Tappahannock, Virginia

Tappahannock, Virginia
Town of Tappahannock
The historic district of Tappahannock
The historic district of Tappahannock
Location in Virginia
Location in Virginia
Coordinates: 37°55′20″N 76°51′47″W / 37.92222°N 76.86306°W / 37.92222; -76.86306
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyEssex
Government
 • MayorRoy Gladding
Area
 • Total
2.75 sq mi (7.11 km2)
 • Land2.67 sq mi (6.91 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2)
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
2,375
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
2,402
 • Density899.96/sq mi (347.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
22560
Area code804
FIPS code51-77568[3]
GNIS feature ID1498542[4]
Websitewww.tappahannock-va.gov

Tappahannock is the oldest town in Essex County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,375 at the 2010 census,[5] up from 2,068 at the 2000 census. Located on the Rappahannock River, Tappahannock is the county seat of Essex County.[6] Its name comes from an Algonquian language word lappihanne (also noted as toppehannock), meaning "Town on the rise and fall of water" or "where the tide ebbs and flows." The Rappahannock is a tidal estuary from above this point and downriver to its mouth on Chesapeake Bay.

In 1608 English explorer John Smith landed in Tappahannock and fought with the local Rappahannock people. After defeating them, he later made peace.[7][8][9][10]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Tappahannock town, Virginia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. ^ "Early Settlement Up the... Rappahannock?". www.virginiaplaces.org. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "John Smith 400". www.johnsmith400.org. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  9. ^ "Second Voyage - Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "Amoroleck Encounters John Smith N-38 - Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania Historical Markers". fredmarkers.umwblogs.org. February 27, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2018.