Woodbridge in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

REMOVED

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Occoquan

Photographed by Kevin White, September 6, 2007

1. Occoquan Marker

Inscription. Captain John Smith explored this region in 1608. The town of Occoquan began with the opening of a tobacco warehouse on the shore of the Occoquan River in 1734. Occoquan grew as the focus of the commercial and manufacturing activities of John Ballendine, who had an iron furnace, forge, and sawmills at the falls of the river before 1759. After the American Revolution, Occoquan emerged as a flour-manufacturing center with one of the nation’s first gristmills to use the laborsaving inventions of Oliver Evans. In 1804, Occoquan was established as a town and thrived as a commercial and industrial center into the 1920s.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-59.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1608.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 39.926′ N, 77° 14.635′ W. Marker was in Woodbridge,

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Virginia, in Prince William County. It was at the intersection of Richmond Highway (U.S. 1) and Annapolis Way, on the right when traveling south on Richmond Highway. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Woodbridge VA 22191, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 location, measured as the crow flies: A Near Tragedy (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Colchester (approx.

Photographed by Kevin White, September 6, 2007

2. Occoquan Marker

There are four other markers here, The First Courthouse of Prince William County, Early Land Patents, Fairfax County / Prince William County, and Jefferson Davis Highway.

half a mile away); End of the Water (approx. 0.8 miles away); Welcome to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (approx. 1.1 miles away); A Corridor and a Barrier (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Trail to Victory at Yorktown (approx. 1.2 miles away); Welcome to Colchester on the Occoquan (approx. 1.2 miles away); Revolutionary Army Life on the Road (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Woodbridge.

Other markers no longer nearby. Early Land Patents (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The First Courthouse of Prince William County (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Fairfax County / Prince William County (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . History of Occoquan. Compiled by Nellie Curtis - published in the May 1993 newsletter of Historic Prince William. (Submitted on September 6, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. Earlier Marker
This marker replaces a previous marker, erected in 1927. The previous marker read:The OccoquanNear here in 1608 Captain

Jefferson Davis Highway - Virginia Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin White

3. Jefferson Davis Highway - Virginia Marker

(Top of Marker)
Jefferson Davis Highway - Virginia

(Front of Marker)
Erected by the Fourth District
Virginia Division
United Daughters of the Confederacy
1933

John Smith found the "King's House" of the Doeg Indians. In 1729, "King" Carter built a landing here to ship copper ore. A town called Colchester was established here in 1753. Occoquan, to the west, was founded in 1804. On December 27, 1862, Wade Hampton raided Occoquan.

— Submitted February 14, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,944 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.