (approx. 2.1 miles away).

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 9, 2021

2. Free State Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 539 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.