Powhatan County is a rural county in Central Virginia, about 30 miles west of Downtown Richmond along U.S. Route 60 and Route 288, where Main Street Homes builds new homes on homesites of 2 to more than 10 acres.

Life in Powhatan comes with room to breathe. Mornings can start with a paddle on the James River or a walk through rolling farm fields, and Westchester Commons is still only about 20 minutes away for shopping and dinner. Weekends bring a Thursday farmers market in the park, a wine festival in the historic Courthouse Village, and county fair rides in the spring. If you want land, open sky, and a short drive to the Richmond suburbs, this guide covers what you need to know.

Powhatan County at a Glance

Powhatan County is a countryside county in the Greater Richmond Region, set between the James and Appomattox rivers, with its government center in the village of Powhatan.

Where Is Powhatan County, Virginia?

Powhatan County sits in the Piedmont region of Central Virginia, just west of Chesterfield County and the Richmond suburbs. The James River forms its northern border, and the Appomattox River runs along its southern edge.

Goochland County lies across the James to the north, Chesterfield County is to the east, Amelia County is to the south, and Cumberland County is to the west. Most Powhatan addresses use the Powhatan ZIP code 23139. [VERIFY: whether any eastern Powhatan addresses, such as near Founders Bridge, use a Midlothian ZIP code, and list it if so.]

The county is home to rolling hills, hardwood forests, creeks, horse farms, and working farmland. The center of county life is the historic Courthouse Village, where the county's first courthouse was built in 1778. Route 60 runs east to west through the middle of the county, and Route 288 crosses its northeast corner, giving a quick link to Chesterfield, Goochland, and the West End of Richmond.

Why Home Buyers Choose Powhatan County

Home buyers choose Powhatan County for land. Many homesites are measured in acres, not square feet, so there is space for a big garden, a workshop, a backyard fire pit, or simply a long view of the trees.

• Room to spread out: Main Street Homes communities in Powhatan offer homesites of 2+ acres and 10+ acres.
• Close to the suburbs: Westchester Commons and Route 288 are about 20 minutes from the Courthouse Village, and Short Pump is about 40 minutes away.
• Outdoor living: A state park on the James River, a 4,462-acre wildlife management area, two public golf courses, and a county park with miles of trails.
• Small-town gatherings: A weekly farmers market, the Festival of the Grape, a county fair with more than 100 years of history, and concerts in Village Park.
• County taxes: The 2026 real estate tax rate is $0.77 per $100 of assessed value. See the tax section below for details.

Getting Around: Commutes, Highways, and Travel

Most people in Powhatan drive, and the main routes are Route 60 and Route 288. Route 60 (Anderson Highway) runs east into Chesterfield and Midlothian. Route 288 connects to Interstate 64 (I-64) to the north and to Chesterfield County and Interstate 95 (I-95) to the south. Route 522 runs north across the James River toward Goochland.

Here is about how long it takes to drive from the Powhatan County government center when traffic is light:

Rush hour on Route 60 and Route 288 can add time. For airports, Amtrak, and East Coast road trips, see our Central Virginia guide.

GRTC LINK on-demand rides

The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) runs LINK, an on-demand van service, across all of Powhatan County. You book a ride in the GRTC On the Go app or by calling (804) 358-4782, and a van picks you up at the curb. Rides are fare-free. The Powhatan zone runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you can book up to 24 hours ahead. Riders can reach places such as the Powhatan County Public Library, Powhatan Plaza, Westchester Commons, Chesterfield Towne Center, Bon Secours Westchester Medical Park, and Johnston-Willis Hospital. Wheelchair-accessible vans are available when you request one.

Parks, Trails, and Outdoor Recreation

Powhatan County's parks and public lands cover thousands of acres, from riverfront trails to fishing lakes.

• Powhatan State Park: This 1,565-acre state park sits in the northwest corner of the county on the James River. It has about 2.5 miles of river frontage, three car-top boat slides for canoes and kayaks, and about 12 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Camping options include a full-service campground, a canoe-in or hike-in primitive campground, a group campground, and yurts. Rangers lead paddle programs from May to September. There is no swimming area.
• Powhatan Wildlife Management Area (WMA): Managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, this 4,462-acre area off Route 60 has two lakes of 32 and 26 acres, four ponds, marked trails, and small boat launches. It is popular for fishing, hunting, and birdwatching. Gas motors are not allowed, and visitors need a Virginia hunting or fishing license, boat registration, or access permit.
• Fighting Creek Park: The county's main park, at 2201 Mann Road, has athletic fields, a playground, a pavilion, a pollinator garden, a disc golf course, and gravel walking trails. The new 1-mile Education Connection Trail opened in October 2026, linking the park to Powhatan Middle School, Powhatan Elementary School, the library, and the YMCA.
• Village Park and Turner Park: Village Park in the Courthouse Village has a performance gazebo and hosts summer concerts. Turner Park on Old Buckingham Road has athletic fields.
• James River paddling: Maiden Voyage Outfitters rents boats and runs shuttles for trips on the James River near Maidens Landing.

Golf and adventure

Powhatan has two golf courses open to the public. Mill Quarter Plantation Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course on Mill Quarter Road. Independence Golf Club sits on Founders Bridge Boulevard near Route 288. Next door, Canopy Adventure Park offers ropes courses and zip lines in the trees.

Sports and recreation programs

Powhatan County Parks and Recreation runs programs for preschool ages through active adults, from art and nature classes to fitness. County facilities include 27 athletic fields, six pickleball courts, two outdoor basketball courts, and a gym. The county partners with local leagues for lacrosse, baseball, fastpitch softball, youth football, basketball, soccer, and adult softball. Register online at powhatanva.myrec.com.

Shopping, Dining, and Local Favorites

Daily shopping in Powhatan centers on the Courthouse Village and the Route 60 corridor, with bigger stores about 20 minutes east at Westchester Commons. Powhatan Plaza and the shops along Route 60 cover groceries and everyday errands.

Local drinks are part of the Powhatan lifestyle:

• Three Crosses Distilling Company in the Courthouse Village was the first legal distillery in Powhatan County. It makes whiskey, moonshine, rum, and vodka.
• Crazy Rooster Brewing Company on Oakbridge Drive has a taproom with food and events.
• Fine Creek Brewing Company is a small-batch brewery in a countryside setting.
• Skippers Creek Vineyard grows about five acres of wine grapes on a farm overlooking a meadow and pond.

Farm life is close at hand. The Powhatan Village Farmers Market moved to Fighting Creek Park in 2026. It runs Thursdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m., May through September, with produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, food trucks, and live music.

Arts, History, and Annual Events

Powhatan County was formed in 1777 from part of Cumberland County and named for Chief Powhatan. Its courthouse was built in 1778, and in 1700 French Huguenot refugees settled at Manakin Town along the James River. Today the county has 29 state historical markers and a historic sites driving tour you can follow on the Visit Powhatan website.

Yearly events fill the calendar:

• Powhatan's Festival of the Grape: Held each fall in the historic Courthouse Village, with more than 45 Virginia wineries, distillers, and cider makers, plus live music and crafts. The 2026 festival was the 23rd.
• Powhatan County Fair: A free-admission fair each May with rides, live music, and a heritage village. The 2026 fair marked 107 years.
• Concerts and movies: Parks and Recreation hosts First Fridays music in Village Park and Movies in the Park.
• Light Up Powhatan: A fireworks celebration hosted by Parks and Recreation. [VERIFY: date for 2027.]
• Powhatan Christmas Parade: A holiday parade each December. [VERIFY: 2026 date and route.]
• James River Batteau Festival: Replica wooden boats travel the James River each June and stop along the way. [VERIFY: whether the 2027 trip stops in Powhatan.]

For theaters, museums, and big concerts, Richmond is about 45 minutes away. See the Central Virginia guide for the region's arts and entertainment.

Health Care and Wellness

The nearest 24-hour emergency room to the Courthouse Village is the Bon Secours Westchester Emergency Center in Midlothian, about 20 minutes away. Full-service hospitals are about 30 to 50 minutes away.

Bon Secours Westchester Medical Park is also next to the emergency center. For walk-in care, Bon Secours Urgent Care, Midlothian, at 14163 Midlothian Turnpike, is about 20 minutes away. Pharmacies in the county include Powhatan Drug in Powhatan Plaza on Academy Road and CVS Pharmacy at 2511 Anderson Highway (Route 60).

Fitness and recreation: The Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA at 2269 Mann Road has cardio and strength equipment, group exercise, swim lessons, and an outdoor pool that is covered by a bubble for indoor swimming in the colder months. The county's Pocahontas Landmark Center at 4290 Anderson Highway is home to the recreation center and Parks and Recreation offices.

55+ programs: The county's Community Matters program offers wellness, enrichment, social, and lifelong learning activities for adults 55 and older at the Pocahontas Landmark Center every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The county also points residents to SeniorNavigator and the Capital Area Agency on Aging for support services.

Schools, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning

Public schools in the county are run by Powhatan County Public Schools. The division has five schools: Flat Rock Elementary, Pocahontas Elementary, Powhatan Elementary, Powhatan Middle School, and Powhatan High School. To review school information for yourself, visit the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) School Quality Profiles. Always confirm school assignments for a specific address with the school division.

Library: The Powhatan County Public Library is at 2270 Mann Road, next to Fighting Creek Park. It offers storytimes and early reading programs, book clubs, a chess club, a crochet club, meeting and study rooms, and after-hours pickup lockers. It is open Monday through Friday with evening hours most weekdays. [VERIFY: Saturday hours; the library site lists both 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed.]

Colleges nearby: Brightpoint Community College has a campus in Midlothian, and Reynolds Community College has a campus in Goochland. Richmond's colleges and universities are within about an hour. See the Central Virginia guide for the full list.

Jobs, Business Parks, and Working From Home

Major job centers in Chesterfield, Henrico, and Richmond are within an easy drive. Westchester Commons and the Route 288 corridor are about 20 minutes away, Innsbrook and Short Pump are about 40 minutes, and Downtown Richmond is about 45 minutes. Inside the county, local businesses, farms, and county and school jobs make up much of the work. The Powhatan County Department of Economic Development shares business resources at yespowhatan.com.

For remote work, fast internet is expanding across the county. See Internet and TV below for providers. A home office, bonus room, or extra bedroom gives you a place to work at home.

Setting Up Your Home: Utilities and Services in Powhatan County

Utilities in Powhatan County depend on your exact address. Most rural homes use a private well and septic system, while some areas along Route 60 and near the Courthouse Village have public water and sewer. Always confirm providers for your address before you move.

Water and Sewer

Powhatan County Department of Utilities provides public water along the Route 60 corridor from the Chesterfield County line west to Flat Rock. Public sewer serves the Courthouse Village area and parts of Route 60. To start service, submit a Utility Service Connection Application with fees and deposits. Call (804) 598-5764 for a cost estimate for your address. Bills come every two months.

Two private companies serve some neighborhoods. Aqua Virginia serves parts of the Courthouse area and Route 60 corridor. Founder's Bridge Utility Company serves Founders Bridge and nearby neighborhoods, including Bel Crest, Bel Bridge, and Winterfield Place. Homes outside these areas use a private well and septic system.

Electricity

Two electric providers serve Powhatan County: Dominion Energy and Southside Electric Cooperative. Which one serves your home depends on your address, so check with both before you move.

Natural Gas or Propane

Columbia Gas of Virginia has a natural gas line on the east side of the county near Route 288. Most other homes use propane, which several local companies deliver throughout the county.

Trash Collection

Powhatan County has no county curbside trash pickup. Residents take household trash to the County Convenience Center at 2407 Mitchell Road, open Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed holidays), or hire a private hauler. A county residency sticker is required. Get one at the center by showing your vehicle registration with a Powhatan address.

Recycling

Recycling in Powhatan is drop-off only at the county convenience center. Accepted items include mixed paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, metal cans and foil, and glass bottles and jars. The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) has an online Recycling Wizard to help you sort items.

Convenience Center, Landfill, and Debris Disposal

The Powhatan County Convenience Center is at 2407 Mitchell Road and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed holidays). You need a convenience center sticker on your vehicle as proof of residence. Bring a vehicle registration with a Powhatan County address to get one. The center does not accept commercial waste. Call (804) 598-5673 with questions.

Besides trash and recycling, the center takes appliances, scrap metal, tires, paint, propane tanks, used oil and antifreeze, textiles, and electronics. A Goodwill donation trailer is also on site.

Bulk Item and Yard Waste

Once a month, residents may drop off one level pickup truck load of construction and demolition waste from their home for free. Larger loads cost $30 for a small pickup, $40 for a regular pickup, and $70 for a load larger than a pickup (up to 10 cubic yards). Appliances cost $15 each, or $25 each for items with refrigerants, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Tires start at $2 each. [VERIFY: yard waste and brush drop-off rules at the convenience center.]

Internet and TV

To see which providers serve your address, search the FCC National Broadband Map. Firefly Fiber Broadband, owned by Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), offers fiber internet in many parts of Powhatan through its ReConnect and RISE projects. As of October 2026, several Firefly project areas are in service, and the Belona and Ballsville, Clinton, Hatchers, Michaux and Beaumont, and Provost areas are under construction. Comcast Xfinity and Verizon also serve parts of the county. [VERIFY: Comcast and Verizon residential coverage areas, and whether Port 80 wireless service is still offered.]

County Services Contacts

Service providers, routes, and rates can change and can differ from one address to the next. Before you buy, confirm water, sewer, electric, gas, trash, and internet service for your specific address with Powhatan County and each provider.

Real Estate Taxes and Cost of Homeownership

Powhatan County's 2026 real estate tax rate is $0.77 per $100 of assessed value. The Board of Supervisors set the rate on April 6, 2026, up from $0.75 in 2025. Real estate taxes are billed in two halves, due June 5 and November 5.

• Vehicle personal property tax: $3.60 per $100 of assessed value for cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, campers, and RVs, also due in halves on June 5 and November 5.
• Sales tax: 6% today. On November 3, 2026, Powhatan voters will decide whether to add a 1% local sales tax that could only be used for school construction and repairs. If approved, the rate would become 7%.
• Land use and tax relief: The Commissioner of the Revenue runs land use deferral and tax relief programs, including relief for qualifying older adults, people with disabilities, and disabled veterans.

Rates are set each spring with the county budget. Confirm current rates with the Powhatan County Treasurer.

New to Powhatan County? Your First 30 Days

Use this checklist to settle in. For statewide rules, see "Moving to Virginia From Another State" in our Central Virginia guide.

• Driver's license and vehicles: New residents have 60 days to get a Virginia driver's license and 30 days to title and register vehicles with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Powhatan has a DMV Select office at 3834 Old Buckingham Road, Suite C, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• County vehicle registration: Tell the Commissioner of the Revenue about your vehicles so they are assessed for personal property tax. Your Powhatan registration also gets you a convenience center sticker.
• Voter registration: Register online at elections.virginia.gov or visit the Office of Elections at 3910 Old Buckingham Road, Suite E.
• Water, power, and trash: Start electric service with Dominion Energy or Southside Electric Cooperative, set up water if your home is on a public system, and choose a private trash hauler or get your convenience center sticker.
• Library card: Stop by the Powhatan County Public Library at 2270 Mann Road.
• Parks and Recreation: Create a household account at powhatanva.myrec.com to sign up for classes, sports, and events.
• Emergency alerts: The county uses CodeRED for emergency alerts, but the system was offline after a cybersecurity incident at the vendor as of October 3, 2026. Until it returns, follow the county website and social media pages for emergency updates. [VERIFY: CodeRED status before publishing.]

New Homes in Powhatan County by Main Street Homes

Main Street Homes builds single-family homes on large homesites in Powhatan County, all in the 23139 ZIP code. Main Street Homes is an employee-owned builder that has built thousands of energy-efficient homes in Central Virginia since 1996.

Main Street Homes has been building in Powhatan County for years. Past Main Street Homes communities here include Aston, Mill Quarter, and Tilmans Farm, all in Powhatan.

To see a finished home, tour our Augusta II model home at 3806 Tuckmar Pond Drive, Moseley, VA 23120, about 20 minutes from Powhatan. [VERIFY: model home hours.]

• Homes designed for how you live: We are neither a custom builder nor a production builder. We will not give you an eraser to move walls, nor will we build a cookie-cutter home. Our floor plans include one-level living and first-floor primary bedroom options.
• Personalize it at our Design Studio: At our Design Studio at 15871 City View Drive, Suite 100, Midlothian, VA 23113, certified Design Consultants help you select the finishes for your new single-family home.
• Energy Advantage+: Every home is built to our Energy Advantage+ standards and verified with duct blaster and blower door testing.

Ready to find your place in Powhatan County? Explore our communities or call or text our Online Sales Specialists, Savannah and Daniel, at (804) 979-2954.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Powhatan County

How far is Powhatan County from Richmond?

The Powhatan County government center is about 33 miles and about 45 minutes by car from Downtown Richmond when traffic is light. Westchester Commons in Midlothian is about 20 minutes away, and Richmond International Airport is about 55 minutes away.

Does Powhatan County have public water and sewer?

Public water is available along the Route 60 corridor from the Chesterfield County line to Flat Rock, and public sewer serves the Courthouse Village and parts of Route 60. Aqua Virginia and Founder's Bridge Utility Company serve some neighborhoods. Most other homes use a private well and septic system.

Who provides electricity in Powhatan County?

Dominion Energy and Southside Electric Cooperative both serve Powhatan County. Your provider depends on your address.

What is the real estate tax rate in Powhatan County?

The 2026 real estate tax rate is $0.77 per $100 of assessed value. Taxes are due in two halves, on June 5 and November 5.

Does Powhatan County have trash pickup?

The county does not offer curbside trash pickup. Residents hire a private hauler or use the county convenience center at 2407 Mitchell Road, which is open Tuesday through Sunday and also takes recycling.

What internet providers serve Powhatan County?

Firefly Fiber Broadband offers fiber internet in many parts of the county, and Comcast Xfinity and Verizon serve some areas. Check the FCC National Broadband Map for your address.

Are there new homes for sale in Powhatan County, Virginia?

Yes. Main Street Homes is building single-family homes on 2+ acre and 10+ acre homesites at Fine Creek Manor, Maple Grove, and MontRose, with Walkers Farm coming soon.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Main Street Homes of VA, Inc. shares this article for general informational purposes only. References to businesses, organizations, attractions, utilities, and service providers are included as a resource for our readers and do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by Main Street Homes of VA, Inc. The information, data, and details in this article are deemed accurate at the time of writing and were last verified on October 4, 2026. Because rates, services, schedules, boundaries, and providers can change, we encourage readers to confirm details directly with the appropriate locality, agency, or business before making any decisions. Main Street Homes of VA, Inc. supports the federal Fair Housing Act and the Virginia Fair Housing Law and is committed to equal housing opportunity for all.