Virginia's 1st congressional district (from 2023)

Virginia's first congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. It is a district split between a suburban north and rural south. Virginian politicians now sometimes refer to it as "America's First District" since during the 20th century it included Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World. However, Jamestown Island and the historic settlement were redistricted to the 2nd congressional district in 2017. Moreover, in the 18th and early 19th century, it comprised northwestern Virginia (that became Frederick County, Virginia as well as the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia after the American Civil War). For years, the first district also included the other two points of the Historic Triangle–

Williamsburg Williamsburg may refer to: Places *Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia *Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City *Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California *Williams ...

, the longtime capital of the colony, and Yorktown, where the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War was fought. The district continues to include major military installations, and has been represented by Republican Rob Wittman since 2007.

2016 redistricting

As of 2016, the adjacent 3rd district has been ruled unconstitutional. New districts have been drawn.

Area covered

Starting in 2023, the first district will cover all or part of the following political subdivisions:

Counties

* Chesterfield * Essex * Gloucester * Hanover * Henrico * James City * King and Queen * King William * Lancaster * Mathews * Middlesex * New Kent * Northumberland * Richmond County * Westmoreland * York

Cities

The entirety of: * Poquoson *

Historic district boundaries

The Virginia First District started in 1788 covering the counties of Berkeley, Frederick, Hampshire,

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, Harrison, Monongalia, Ohio,

Randolph Randolph may refer to: Places In the United States * Randolph, Alabama, an unincorporated community * Randolph, Arizona, a populated place * Randolph, California, a village merged into the city of Brea * Randolph, Illinois, an unincorporated commun ...

and Shenandoah. Of these only Shenandoah and Frederick Counties are in Virginia today; the rest are now part of West Virginia. The modern counties of Clarke, Warren and most of Page as well as the independent city of

Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...

were included as part of Frederick and Shenandoah counties in 1788. In West Virginia all the current state north and east of a generalized line running from Wood County to Pocahontas County was in the congressional district. The one exception was that Pendleton County, West Virginia was in Virginia's 3rd congressional district. In the redistribution which followed the 1850 census (in force 1853–1863), the First District comprised sixteen counties in eastern Virginia. The counties included (amongst others) Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent,

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

, Warwick and Westmoreland. In an 1862 Union special election three out of the sixteen counties in the Union district supplied returns. The First District is noted for its strong presence of military institutions, including the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Increasing numbers of military and retired voters have swung the district to the right.

Recent election results

List of members representing the district

References

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Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
{{DEFAULTSORT:Virginia's 1st Congressional District 01 Constituencies established in 1789 1789 establishments in Virginia Constituencies disestablished in 1933 1933 disestablishments in Virginia Constituencies established in 1935 1935 establishments in Virginia