Heathsville in Northumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Small Fish that Made Reedville Rich

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 9, 2026

1. The Small Fish that Made Reedville Rich Marker

Inscription.
Reedville was founded in 1874 by a transplant from New England, Elijah W. Reed. Captain Reed brought to local watermen a method of extracting oil from menhaden. Processed by the millions, the oil was used as a lubricant and in lighting—as whale oil was—and the leftover bones and carcasses were valuable as fertilizer.

A factory was built and, by 1885, the town was a major player in the menhaden fishing industry. This brought tremendous wealth to Reedville and to Northumberland County By the 20th century, Reedville was known as the wealthiest town in the United States. Its historic district features early fishermen's houses and Victorian mansions.

[Sidebar:]
Ernestine's Fun Facts about Menhaden
Menhaden travel in large, slow-moving schools.
The better to catch you with, menhaden!

Many animals prey on menhaden.
Striped bass and bluefish consume them. Osprey and eagles hunt them. Even whales and dolphins enjoy eating them.

Do people eat menhaden?
Humans typically do not eat menhaden due to their high oil content and bony structure.
They eat huge amounts of phytoplankton and zooplankton, helping to keep coastal waters clean.

Erected by Northumberland

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Public Library.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 37° 54.892′ N, 76° 28.171′ W. Marker is in Heathsville, Virginia, in Northumberland County. It is on Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 201), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 109 Courthouse Rd, Heathsville VA 22473, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Northern Neck.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

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

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 9, 2026

2. The Small Fish that Made Reedville Rich Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Holley-Graded School (here, next to this marker); Hooray for Steamboats! / Meet Daisy / The Amazon of Its Day (within shouting distance of this marker); Necessity and the Mothers of Invention (within shouting distance of this marker); The Stars Are Falling! The Stars Are Falling! (within shouting distance of this marker); Who Invented the Crab Pot (within shouting distance of this marker); Chesapeake Bay Watermen (within shouting distance of this marker); The Long Road to Today's Library (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Northumberland County (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Heathsville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 18 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.