When you think of the oldest town in Virginia, do you pictures Jamestown? Perhaps Williamsburg? Both of these destinations are rooted in history, but the title of the oldest continuously-chartered town in Virginia belongs to none other than Dumfries. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone; this town tends to fly under the radar. But, as you can imagine, it’s also loaded with history. Here’s more on why the town of Dumfries makes for an excellent and underrated day trip destination in Virginia.

The history of Dumfries, Virginia is an extensive one. Its colonial history began in 1690 when a man by the name of Richard Gibson had a gristmill built on Quantico Creek.
Capital Sky Eye Media / Google
Soon thereafter, the town of Dumfries was established on 60 acres of beautiful land that was given by John Graham. He named Dumfries after the town in Scotland where he was born, Dumfriesshire.
Stephen Little / flickr
Dumfries was officially established by the General Assembly as the first of seven Prince William County townships. It received this charter in May of 1749 and is therefore the oldest continuously-chartered town in the state.
Mark Plummer / flickr

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Visit Dumfries today and you'll find plenty of history to uncover. William's Ordinary is a historic building from the eighteenth century that was once a center of the town's life.
Billy Wilson / flickr
Another historic building worth checking out is the Weem-Botts Museum, a small museum holding much of the town's history.
Robert Walford / Google
Outdoor enthusiasts will find that the surrounding landscape of Dumfries is quite lovely. The town is located just outside of Prince William Forest Park.
Dumfriesva.gov
So whether you have just a few hours or a weekend to spare, you'll discover that a trip to Virginia's oldest town is one worth taking!
VDOT / flickr

Take a closer look at what life in Dumfries is like when you watch the brief video below:

Have you ever visited the town of Dumfries? Did you know that it’s the oldest town in Virginia? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! Looking for related content? Check out our collection of articles relating to Virginia history.

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