Middle Plantation

Middle Plantation was an early colonial settlement situated on elevated ground between the James River and York River in Virginia. The location offered natural drainage and strategic defensive advantages for the developing community.

Founded in 1632, the settlement grew from a frontier outpost into a major administrative center over several decades. In 1699 it was renamed Williamsburg and became the new capital of colonial Virginia.

The College of William & Mary, founded near the settlement in 1693, became a major center for learning in colonial Virginia. This institution shaped how educated people in the region thought about their society.

The elevated location provided natural advantages such as better drainage and fewer mosquitoes than the surrounding swampy areas. Visitors should note that these geographic benefits significantly improved daily living conditions for early colonists.

The settlement was the site of the Treaty of Middle Plantation in 1677, which established the first formal diplomatic relations between the English Crown and regional tribes. This agreement marked a significant moment in colonial relations with indigenous peoples.