Virginia's Piedmont is the gently rolling land between the mountains and the Tidewater. As its name implies, it begins at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and extends eastward, becoming less undulating the closer it comes to the fall line. It contains one city, Fredericksburg, and one large market town, Charlottesville. Although its eastern and northern boundaries increasingly form part of Richmond and Washington's suburban sprawl, the Piedmont is largely rural, known for its horse and cattle farms, and for the production of much of the state's corn and wheat. Nevertheless, it is also known as the site of many of Virginia's notable historic events.

Governor Spotswood and the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe began their expedition in 1716 from Germanna Forge in Orange County, where they had procured a large quantity of iron horseshoes necessary for the mountainous terrain. At Cuckoo Tavern in Louisa County, Jack Jouett began his ride to warn Governor Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature, temporarily meeting in Charlottesville, of the approach of Colonel Tarleton and his dragoons. From Fredericksburg to the Blue Ridge many Civil War skirmishes and battles were fought to a bloody conclusion, including the Wilderness Campaign and the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry battle ever fought in North America. The Piedmont also contains many historic homes displaying the evolution of American architecture and decorative arts in the South and generating tourist interest. Between historic sites, agribusiness, and premier humanities and science research facilities such as Monticello, the University of Virginia, and Mary Washington University, the Piedmont continues to serve in the heart of the Commonwealth.

See more images from repositories in the Piedmont region:
University of Virginia Special Collections
University of Virginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library Historical Collections

Archival and Special Collection Repositories in Piedmont Virginia | Archives Week 2003 Home