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History · Palmyra

Palmyra dates to 1828, and 3 of its places are on the National Register

3 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 4 buildings. Below: 5 old photos and papers and maps from 1943 on.

1828founded
3on the National Register
0.0%homes built before 1940
5old photos & papers
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Palmyra’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Palmyra began

When was Palmyra founded?

1828

Palmyra dates its founding to 1828 (Wikipedia’s history).

2020 census: 127198 years
Founding year: Wikipedia.The full story ↓

What stands out about Palmyra’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Deep rootsEstablished in 1828: 198 years of Palmyra.
★ What stands out · Timeline

Palmyra, 1828 to 1943

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1828
    FoundingPalmyra is established
  3. 1844Born hereJohn Garland James is born here
  4. 1846Born hereTexas Jack Omohundro is born here
  5. 20th century
  6. 1909In the archiveConfederate soldiers monument
  7. 1910In the archivePalmyra 1912
  8. 1943On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
The story

How Palmyra came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Palmyra.

Read it all →

Before being named "Palmyra", the area was owned by the Timberlake family, and Reverend Walker Timberlake started a business there in 1814 called "Palmyra Mills".

The village of Palmyra was founded and became the county seat of Fluvanna County in 1828, and its historic courthouse was built in 1830–1831. By 1835, there were fourteen homes, a church, three factories, and various other businesses, though only two families owned all the land other than the public buildings. In the mid-19th century, it was a stop along the stagecoach route between Richmond and Staunton. The Virginia Air Line Railway, which operated from 1908 to 1975, ran through Palmyra.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Palmyra, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1910s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1900s–1910s4 items
Confederate soldiers monument1909Confederate soldiers monumentPalmyra 1912c. 1910Palmyra 1912Street scene, with general store1912Street scene, with general storeThe old county bridge at Palmyra, Va., in 19121912The old county bridge at Palmyra, Va., in 1912
1920s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown1 to date
Fluvanna County JailDate?Fluvanna County Jail
Today7 recent
Palmyra commercial district2018Palmyra commercial districtPalmyra UMC from southwest2018Palmyra UMC from southwestFluvanna County Courthouse2018Fluvanna County CourthouseFluvanna County administrative and legal buildings2014Fluvanna County administrative and legal buildingsFluvanna County Courthouse2014Fluvanna County CourthouseFluvanna County Courthouse Historic District2014Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic DistrictVirginia State Trooper Harley-Davidson Fluvanna Old Farm Day 20082008Virginia State Trooper Harley-Davidson Fluvanna Old F…
On the map

Palmyra on the map, 1943 to 1974

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Palmyra. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Palmyra on the 1943 USGS mapPalmyra on the 1967 USGS mapPalmyra on the 1974 USGS map1943Scottsville sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Palmyra.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Confederate soldiers monument
Retake this viewConfederate soldiers monument, 1909

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Palmyra’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

3 historic places in Palmyra

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
3
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
8
each building in a district counts
first listed
1971
Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic District
Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic DistrictGlen BurniePleasant Grove
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Mixed1
Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic DistrictDistrict
Glen BurnieMixed
Pleasant GroveBuilding

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

2 famous people were born in Palmyra

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Texas Jack OmohundroAmerican army scout, cowboy and actor · b. 1846
J
John Garland James2nd President of Texas A&M · b. 1844
Places that used to be

Old corners

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Rockaway

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Start Palmyra’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Palmyra’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewConfederate soldiers monument: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Questions about Palmyra’s history

What year was Palmyra founded?

In 1828, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town.

What is on the National Register in Palmyra?

Three places: the Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic District (listed 1971), the Glen Burnie (2000) and the Pleasant Grove (2004).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (8), the Library of Congress (4), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.