Reedville

Reedville, Virginia

Founded in the 1870s around the menhaden fishing industry, Reedville takes its name from Captain Elijah Reed, originally from Maine, who moved his fishing operations there in 1874. The industry quickly grew and contributed to the village’s prosperity, notably through the production of fish oil and fish meal. Even today, commercial fishing plays an important role in the local economy.

The historic district runs along Main Street, where large Victorian houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by ship captains, industrialists, and merchants are located. Several of these residences are part of the Reedville Historic District, which was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, located on the shores of Cockrell Creek, presents the history of fishing and the maritime communities of the Chesapeake Bay. Housed in part in a fisherman’s house built in 1875, the museum displays historical artifacts, traditional boats, and documents about seafaring trades. Two of its historic vessels, the Claud W. Somers and the Elva C., are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Reedville also serves as a departure point for boat excursions to Tangier Island, an inhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay accessible by a seasonal ferry. The village includes fishing piers, maritime businesses, and a few dining establishments. Its coastal setting and heritage make it a representative community of the maritime culture of Virginia’s Northern Neck.