Ruthville, Virginia
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Ruthville is an unincorporated community in Charles City County, Virginia, United States.
History
[edit]The community was the central point of the county's free African American population for many years, even before the Civil War (1861–1865). Following Emancipation, the crossroads community included the Mercantile Cooperative Company and Ruthville Training School. The United Sorghum Growers Club also met here.[1]
Earlier known by several other names, the name "Ruthville" recalls local resident Ruth Brown. Her name was selected when the Post Office was established there in 1880.[1]
In 1901, the first Black co-op based on the Rochdale Principles was established in Ruthville.[2] "Community cooperation" was and is very important in this "sparsely populated and overwhelmingly rural" area.[3]
In 2009, Ruthville resident Denise Burrell Smith was appointed by Governor Timothy Kaine to the statewide Virginia Wireless E-911 Services Board, and confirmed by the Virginia Legislature.[4]
Contemporary
[edit]Children primarily attend the Charles City County public schools.[5] Students can catch the school bus on The Glebe Lane, which is the Main Street of the community;[6] according to Google Maps, this is only public transportation in the area.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Charles City County Historical Markers: Ruthville". Web Archive. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Luna, Mira (July 31, 2024). "How to start a worker co-op". sharable. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Craig, John M. (1987). "Community Cooperation in Ruthville, Virginia 1900-1930". Phylon. 48 (2): 132–140. doi:10.2307/274777. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 367: Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons. Agreed to by the Senate, January 26, 2009, Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 10, 2009". State of Virginia Legislative Information Service. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "Charles City County Public Schools". Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "CHARLES CITY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUS ROUTES: 2024 – 2025" (PDF). Retrieved June 2, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Elam Baptist Church, an historic, 165 year old religious building in Ruthville
- Watkins family Papers ca. 1910-2000 (bulk ca. 1930-1960). Accession 42063. Personal papers collection, Purchased July 2005. at The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.
- Franklin Quincy papers, also at the Library of Virginia
Municipalities and communities of Charles City County, Virginia, United States | ||
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| CDP |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||