Virginia’s Native Americans consider the Mattaponi River to be the ‘place where life begins’, a sacred space.  A proposal to dam part of the river and create a King William County Reservoir receives constant opposition by the Mattaponi Indians, whose reservation in King County is one of the oldest in the U.S., created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1658.  The tribe descends from Great Chief Powhatan and his daughter, the famous Pocahontas.

King William is the seat of the county bearing the same name, chosen to honor William of Orange.  The King William's County Courthouse, built in 1725, holds all the government offices.  This historic courthouse is the oldest public building in Virginia.  Census 2000 reported King William’s population as 13,146.  Estimates made in 2004 show a rise in population, to almost 14,500.  A prosperous vicinity, King Williams residents reported a medium household income of almost $50,000, a figure more than $8,000 above that of the national average.

King William County contains three other communities besides the seat.  All are unincorporated except for the town of West Point.  Tangier Island, located in Virginia’s Chesepeake Bay flourishes as a fishing community, with crabbing as their specialty.  Mangohick is King William County’s other community.

Fires destroyed many of the original structures in King William during America’s Civil War.  The region swiftly rebounded though.  West Point incorporated in 1870 and blossomed into a thriving commercial seaport, used by Richmond as its eastern shipping terminus.  Today, a pulp mill and a shipyard keep West Point’s economy strong.  West Point’s delightful historic district displays an eclectic mix of architecture, including Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, and Victorian Italianate along with Sears mail-order houses.

King William’s central location on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and its excellent transportation infrastructure makes it an ideal choice for business.  The fine Virginia State Highway System lends quick access to nearby Interstate Highways 295, 95 and 85, and I-64 bisects the region.  With rail service and the Middle Peninsula Regional Airport, travelers and commerce move with ease.  The 28-foot channel on the York River enables the port of West Point to serve ocean-going vessels.    

King William, Virginia proves itself as a delightful ‘River Country’ community.  King Williams’ proximity to the steadily growing Richmond Metropolitan Area assures its continued prosperity, while residents here guard their natural scenic beauty and unique ambience.