Eastville, Virginia

Home of the oldest continuous court records in America

Welcome to Eastville

Over Memorial Day weekend, the Town Council, Northampton County, and the Accohannock are sponsoring a PowWow at Indiantown Park, the Original Gingaskin Reservation 1640-1813, to raise awareness of our Indian Heritage. Click Here for Details

Eastville is located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, about 15 miles north of the southern-most tip of the Delmarva Peninsula (click here for map). The town is a pleasant gathering of large homes where wide porches are shaded by graceful old oaks. The total population of this historic town is 281 (per the 2010 Census - Click for Town Data). Eastville has been the Seat of Northampton County since 1680. The Old Courthouse was constructed about 1731 and the oldest continuous court records in the nation (dating from 1632) are preserved here and can be viewed by the visitor. The Declaration of Independence was publicly read from the steps of the courthouse on August 13, 1776. A charming courthouse green invites the visitor to explore the surrounding historical buildings. Click HERE to read a Virginian-Pilot article regarding our Courthouse documents.

Bulletins
Town Newsletters
(Click to Read)
April 2013
Town Meetings

Town meetings are held the 1st Monday of every month, 7:00 p.m., at the Eastville Town Hall conference room; all are welcome
(Meeting Minutes are available for viewing
on the Town Services Page)

Dean Shostak's
Crystal Concert

Eastville’s Star Spangled Day

Eastville proudly took part, as a Cape Charles "sister city", in the Tall Ship events of last Summer. Historic Eastville commemorated the two hundredth anniversary of the War of 1812 and the writing of The Star Spangled Banner with a gala festival “Eastville’s Star Spangled Day” on Saturday, June 9, 2012.

Information regarding Eastville's "Star Spangled Day"
can be found HERE

Eastville's Christ Episcopal Church
Water Color c. 1914

Click for larger Image

Directions to Eastville

From the North: From the Maryland state line, Eastville is about 50 miles south on US Highway 13. Turn right on Business Route 13 (Courthouse Road) or Route 631 (Willow Oak Road).

From the South: From the end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Eastville is about 15 miles north on US Highway 13 (Courthouse Road). Turn left on Business Route 13 or Willow Oak Road (Route 631).

Eastville Geocache Site: "We house the NATION'S OLDEST CONTINUOUS COURT RECORDS, dating from 1632. During the Civil War, Richmond wanted all court records for safe keeping. We refused. Richmond burned. We didn't! Our records are originals and if you come during business hours ((M-F 9:00-5:00) you can see actual Indian signatures as well as Daniel Boone's and the buildings that have housed them for HUNDREDS of years. Always a very independent community, we held a public demonstration against taxation without representation OVER A CENTURY before the Boston Tea Party. Our shores were important to Jamestown, initially for salt, and then for food (corn) and money (wampum shells). The local Indian were friendly (the local chief being nicknamed THE LAUGHING KING) and warned us of planned massacres. The Old Court Green is one of the oldest, most complete in the nation. Our Geocache is available daily during daylight hours. We have placed 2 hitchhikers in our cache. Esmy Shichans, King of the "Easterne Shoare", would like to go to Gravesend, England to see Pocahontas' grave. Debedeavon, king of the Occohannocks, would like to go to the Pacific Ocean. We would like them to return home after many adventures."

This site was last updated 05/04/13