HENRICO COUNTY

Henrico County was established in 1634 as one of the eight original shires or counties in Virginia. The county was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, the oldest son of King James I of England. Its first boundaries included an area from which 10 Virginia counties, including Chesterfield County, and three cities, including the city of Richmond, were later formed.

Prior to the official establishment of Henrico County, English settlers explored the area, initially in 1607 by Captain Christopher Newport and four years later by Sir Thomas Dale, who established the colony's second settlement, Henricus, in what is now Chesterfield County. Despite clashes between the English and Native Americans, Henricus prospered with the growth of Virginia's tobacco economy, until an Indian attack nearly destroyed the area in 1622.

By 1776, Henrico had experienced a rebirth and sent two representatives to the Fifth Virginia Convention, which ultimately proposed separation from the British and led to the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War years, many important battles, including the battles of Seven Pines and Malvern Hill, were fought on Henrico soil.

Henrico's heritage is preserved through the many individuals and historic sites that shaped the area's history. Visit Stuart's Monument, where Major General J.E.B. Stuart was mortally wounded during the Civil War; tour the Virginia E. Randolph museum, named in memory of a noted African-American educator and founder of Virginia's vocational educational system; or step back in time at Meadow Farm Museum and Crump Park with its 19th-century farmhouse, gardens and more than 150 acres of woodlands. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nature lover's paradise with its 40 acres of grounds, one of the largest and most diverse perennial gardens on the East Coast and a nearly 17,000-square-foot Conservatory housing exotic and unusual subtropical and tropical plants.

If you want action, don't miss the thundering sounds and speed of NASCAR and IRL IndyCar racing at Richmond International Raceway or watch the pig races at the annual State Fair of Virginia. Flight enthusiasts will love the Virginia Aviation Museum, with examples from more than 100 years of aeronautic history. If you prefer modern aircraft, watch the Region's daily arrivals and departures at the neighboring Richmond International Airport. And when you're ready for some culture, visit the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, featuring the best in visual, literary and performing arts and home to the Latin Ballet of Virginia.

Henrico's 260,000 residents live in a well-planned, 244-square-mile community with a variety of neighborhoods. The newer and fast-growing Short Pump area is like a small city with an upscale, open-air shopping mall and a variety of planned communities including Twin Hickory, Wellesley and Wyndham. Closer to city limits, the Westhampton area is home to the scenic University of Richmond and features traditional homes in more established neighborhoods. Northern Henrico is home to the Region's first middle-class suburban neighborhoods, including Chamberlayne Farms and Chamberlayne Heights, developed in the 1950s.

For a complete listing of Henrico County attractions, search below or click here to visit the Henrico County website.