Historic Route 5 Corridor

Historic Route 5 Corridor. . , The Route 5 Historic Corridor, running along New Market Road, weaves its way through some of the most historic landscapes in the United States. Here visitors will discover historic sites that span the entire spectrum of American history. Both native Powhatan Indians and early European colonists chose settlement sites like Tree Hill and Henricus along the James River. Several 17th and 18th century plantations were also built along the river, which provided a natural mechanism for exploration, trade, and communication. New Market Road, running parallel to the river, grew from pre-colonial beginnings into an established travel route between the original colonial capital in Williamsburg and the new capital of Richmond along the falls of the James River. Control of the roads and towns bordering the river led to bloody battles during the Revolutionary War, the War of 18 12, and the Civil War. Over time, a community built on early agriculture began changing into rural suburbia. This shift is apparent at places like Dorey Park, which was formerly Spring Brook Dairy Farm. Community preservation in the form of parks, natural wetlands, and the protection of Civil War battlefield lands have contributed to the designation of Route 5 as a national historic and scenic byway. The natural and cultural resources of the Route 5 Historic Corridor provide a special character found in no other place in America.