Charles City is the seat of the county, which goes by the same name, chosen to honor King Charles I of England.  The original inhabitants were Algonquin Indians, who watched the first Europeans arrive in 1607 in the first wave of westward migration from Jamestown and Williamsburg.  Drawn to the lush and fertile soil where the magnificent James and Chickahominy Rivers conjoin, the first Charles City settlers established large tobacco plantations and the elegant manor houses, which still exist today, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Charles City County reported its population as 6,926 in the 2000 Census.  It covers 204 square miles, with 10% being water.  There is no actual city in the region, only the communities of Charles City, established in 1884 when the Norfolk Railroad extended its line, and Ruthville.  The Charles City Courthouse serves as the center of all county government.  Built in the 1750’s, this regal building witnessed many skirmishes during America’s Civil War.  Charles City, VA, played its part in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as well.

Two presidents were born in Charles City: John Tyler and William Henry Harrison.  One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Harrison, was born here also, as was Lott Cary, an African-American born as a slave and freed before the Civil War.  Cary went on to become one of the first American missionaries and founding father of the African nation of Liberia.  Charles City nourished one of the first free black communities in America and the third organized free African-American church. 

The Charles City County Center for Local History, run and maintained by volunteers, contains a wealth of information.  A leisurely drive down scenic byway Route 5 takes visitors to the Berkeley Plantation, ‘Virginia’s most historic plantation’.  Next is the Belle Aire Plantation, featured in Antiques Magazine, and then the gracious James River Plantations, all open to the public at various times of the year.  Visitors can stay in one of the many elegant bed and breakfast establishments in Charles City, and take strolls along the River Walk or the historic walking tours.  During the Charles City County Fair, patrons enjoy fine entertainment and local arts and crafts.               

Charles City, Virginia, a haven of timeless beauty, retains extensive timberlands, pristine rivers, and tranquil farms.  Colin Farrell recognized the unchanged quality of Charles City and used several locations here in the filming of his historic adventure movie, The New World.