Community Profile
City Vision
Williamsburg will become an evermore safe, beautiful, livable city of historic and academic renown, served by a city government -- cohesively led, financially strong, always improving -- in full partnership with the people who live, work, and visit here.
A Distinctive Beginning
In 1699, the General Assembly of Virginia established the City of Williamsburg as the colony's capital. The new city, formerly known as Middle Plantation, was named in honor of King William III and is home to the College of William and Mary established in 1693. In 1722, George I granted a charter incorporating the City of Williamsburg after the fashion of the English municipal borough. During the 1700s, Williamsburg developed into a bustling capital city and played a historic role in events leading to American independence. In 1780, the Capital moved to Richmond and Williamsburg reverted to a quiet college town and rural county seat.
In retrospect, Williamsburg's loss of capital city status was its salvation. Many 18th century buildings survived into the early 20th century when John D. Rockefeller Jr. launched a massive restoration effort creating "Colonial Williamsburg," operated by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The City of Williamsburg celebrated its 300th Anniversary in 1999.
A Living History
Colonial Williamsburg, located in the heart of the City, is the largest outdoor living museum in the United States, covering 301 acres and preserving more than 500 original and reconstructed buildings. Colonial Williamsburg recreates 18th century life, year round, and engages over 700,000 paid visitors annually in the story of America's beginning. Also in the center of the City is America's second oldest university -- The College of William & Mary.
Jamestown and Yorktown, the other landmarks in the "Historic Triangle," interpret the first permanent English settlement on Jamestown Island and the Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown.
In March 2004, First Lady Laura Bush designated the City of Williamsburg as a Preserve America community in recognition of its continued preservation of cultural and natural heritage resources.
In 2007, the Historic Triangle area will celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown colony.