Newtown Historic District
Why it's listed
Newtown is a small crossroads village in King and Queen County, Virginia, about forty-five miles northeast of Richmond, where Routes 721 and 625 meet. About ten frame farmhouses, most from the 19th century, sit on large lots among planted fields, and the open farmland is part of the district. The settlement began in the late colonial period around a store and ordinary on the Great Post Road. By 1836 it was the largest village in the county, with stores, a church, tradesmen and a male seminary, and it supported a long run of private academies. In early June 1863 it was the scene of the last tactical action of General George Pickett's division before its march to Gettysburg. Notable buildings include The Hill, from the late 18th century, the Lee Boulware House of about 1823, the Richardson Lumpkin House of about 1839, the Samuel S. Gresham House of about 1845, and Walton's Academy of about 1854.
Significance in brief: Newtown grew from a late colonial crossroads on the Great Post Road into the largest post village in antebellum King and Queen County, supporting stores, churches and a succession of private academies. It was also the site of Pickett's Division's last tactical action before the march to Gettysburg in June 1863. It survives as a Tidewater crossroads retaining its 19th-century rural character.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001821, listed October 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | VA 721 and 625, Newtown |
|---|---|
| County | King and Queen County |
| Listed | October 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001821 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, with Federal and modified Federal houses |
| Areas of significance | Military, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most dwellings show only minor exterior alterations; the form lists the district as occupied and unoccupied, with agricultural, commercial and residential uses. Walton's Academy is described as standing in good condition. |
| Acreage | 46 |
| Coordinates | 37.91253, -77.12974 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001821.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712965
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.