Accomac is the county seat and a peaceful waterfront community
Set against Metompkin Bay, Accomac was formally chosen in 1690 as the seat of Accomack County. Today, the town remains a thriving employment hub, home to a Perdue Farms facility and many century-old government buildings. But with brackish water weaving between lush marshland and very few commercial options, Accomac also offers a scenic and secluded setting. “Life is just peaceful here,” says Tammy Hill, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Harbour Realty and an Accomack County resident. “There aren’t any tourists, and everything from architecture to nature is well-preserved.” Locals can boat to undeveloped beaches and enjoy quiet fishing trips in shallow creeks. But when they need groceries or a night out, other Eastern Shore towns, like Olney and Onancock, are just a quick drive away.
Historic homes and some newer builds
Accomac’s earliest homes include bungalows and Queen Annes dating back to the early 1900s. Mid-20th-century ranch-style homes and Cape Cod cottages are also common. Loblolly pine trees and above-ground power lines tower over the area’s cracked asphalt roads. Wheat, corn and soybean crops often stretch behind inland homes, while waterfront houses typically have wooden piers. The median single-family home price is about $462,000, though waterfront houses may cost up to $840,000. Empty lots are also regularly for sale here, with prices ranging from $35,000 to $550,000, depending on the acreage. Tropical storms and rising sea levels frequently cause Metompkin Bay to overflow, so flood insurance may be mandatory for properties closest to the waterway, and any new-build homes must be raised 2 feet.
Locals boat, fish and go to secret beaches
Accomac doesn’t have a town marina, but there is a public boat ramp off Folly Road. Anglers can stand on the area’s floating docks, cast a line and catch fish like flounder and bluegill. Kayakers and powerboaters traveling through the area’s channels may see crab pot buoys sticking out of the water and osprey perched atop surrounding oak trees. Hill says locals often drop anchors at the nearby undeveloped barrier islands. “There are dozens of unnamed beaches in the area that you can only access by boat,” she says. “Everybody you talk to here claims to have some sort of secret beach.” Tourist beaches, like Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Island, are about 30 miles north. The town’s only inland green space is Sawmill Park, where kids can run around the playground while Central Accomack Little League has games on the baseball diamond.
Century-old county offices and churches are in Accomac
Several Accomack County offices and historic buildings sit at the center of town. The bell tower rings daily atop the Accomack County Courthouse, which has resided in its red-brick Romanesque Revival-style building since 1899. Houses of worship include the Greek Revival-style St. James Episcopal Church, built in the mid-19th century. Couches and antique furniture decorate Mallard’s Sidewalk Café, a cozy sandwich shop that’s one of the few restaurants in town. “There are little to no shopping and dining options in Accomac,” Hill says. “The county as a whole doesn’t even have a proper mall, but people like that remote feeling. It keeps the non-locals out.” The closest big-box grocery stores are in Onley, about 4 miles south. Onancock, 5 miles west, is home to the Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and a charming downtown with coffee shops, lively bars and art galleries.
Perdue Farms can make the area smell like ammonia
Located in the northern part of Accomac, Perdue Farms is one of the county’s top employers. The chicken product harvesting facility often causes pervasive odors. “On a really hot day, it can make the whole area smell like ammonia,” Hill says. She adds that locals typically get used to the smell. “You go nose-blind to it once you’ve lived in the area for a few years.” About 20 miles north, NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, where the first rocket was launched in 1945, is another major Accomack County employer.
C-plus grades and above for Accomack County Public Schools
Accomack County Public Schools serve the area. Kids can attend Accawmacke Elementary, graded a C-plus by Niche, and Nandua Middle, earning a B-minus. They may continue to B-rated Nandua High, which offers dual enrollment classes like British literature and accounting with Eastern Shore Community College, 8 miles south.
U.S. Route 13 reaches Salisbury, and buses are in town
Though locals often enjoy waterfront bike rides and walks, Accomac is a car-dependent community. A 54-mile drive north on U.S. Route 13 reaches Salisbury, home to the closest regional airport. STAR Transit provides bus routes around Accomac and to other Eastern Shore towns like Olney and Onancock. The nearby Onancock-Tangier Ferry offers daily rides between the towns from May to September.
