Gloucester Courthouse offers a home base in a historic district
Situated on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, Gloucester Courthouse is the county seat for Gloucester County. This community is named after its 1766 courthouse, which was set on fire during the Civil War, but still stands today. This historic district is also home to other preserved 18th-century buildings, like the colonial jail and the Botetourt Lodge No. 7, one of the oldest Masonic lodges in the United States. The Gloucester Museum of History preserves the area’s history, which began before the Revolutionary War. Today, Gloucester Courthouse attracts miliary families, as facilities for the Navy and Coast Guard are about 17 miles south. Some residents also commute about 40 miles south to Newport News Shipbuilding or 60 miles south to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. “The Newport News shipyard and Norfolk naval base are such massive employers in this area that people make the commute,” says Jacob Lewellen, lifelong resident of Gloucester Courthouse. Residents who work at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital have a shorter commute, as this general hospital is located in the community.
Shopping, dining and events along Main Street and Route 17
George Washington Memorial Highway, also known as U.S. Route 17, has a collection of chain restaurants like Chick-Fil-A and retailers like The Home Depot, Aldi and Walmart Supercenter. Meanwhile, locally owned businesses are situated along Main Street. “The little main street there is really nice,” Lewellen says. “It has restaurants and a strip of storefronts, like an art studio and a small-town bookstore, and community events are held there.” Olivia’s in the Village is a casual seafood restaurant offering dog-friendly outdoor seating within walking distance of the historic buildings. In March, Main Street brings live musicians and more than 200 vendors together for the annual Gloucester Daffodil Festival. Daffodils have long been rooted in the area, ever since colonists brought them over from England in the 1600s. This beloved community event has marked the beginning of spring for the past four decades. The family-friendly festival features a floral-themed parade and crowns Little Miss Daffodil and the Daffodil Queen.
Gloucester Courthouse has cul-de-sacs and a mix of home styles
Gloucester Courthouse has a mix of one- and two-story homes, including New Traditional, ranch-style and modern transitional designs. Many sit on level lots within small subdivisions with a leafy tree or two in the backyard. Buyers can find new construction as well as homes built in the latter half of the 20th century. Prices range from about $250,000 to $590,000; homes at the top of the price range are typically 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Properties along tributaries leading into the Ware River have a higher flood risk.
The public school pipeline in Gloucester Courthouse
Gloucester County Public Schools, rated B-minus on Niche, serve the community. Elementary schoolers may attend Bethel or Botetourt Elementary, which are both rated B. Middle schoolers may go to Peasley Middle School, rated B, or Page Middle, rated B-minus. High schoolers are zoned for B-minus-rated Gloucester High School. After undergoing a school-wide renovation from 2023 to 2025 to update the plumbing, flooring and facilities, the high school is fully renovated.
Gloucester Courthouse offers recreation on the rivers
Gloucester Courthouse is situated between the York and the Ware Rivers, which ultimately lead into the vast Chesapeake Bay. Locals can go fishing, kayaking and canoeing in the rivers. Just north of the community is Beaverdam Park, home to a 635-acre reservoir. This expansive park has a boat launch and rental station for kayaks and canoes, plus a fishing pier, playground and multiuse recreational trails. Golfers can meet up at Gloucester Country Club, a 9-hole course. A few miles south, Gloucester Point Beach Park offers a sandy spot for sunbathing by the York River. Like all of southeastern Virginia, Gloucester Courthouse experiences temperatures in the mid-80s or higher in the summer, in addition to the humidity that’s typical for the region.
U.S. Route 17 goes through Gloucester Courthouse
Gloucester Courthouse is a car-dependent community with no public transportation. U.S. Route 17 goes through Gloucester Courthouse, connecting it to the wider region. Route 17 leads about 25 miles south to Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
