Agnewville, Virginia

Agnewville also known as Smoketown or Chinntown[1] is an extinct unincorporated community in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. Agnewville lies to the west of the town of Occoquan at the intersection of Minnieville (formerly Davis Ford) and Telegraph Roads. It has also been known as Agnesville [2][3] and Chinn Town.[2]

Agnewville, Virginia
Extinct unincorporated community
Agnewville, Virginia is located in Virginia
Agnewville, Virginia
Agnewville, Virginia
Agnewville, Virginia is located in the United States
Agnewville, Virginia
Agnewville, Virginia
Coordinates: 38°40′9″N 77°17′9″W
Country United States
State Virginia
County Prince William
Founded byThe Chinn Family
Area
 • Total2.023 km2 (0.781 sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)

Agnewville ran along Minnieville Road from Old Bridge Road to the old Horner Road (near the current Caton Hill Road). Agnewville flourished from 1890 to 1927.

History

The land that became Agnewville was purchased and settled by freed slaves. The Chinn Family, freed by Henny Fielder Roe after the American Civil War, was given enough money to purchase about 500 acres[4] of land in 1889.[2]

The U.S. Post Office in Agnewville was established in 1891, and was closed in March 1927, with the mail services transferred to the Woodbridge Post Office.[2]

The Mount Olive Baptist Church was founded in 1915 on Telegraph Road,[2] with land donated by William Wallace Chinn.[4]

Agnewville was located along the main stage road out of Occoquan, Virginia. The decline of Agnewville came with the relocation of the main highway from Telegraph Road to the present day U.S. Route 1 through Woodbridge, Virginia.[2]

Economy

Farming and logging were the main economic activities.[2]

Present day

Most of Agnewville has been redeveloped. North of Minnieville Road is now the community of Lake Ridge, Virginia. South of Minnieville Road has been developed to some extent, and much of the undeveloped area is zoned for commercial and residential development.[5] The Mount Olive Baptist Church on Telegraph Road still serves the area.

The Tackett's Mill shopping center is the commercial heart of modern day Agnewville. Construction of the shopping center occurred in the 1970's as the area was entire region was being developed. The shopping center derives it's name from the grist Mill of the same name originally located in Stafford County. In 1983 the remnants of the grist mill were transported to Prince William county to be made into a museum at the center of the shopping center.

Today, the term "Smoketown" often refers to the Smoketown Road corridor one mile to the west of present day Agnewville.

Notes
  1. "The Chinn Family". www.visitpwc.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. The Prince William County Historical Commission (Va.) 2006 pp.52-54
  3. Geographic Names Information System
  4. The Washington Post, December 14, 1989, Brooke A Masters, "Memorial to a Va. Matriarch", p Va 12
  5. "County Mapper". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2010.

References
  • The Prince William County Historical Commission (Va.) (2006).
  • Prince William County Historical Commission disappearing towns project / Prince William County Historical Commission.
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