Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Seat of the County of York
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 20, 2013
1. Seat of the County of York Marker
York County, initially named Charles Shire, was created in 1634 when Virginia was divided into eight geographical areas. At first the undefined county boundaries extended far into the northern and western frontiers. The Town of York has served as the seat of county government since 1691 when it was established by the Virginia General Assembly.
The first courthouse was built in 1697 and located at the corner of Main and Ballard Streets. Over the next 300 years, five different structures served the County from that site. The first was torn down and rebuilt to accommodate growth; three were destroyed by fires; and the fifth was remodeled and renamed York Hall after a larger courthouse was built a short distance from the old site in 1997.
[Captions:]
Completed in 1818, the third courthouse at Ballard and Main was blown off its foundation on December 16, 1863, by an explosion of Union Army gunpowder stored in its chambers during the Civil War. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress.
York-Poquoson Courthouse, 300 Ballard Street, completed 1997. Photo courtesy of York County.
Erected 2010 by York County, Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1634.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker was on Virginia’s Peninsula, in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. 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 walking distance of this location: Kiskiack (within shouting distance of this marker); The York River (within shouting distance of this marker); York River Ecosystem (within shouting distance of this marker); Steamboats on York River (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Hot-Air Balloons (within shouting distance of this marker); Kiskiak Indians (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Virginia Institute of Marine Science (about 400 feet away); Site of the Home of Nicolas Martiau (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.
Another marker is no longer nearby. USS Yorktown (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Bernard Fisher
2. Yorktown's Riverwalk
3. Yorktown, Virginia. View of Court House
Library of Congress LC-DIG-cwpb-01616
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 512 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on February 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on November 14, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
