Montross is the county seat of Westmoreland County. Located in the historic Northern Neck of Virginia, Montross is near the George Washington Birthplace National Monument and the Stratford Hall Plantation (the birthplace of Robert E. Lee and Founding Fathers and signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee). The towns slogan is return to the village. The town is considered the mural capital of the Northern Neck as it has fourteen beautiful murals located on or inside different buildings within the town quarters. The town has recentlygone through a revitalization program that has turned it into a destination for art lovers as wellas antiquers.
When Westmoreland County was formed in 1653 from part of Northumberland County, the
first courthouse was erected on the property of the newly appointed sheriff, at an area now
called Currioman, overlooking Currioman Bay. A new high sheriff, John Lord, was appointed in
1658, and in 1667 he directed that a new courthouse be built on property he owned near the
center of the County, at a site that is now Montross. A town began to grow around this new
courthouse. As was customary, the town was named after the County, and so Montross was
called Westmoreland Courthouse until 1752.
In 1751, an Irish merchant, William Black, purchased 110 acres of land surrounding the
Courthouse and began to operate a store on the property. Black owned a ship that he used to
bring goods from England. The ship was called the Montross, after Black’s native town of
Montross, Ireland.
Shortly after Black began his business, references to the Town of Montross, Virginia, began to
appear, and at some later time the Town was officially given that name. Since then, the Town
has continued to play an official role as the Westmoreland County seat. Montross also serves as a commercial center for the County.
A charming and historic riverfront community in Tidewater Virginia
3,000
20K-30K
8,000
Montross is a small town located in the historic Northern Neck of Virginia. With a population of approximately 390 residents, Montross serves as the County Seat of Westmoreland County.
The Town is located near George Washington’s birthplace and Stratford Hall Plantation, giving Montross a unique connection to the rich history of the Northern Neck.
Montross is also known as the mural capital of the Northern Neck, featuring fourteen beautiful murals located on or inside buildings throughout the town. The Town has undergone a revitalization program that has helped make Montross a destination for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and antiquers.
Tappahannock is older than Richmond, Fredericksburg, and even Williamsburg
1660
1680
1705
The Town of Montross takes its name from an Irish connection.
In 1751, Irish merchant William Black purchased 110 acres of land surrounding the courthouse and established a store there. Black also owned a ship named the Montross, named after his native town of Montross, Ireland.
As Black’s business became established, references to the Town of Montross, Virginia, began to appear. At some point afterward, the community was officially given the name Montross.
Today, Montross continues to serve as the County Seat of Westmoreland County and remains an important commercial and civic center for the area.