Lightfoot, Virginia

Lightfoot is an unincorporated community which straddles the James City-York county border, west of Williamsburg, in the U.S. state of Virginia.

Originally known as Six-Mile Ordinary, Lightfoot is six miles west of the colonial capital on the Richmond Road (U.S. Route 60), which as well as Centerville and Longhill roads, dates to the pre-Revolutionary War period. Six Mile Ordinary was located along the old stage coach road to New Kent County and Richmond. (An "ordinary" was a colonial-era tavern with food and lodging for travelers and their horses).

Nearby, by tradition, the land at War Hill (or as it came to be called, Warhill) is named for a American Revolutionary War battle which took place there on June 26, 1781 between British troops under Lord Cornwallis and Allied forces under the Marquis Lafayette. Nearly 150 men were killed or wounded in the conflict, which occurred during the campaign which led to the victory at Yorktown, establishing independence for Virginia and the United States.

In 1881, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was built through the area, and a local station named Kelton was established in what is now the Lightfoot area. The source of the name is not clear. In 1882, when a post office was established, the first postmaster suggested the name of Philip Lightfoot, who had been a prominent lawyer and merchant prior to 1748. However, it may also have been named for Lightfoot Taylor, who ran a stage stop there in the 1880s.

In modern times, Lightfoot is probably best known as home to the expansive Williamsburg Pottery Factory, as well as the strip of outlet and specialty shops, hotels, motels, restaurants and attractions such as mini golf and a go kart track. In 2006, the Sentara Health System opened the new Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center off Mooretown Road. Nearby are Interstate 64, U.S. Route 60 and State Route 199, a semi-circumferential highway around Williamsburg which has its western terminus at Lightfoot. By the late 20th century, the 588-acre (238 ha) Warhill tract was one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land in the area. In 1996, it was purchased for public use. Located on Centerville Road near the interchange of U.S. Route 60 and State Route 199, the land was envisioned as multi-purpose in James City County's "Master Plan." [ [http://www.timmons.com/news-and-events/VTC_0107.asp Public-private infrastructure act cleared way for new high school ] ] In 1999, the Warhill Sports Complex opened adjacent to the site of the new high school. [ [http://www.james-city.va.us/recreation/parks-trails/warhill-stadium.html Parks and Recreation: Warhill Stadium ] ] In 2005, construction began on the new Warhill High School of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, which opened in the fall of 2007.

Further reading

*McCartney, Martha W. (1977) "James City County: Keystone of the Commonwealth"; James City County, Virginia; Donning and Company; ISBN 0-89865-999-X

References