History of Midlothian
Midlothian started as a settlement of coal miners in the 1700s. Many of the early settlers came from the Scottish mining villages of East Lothian and West Lothian near Edinburgh. As a compromise, the area was named Mid-Lothian. The area produced the first commercially mined coal in the United States. Midlothian area coal heated the White House for Thomas Jefferson. Coal was the basis of the Midlothian area economy until the late 1800s when mining ended. Later attempts to reopen the mines were unsuccessful, but thanks to the construction of the Manchester Turnpike in 1807 and the Chesterfield Railroad in 1837, the village became a commuter town. For years it was a friendly little southern community in the quiet Virginia countryside. Much of that charm remains intact today.Other suburban Midlothian neighborhoods include Queensmill, Four Seasons, Walton Park, The Grove, Rosemont, Reeds Landing, Roxshire, Powderham, Briarwood, Stonehenge, Oak Park, James River West, Riverton, Brookstone, and Roseland amongst many others.
Shopping centers include the Village Marketplace, Midlothian Station, the Shops at Railey Hill, Sycamore Square, and Talbot's Corner. The Chesterfield Towne Center and our newest outdoor mall, Stony Point Fashion Park, also serve the people of Midlothian village and the surrounding area. Numerous garden and antique shops are open in or near these centers. Golf enthusiasts may play on the greens at Salisbury Country Club, Stonehenge Country Club, Independence, or any of the other numerous public courses.
Midlothian Communities & More
Large-scale residential growth started in Midlothian in the 1970s. With the advent of circumferential highway Rt. 288 spurring additional growth, the area still remains one of the region’s fastest growing communities. Two of Midlothian’s largest communities are Salisbury and Brandermill. Salisbury is home to about 1,600 families and is in an area well known for excellent schools, growing businesses, recreational opportunities, and friendly people. The Salisbury Country club features 27 holes of championship golf, tennis, swimming, fine dining, and much more. Brandermill is an award-winning planned community which borders a scenic 1,700 acre lake. With 3,700 distinctive homes, a golf course, 15 miles of bike paths, 3 neighborhood pools, a community clubhouse, and tennis club, Brandermill truly has something for everyone. Charter Colony is the areas most recent planned community which is just in the final stages of construction.
The expansion of the Robious Road corridor came as a result of the completion of Route 288 which connects the Midlothian area to Richmond’s West End. This majestic area runs along the South side of the James River and has many new upscale developments such as Tarrington, River Downs, Founders Bridge, and maintenance free community of Belcrest. The Independence Golf Course at Founders Bridge is home to the Virginia State Golf Association is has been voted by Gold Digest as one of the “Best Places to Play” each year from 2004-2009.
About Midlothian
The Midlothian community is in the northwestern part of Chesterfield County, Virginia, just a few miles west of the City of Richmond. In its current form, Midlothian extends far beyond the original village area. In 2005 Midlothian was ranked #37 in CNN Money’s list of “The Best Places to Live” and #99 again in 2008. According to the 2000 census, Midlothian has a total population of 35,427 but expansion and development over the past decade has surely increased that number significantly. The community includes the unincorporated Village of Midlothian that has old and new churches, fine and friendly restaurants, unique shopping, a modern post office, a volunteer fire department, schools, and older homes, all surrounded by the typical new residential development found in many popular suburban communities across the country. With the recent addition of the multi-billion dollar St. Francis Bon Secours Hospital, Midlothian now has a major medical facility with just minutes of it’s highest concentration of residents.
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