Ettrick rests on the southern edge of Chesterfield County, right next to the independent city of Colonial Heights and across the Appomattox River from Petersburg. “It’s a small town. If you’re driving through and blink, you might miss it,” says Theresa Barlow, an associate broker with Ingram & Associates who has been selling properties for 23 years. But it’s Ettrick’s compact size that ensures all residents are close to areas of interest. “If you walk two streets down the block, you’re in Colonial Heights, which has got a mall and shopping centers. If you turn to the south, you’re at Virginia State University, a historically black college,” Barlow says. A military base, Fort Gregg-Adams, is also near, Barlow notes. Ettrick’s Colonial Revival and ranch-style homes tend to fall between $200,000 and about $325,000.
The neighborhood of Ettrick offers convenient location and affordable home prices.
Appomattox Park in Ettrick offers several miles of scenic walking trails.
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Homes in Ettrick and Matoaca
Homes tend to be found on Ettrick’s east and west sides, the west side technically being Matoaca. There’s a distinction between properties in each community. “Ettrick is much more of a city. But in Matoaca, you can still get homes with a lot of land,” Barlow says. Wherever one lives, one can expect to find streets on the narrow side and gravel driveways. Houses tend to follow Colonial Revival, ranch-style and split-level designs. A house in need of a little TLC can start around $135,000, while move-in ready two- and three-bedroom homes start around $200,000. Three-bedroom Colonial Revival homes built from the ‘90s to 2020s tend to sell for around $325,000. “Homes in Ettrick are more affordable than in other areas like Colonial Heights,” Barlow says. “They tend to be smaller residential homes, and there’s not a lot of new constructions.” The new developments that can be found tend to be concentrated in the northern parts of Ettrick and Matoaca. Barlow also notes that, as Virginia State University is right there, a lot of homes in Ettrick are rented by college students.
Spit-level homes in Ettrick sit on lots with simple landscaping.
Split-level homes with side-yard driveways reside in Ettrick.
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The highway and a railroad
The Petersburg Amtrak station is located in the center of Ettrick. By train, residents can reach Washington DC in just above 3 hours. Interstate 95 runs through neighboring Colonial Heights and connects with Interstate 85. Richmond is about a 30-minute drive. Residents can also commute to Fort Gregg-Adams in about 15 minutes.
The Petersburg Amtrak Station is conveniently located in the neighborhood of Ettrick.
Interstate 95, adjacent to Ettrick offers easy transportation options to residents.
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Schools and a historically black university
Kids might attend Ettrick Elementary, Matoaca Middle and Matoaca High School. Ettrick Elementary and Matoaca Middle have C-plus ratings from Niche, while Matoaca High has a B. Matoaca High’s Center for Innovative Technology prepares students for information technology careers, students taking core classes and picking a specific career pathway such as cybersecurity or game design and programming. Ettrick is also home to Virginia State University, a historically black university.
Ettrick Elementary has been serving students since the 1920s.
Virginia State University, a historically black university founded in 1882, resides in Etrrick.
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Shopping, soul food and seafood
An assortment of stores and restaurants can be found in neighboring Petersburg and Colonial Heights. The Southpark Mall hosts various retailers, a food court and a movie theater. Target, Sam’s Club and Walmart can be found by Dimmock Square shopping center right by the mall. Croaker’s Spot isn’t just beloved by locals: in February 2024, it was selected to be featured on an episode of America’s Best Restaurants. Operating out of a former farmers market building, this black-owned seafood restaurant carries on the culinary legacy of Mr. Croaker, a Richmond restauranteur with a knack for finding the best soul food in the eastern US. Other eating options include Cook Out, a regional fast food chain, and the nautically themed Captain Tom’s Seafood.
The Southpark mall is a popular location for Ettrick residents for shopping and dining.
It’s not just Ettrick locals who are raving about the seafood at Croaker’s Spot.
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Recreation in Ettrick
Athletes enjoy heading to Ettrick Park, which offers baseball diamonds, a football field, basketball courts and tennis courts. There are also playgrounds for kids to explore and a rentable recreation center. For scenic trails, a few can be found alongside the Appomattox River like at Appomattox Riverside Park. The full Appomattox trail is about 5 miles. Locals might also explore the plethora of museums around the Petersburg area, the Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum being one highlight. Beyond trucks and the tractors, the museum also has an extensive collection of vintage cars.
Ettrick Park is a great place for the whole family to enjoy.
The Keystone Antique Truck and Tractor Museum near Ettrick is a popular destination.
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Events in Ettrick
Every April, Ettrick throws a Spring Festival, featuring an Easter parade and numerous local vendors.
Written By
Alexander Breuhan
Video By
Chris Freeman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cheryl Hagelstein,
an experienced agent in this area.
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