about virginia

Petersburg, Virginia sprawls throughout twenty-three square miles of the nation’s scenic eastern seaboard.  Well-preserved historic buildings and vibrant tree-lined streets greet residents in the commercial areas of town while older, more established neighborhoods blend with the new to provide a wealth of living options for those interested in relocating.  Petersburg, an independent city, is home to 33,740 residents according to Census 2000 data.

Petersburg, VA, located midway between Florida and New York, lies at the convergence of Interstates 85 and 95.  I-85 affords easy access to the business markets in the south, while I-95 provides a convenient route to the eastern seaboard.  Petersburg’s transportation options also include Amtrak service, Richmond International Airport and freight service via CSX and Norfolk Southern, while Richmond’s Deepwater Terminal is nearby on the James River.  The community is less than a half-hour drive from Virginia’s historic capital city, Richmond, and is included as part of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Historically an industrial hub for Virginia, Petersburg currently enjoys a broad base of employment driven by the manufacturing and tourist industries.  With such close proximity to the east coast, product distribution proves convenient and timely.  Several widely known brand names are associated with Petersburg.  These include Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals, Inc. (B. I. Chemicals), Remmie Arnold Pen Company, Seward Trunk Company, Titmus Optical, Amerigas Propane, The Bank of Southside Virginia, Barksdale Oils, Inc., Battery Barn of Virginia, Inc., Brenco, Inc., Builder’s Supply Company of Petersburg, Inc., Burton P. Short & Son Paving Company, Chaparral Steel, Clay Home Medical, Inc., Columbia Gas of Virginia, Delta Oil Company, Dinwiddie Airport and Industrial Authority, First Federal Savings Bank, Food Lion Distribution Center, G. E. Mathews, Inc., G. M. Clements Co., Inc., Glenna Jean Company, Houchins Pest Control Service, J. T. Morriss & Son, Inc., Jet Furniture Company, Leete Tire & Auto Center, Manchester Tank, Motley’s Auction & Realty Group, New Millennium Studios, Old Mansion Foods, Pamplin Historical Park, Petersburg Urban Ministries, Pre-Con, Inc., The Progress-Index, Ragsdale Building Supply Center, Inc., Rawles-Aden Lumber Corporation, Rent-E-Quip, Inc., The Retreat Salon & Spa, Roper Brothers Lumber Company, Inc., Roslyn Farm Corporation, Southlawn Memorial Park, Studio Ammons, Inc., Thacker True Value Hardware Co., Inc., Virginia Linen Service, Inc., Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and Walnut Hill Pharmacy, Inc.  In addition, the prosperous Tri-Cities region, also known as the “Appomattox Basin”, affords access to a wealth of resources for the Petersburg business community.  This region includes Colonial Heights, Hopewell and the counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George, as well as Petersburg.  Fort Lee is just a few miles away, as is the Virginia Motorsports Park.

Area healthcare facilities include Poplar Springs Hospital, Central State Hospital, Southside Virginia Training Center, Southside Regional Medical Center, John Randolph Hospital, Kenner Army Clinic, Medical College of Virginia Hospital, Retreat Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, Chippenham Hospital, Battlefield Park Convalescent Center, Riverview Physicians for Women, Southside OBGYN, Inc., Sycamore Pediatrics, and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Petersburg.

Petersburg offers public schools and several private school options from which to choose.  Higher learning facilities located in Petersburg include Petersburg Public Schools Practical Nursing Program, Richard Bland College of the College of William and Mary and Virginia State University.  Several additional colleges and universities exist within a reasonable driving distance of Petersburg.  Richmond is home to the University of Richmond and the Virginia Commonwealth University, while Williamsburg is home to the College of William and Mary.  Petersburg also offers a wide range of civic and social activities and clubs that nicely complement the impressive educational scene.

Petersburg lies at the fall line of the Appomattox River, where residents and visitors enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing and kayaking.  The City of Petersburg also continues to honor the significant roles that the Civil and Revolutionary Wars played in its early history, via local exhibits, museums and special events such as the annual Battersea Revolutionary War Reenactment.  Museums of interest include the Army Women's Museum, Blandford Church, Centre Hill Mansion, Quartermaster Museum, Pamplin Park, Petersburg National Battlefield Park and Siege Museum.  The museums abound with artifacts, documents and photos that predate the Revolutionary War.

Delightful parks, restaurants and venues for entertainment vie for notice with the vibrant downtown region’s well-preserved historic buildings in architectural styles of the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th centuries.  Popular vacation destinations such as historic Jamestown, Richmond, Virginia Beach and colonial Williamsburg are within a reasonable driving distance of Petersburg.

Petersburg, Virginia encompasses an aesthetically pleasing landscape, centrally located on the bustling eastern seaboard of the United States.  Family friendly vacation destinations blend well with the excellent schools and career options, to make Petersburg an enviable place in which to live and work.