New Kent Real Estate
New Kent at a Glance
Welcome home to New Kent County! As one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, New Kent is one of the most desired spots to live in Virginia. Business View Magazine describes it as a boutique community centrally located between Richmond and Williamsburg. A recent University of Virginia study ranked New Kent as the second fastest locality in the Commonwealth.
Although it’s largely a rural community, New Kent County is close enough to urban living to offer all the modern conveniences. Like many parts of southeastern Virginia, residents prioritize the outdoors for water sports, walking, hiking or bird watching. Golf lovers will be in heaven here with so many courses to choose from. Some of Virginia’s best wine is produced in New Kent County, and avid cyclists can choose from multiple rides thanks to a unique system of trails, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth.
Named for Kent in England, New Kent dates back to 1654 and its rich history includes a report of a cannon belonging to the New Kent militia being thrown into the Pamunkey River during the American Revolution. It’s most famous for being the birthplace of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, the inaugural First Lady of the United States.
ARTS, MUSEUMS & ENTERTAINMENT
New Kent Historical Society collects, preserves and disseminates information relating to the history of one of the most storied counties in Virginia. The society makes its home in a restored jail.
New Kent’s proximity to the vibrant arts and entertainment scene in Williamsburg and Richmond is a bonus for residents.
Arts Alive serves New Kent and the surrounding area in promoting and stimulating an awareness and love of the arts. The W.T. Robinson Sture G. Olson Civic Auditorium and Fine Arts Center in nearby West Point is a regional center for the performing and visual arts.
Rosie’s Gaming Emporium and Colonial Downs Racing attracts visitors from around the state to experience their favorite games, jackpots and more. In addition to live racing, Colonial Downs is a music venue and comedy club on select weekends and includes a sports bar and grill with 29 big screens, including the largest in the Richmond area.
History meets luxury at The Ordinary of New Kent, with private guest houses ideal for special overnight occasions. Onsite Bassett’s Tavern once visited by George Washington offers outdoor seating and fire pits.
EAT & DRINK
New Kent residents benefit from the eclectic mix of restaurants in nearby Richmond and a plethora of options in Williamsburg.
Closer to home, The Trojan Grill offers local brews to go with your favorite burger with live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Martha’s Kitchen of New Kent is an eatery dedicated the county’s most famous celebrity. Martha Washington was born in New Kent; the menu is full of home-cooked southern favorites including chicken and waffles. Pizza and calzones along with everything Italian make Antonio’s Pizza a local favorite. Stranz Pub is modeled after an Irish golf course with a menu inspired by the idea of simple yet delicious cooking.
A full expresso bar, specialty donuts and burgers are on the menu at The Daily Fix.
Wine and beer drinkers unite at New Kent Winery and Talleysville Brewing Company. Visit Dombroski Vineyards and go home with a bottle of Meritage, an Atlantic Seaboard Gold Medal winner. All beers are brewed onsite. Visit Saude Creek Vineyards for a tasting; live music featured every weekend year-round. Gauthier Vineyard is a winery, family-owned working farm and equestrian center. Jolene Family Winery overlooks Tom Brooks Lake.
EDUCATION
New Kent is home to four elementary, two middle and one high school. New Kent County Public Schools serve 3,300 students in grades pre-K through 12.
New Kent Christian School and Cumberland Academy are each located in New Kent County.
New Kent is 90 minutes away from multiple colleges and universities, including William and Mary, Christopher Newport University, Hampton University, VCU, University of Richmond, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University.
Rappahannock Community College, John Tyler Community College and Reynolds Community College are all located within a half hour of New Kent.
MEDICAL SERVICES
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Emergency Center at New Kent offers 24-hour care for heart attack, stroke and serious illness. Patients have access to the same board-certified physicians and nurses available at VCU Medical Center.
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg and Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center are within a half hour away. VCU Medical Center, ranked No. 1 nationally in adult specialty and No. 3 in pediatric specialties is also within 30 minutes.
PARKS & RECREATION
New Kent’s unique bike trail system is full mapped with signage; six routes vary in length from 15 to 100 miles that begin and end in New Kent.
Exceptional golf courses designed by the top architects are all easily accessible. Golfweek rated The Club at Viniterra as the best course to play in Virginia. Brickshire Golf Club is another award-winning course in Providence Forge. New Kent Golf Club refers to itself as “Golf Ireland in Virginia.” It has the distinction of being named on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Courses List. Stonehouse Golf Club gives players a spectacular view of the York River. Recently upgraded Brookwoods Golf Club includes Scottish sod wall bunker faces among the tight, treelined fairways. Kingsmill and Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg are little more than a half hour away along with Williamsburg National.
You might spot a bald eagle at Cumberland Marsh located on the southern bank of the Pamunkey River. Launch your kayak at White’s Landing (Lestor Manor) in nearby King William County. Enjoy a walking trail, playground area, horseshoe pits, athletics fields and a basketball court at Quinton Community Park in the western part of the county. Wahrini Nature Park is ideal for a short hike through woods with ample shade in the summer.
SHOPPING
New Kent County is convenient to grocery chains Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix with Wegmans and The Fresh Market located in Richmond.
The New Kent Farmers Market at the intersection of New Kent Highway and Vineyards Parkway is open on summer Saturday mornings and select fall mornings through October.
Most major retail outlets have stores in Richmond and Williamsburg. Unique, eclectic finds are part of the Merchants Square experience. Short Pump Town Center with 140 stores and restaurants is within 45 minutes of New Kent County.
WORK
Major employers in New Kent include Colonial Downs and Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, New Kent County Public Schools, the New Kent County government. New Kent’s proximity to the Port of Virginia and the Interstate 95 corridor make it an attractive place for distribution, manufacturing and warehousing.
New Kent is located directly off Interstate 64 and within a half hour of Richmond International Airport and Richmond’s Amtrak station.
New Kent is 90 minutes away from the Hampton Roads region and roughly three hours from Washington, D.C.