Present day Nelson County was included in Henrico County, one of the eight original shires or counties formed in Virginia in 1634. In 1728, Goochland County was formed from Henrico and in 1744 Albemarle County was formed from Goochland. In 1761, Amherst and Buckingham counties broke away from Albemarle. The capital of Amherst County at that time was located in Cabellsville (near present day Colleen). On 1 Jun 1808, Nelson was formed from Amherst County.
The county was named for Thomas Nelson Jr., the third Governor of Virginia and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In the heyday of the river economy, during the 19th century, Nelson County flourished with its apple crop, logging mills, chestnut wood and nuts. The turn of the century was the economic high point for Nelson County, after which the economy fell drastically. The widespread use of the automobile and the building of roads decimated the river business.
Famous and historic sons and daughters of Nelson County
- Earl Hamner (1923-2016) - Creator of The Waltons
- Jimmy Fortune (1955 - ) - Country music entertainer
- Dr. William Cabell (1699-1774) - emigrant and early settler of present-day Nelson County at Warminster
- Major Thomas Massie (1747-1834)- Revolutionary war officer; founder of Nelson County Massie family
- Reverend Robert Rose (1704-1751) - Minister of St. Anne's Parish, Albemarle County; planter, surveyor, doctor, and lawyer
- Othello Wilson (1904-1988) - Nelson County music teacher/principal; performed on CBS radio network
- W.A.R. Goodwin (1869-1939) - Father of Colonial Williamsburg
- Thomas Fortune Ryan (1831-1928) - owner of Oak Ridge estate; tobacco, insurance, and transportation magnate
- Robert Whitehead (1897-1960) - member of House of Delegates representing Nelson County
- Wlliam H. Crawford (1772-1834)- U.S. Senator, Candidate for President in 1824
- Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) - Methodist circuit rider; member Illinois General Assembly
- William Cabell Rives (1792-1868) - U.S. Senator, member of Peace Convention of 1861 and Confederate Congress.
- Colonel John S. Mosby (1833-1916) - Known as Gray Ghost during Civil War; U.S. consul to Hong Kong
Information related to historic events/occurences
Google Earth Virtual Tours
Click on the image for an incredible walking tour of Lovingston
Contributed by Carla Quenneville and Created by Jeff Smolinski 2023
