Appomattox is a historic community where the Civil War came to an end
Deep in the Piedmont region of central Virginia, Appomattox is a small town with big history. In April of 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the McLean House of Appomattox Court House at the heart of town, marking the end of the Civil War. Appomattox Court House now operates as a National Historic Park, with many of its original structures reconstructed and kept alive with reenactments and history talks. While much of the draw to Appomattox is in its history, residents enjoy its small downtown, rural feel and location near Lynchburg. "It's a small town with a lot of American history," says local Realtor Janet Miller of Century 21 Realty @ Home. She's sold homes across the region for nearly 20 years and grew up in Farmville. "It's also central to larger towns, sitting right in the middle of Lynchburg and Farmville."
Farmhouses and ranch-style homes on large lots
The community's oldest homes date to the late 1800s and early 1900s and are concentrated near the town center. Historic homes include a mix of colonials, Georgians and bungalows. Housing development continued well throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, including split-levels, ranch-styles and farmhouses. Recently constructed farmhouses and ranch-style homes are spread across town on sizable lots that measure at least an acre. Hundreds of homes sit on at least 5 acres of land. Miller says many properties come with a view. "To the south of 460, you're going to have more flat land," she says. "To the northern side, you'll have more hills with mountain views. Some houses [on the north side] have some of the most beautiful views." The median sale price for homes in Appomattox is $280,000, lower than the national median.
Education through Appomattox Public Schools
Appomattox County Public Schools scores a B-plus from Niche and serves over 2,300 students. Pre-kindergarten through second-grade students attend Appomattox Primary School, which has a B-plus, and third through fifth-graders attend the B-rated Appomattox Elementary School. Appomattox Middle School earns a B and Appomattox County High School gets B-plus. The high school's partnerships with the Central Virginia Community College and the Central Virginia Governor's School offer students various educational opportunities.
Learning history at Appomattox Court House
The Appomattox Court House National Historical Park displays the community's history. In addition to reenactments and history talks, the park hosts special events and programs throughout April to honor the end of the Civil War. Visitors also enjoy driving tours, bird watching and hiking trails; the Coleman House Trail cuts through the heart of the old Appomattox Court House battlefield. Holliday Lake State Park offers outdoor recreation at the heart of the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest. It has a beach area for swimming, hiking trails and playgrounds. Visitors can rent nonmotorized boats and paddleboards, and local anglers often catch largemouth bass and bluegill.
Downtown shopping and the Appomattox Railroad Festival
Historic downtown Appomattox comprises a small stretch of brick-clad buildings supported by several locally owned businesses. Country Charm has home décor, clothing and accessories, and Baine's Books and Coffee has cabinets full of fiction and chalkboards with hand-written coffee specials. Granny Bee's offers dinner plates along Main Street, and Carmine's Pizzeria serves sizable slices just north of downtown along Church Street. Downtown Appomattox is also a hub of local events, and the Appomattox Railroad Festival is the town's biggest. Since 1972, the three-day festival has celebrated Appomattox's history with food trucks, live music and family-friendly activities. It also includes a two-day carnival with rides and games.
A couple of familiar fast-food spots line Confederate Boulevard, and the shopping center along Old Courthouse Road has restaurants and watering holes. Loose Shoe Too brings much of the community together for craft beer and snack items, with live music every Friday. Richmond Highway has the community's big-box stores, including Walmart Supercenter and Kroger, where locals grab most of their groceries. Locally sourced produce is available at the Appomattox Farmers Market on Saturdays.
Heading into Lynchburg and Farmville
Appomattox is car-dependent without public transportation. U.S. Route 460 bisects the community, connecting it with Lynchburg 20 miles west and Farmville 27 miles east. "It's about a 30-minute drive to Lynchburg," Miller says. Centra Lynchburg General Hospital is one of the nearest medical facilities, about 22 miles away. Lynchburg Regional Airport offers a few domestic flights to and from Charlotte and is around 24 miles away.
Written By
Brennen Martin
