Petersburg, Virginia, is aiming to ride swift currents to a revitalized identity. Rumors of its progress have been circulating for years, in part due to the fact that the city has a charming downtown near the Appomattox River, just 20 miles south of Richmond, the state capital. It’s the kind of picturesque stretch that’s attractive to people with a growing interest in local food, beverage, art and community. “We’re the most historic small city in the country, and nobody knows anything about it,” says Kyle Tucker, president of the Historic Petersburg Foundation and owner of the Petersburg Company. “The revenue that could be brought in here, and the jobs, it’s a lot.” But another huge boost arrived in August 2022, with Gov. Glen Youngkin’s multiagency Partnership for Petersburg. The governor outlined over 40 initiatives to tackle, ranging from retail to education.
Add in a debate around installing a casino, whose public referendum is November 2024, and it seems like Petersburg may in fact turn the corner from its former industrial glory days into a new vision of the future. When tobacco company Brown & Williamson closed shop in the early 80s, it left the city in a state of decline. In 2016, the governor had to send in a finance secretary because the city almost went bankrupt. But many view the casino as an opportunity to reel in much-needed tax revenue and job creation. Fort Gregg-Adams and Bon Secours Medical Hospital are currently among the largest employers in the area. The median age of a Petersburgian is 37, but 17% of people living there are 65 years or older. “Singles, retirees, young newlyweds, empty nesters,” says Beverly Coleman, a longtime member of the Petersburg Rotary Club, speaking of those who are moving to Petersburg. “We finally got a city manager who’s pretty stable now. We’ve had some comeback energy.” In 2024, The Hotel Petersburg reopened after a $14 million makeover, symbolizing downtown's urge to reinvent itself.
Explore the historic Old Towne Petersburg district in Petersburg, VA
Old Towne Petersburg's bustling Sycamore St is home to many businesses and restaurants.
Appomattox Park invites Petersburg residents to fish its historic waters.
Bon Secours Hospital is Petersburg's favorite medical facility and largest employer.
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1850s brick rowhouses and investment properties
Single-owner properties are still the majority of what sells in Petersburg, but well over 30% of housing is part of a multi-unit building. It’s possible to find a triplex investment property in the Centre Hill Historic District for less than $100,000. Fixer-upper properties are prevalent in Petersburg. Small homes with yards in need of renovation range from $90,000 to $130,000. But history is what defines a lot of the homes here, and sometimes that feature can contribute to a higher price tag. A four-story brick rowhouse from 1850, situated in Old Towne, can sell for $300,000.
“In the downtown area, those houses are historic, dating to back before the Civil War, even,” says Joyce Navary, a Realtor with Weichert Realtors. “ In the near downtown areas, not quite yet the suburbs, those houses are historic as well. They’re larger brick homes with columns and original hardwood floors. It’s amazing to see that people have kept them up. But south of downtown, in the Walnut Hill neighborhood, that’s where you can find a starter home from the 50s or 60s, like a brick rancher with three bedrooms and two baths.”
Triplex homes in Petersburg can be found for reasonable prices.
Find the perfect fixer upper for your starter homes in Petersburg.
Beautifully kept historic 4 story homes are popular in Petersburg.
Find wonderful colonial influenced historic homes in Petersburg.
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Schools receive $3 million through Partnership for Petersburg
Petersburg City Public Schools receives a D-plus rating from Niche. It’s been one of the city’s biggest focuses for improvement, besides crime. Correcting absenteeism and improving literacy rates have been part of Youngkin’s plan in the Partnership for Petersburg. The school system has been awarded $3 million to help with any loss of academic progress during breaks. Another strategy has been to enlist Virginia State University students as tutors. VSU, a historically black university, enrolls over 4,000 undergraduates but it also has graduate programs. A new public library was built in 2014, on the site of a former car dealership. Ample parking is available, and the library is often used as an event space.
Vernon Johns Middle School is a C rated Petersburg school according to Niche.
Petersburg High School supports approximately 1,100 Petersburg students.
Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology, in Petersburg.
Virginia State University's beautiful campus is a short drive from Old Towne Petersburg.
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Crater Road connects to commuter routes and retail
Locals say that Crater Road is the main drag: It goes through downtown and is lined with retail, eventually reaching out into the suburbs. While downtown, it passes by a convergence of Interstates 85 and 95. It’s also fed by U.S. Route 460 – a key egress when leaving west of the city, toward destinations like Lynchburg, about 2 hours away. Richmond International Airport is 25 miles north. The bus depot at Petersburg Station strikes an almost Art Deco look with its modern clock tower. Completed in 2011, this transit hub is considered a part of the downtown revitalization process, with covered walkways and plenty of glass, brick and steel used as building materials. Petersburg Area Transit operates 11 local routes and has a Richmond Express line with four daily departures.
Kayaking on Wilcox Lake at Legends Park
Legends Park is the biggest public green space in Petersburg, stamped by the standout features of Wilcox Lake, open to canoes and kayaks. The park is over 300 acres, but only 18 of those have been developed, giving it an immersive quality suitable for relaxing hikes. Many also go there to play tennis or baseball. Just over a mile south is the Dogwood Trace Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the city. For more fitness opportunities, residents can go to Petersburg Family YMCA, which received a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2019.
There are also quirky public green spaces. Navary recounts helping a group buy up parcels of land, so they could plant fruit trees. The Little Creek Kung Fu Daoist Temple of Virginia provides families with free produce, including some exotic varieties, like passionfruit. “So it also educates people about what’s good and what’s healthy,” Navary says.
Enjoy fishing and beautiful nature trails around Wilcox Lake.
A family enjoys Legend Park's colorful playground,
Petersburg residents take advantege of the beautiful course found at Dogwood Trace Golf Course.
Petersburg resident enjoy having a local YMCA to get their fitness in check.
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Downtown dining scene focuses on comfort food
Crater Road leads to retail destinations like Food Lion and Walmart, but when it’s time to sample locally owned eateries, many head to Old Towne. Places like Alibi bring a dose of Americana with burgers and beers presented inside an old school pub atmosphere. Comforting eats appear nearby at Croaker’s Spot, a seafood and soul food restaurant. Saucy’s Sit-Down BBQ feels positively hip with its neo-industrial décor. Every burgeoning food scene needs a microbrewery, and Trapezium fills that niche near the river with plenty of open-air seating. Demolition Coffee features brick inside and out, and at this cozy spot patrons can munch on bagel sandwiches and pastries.
Food Lion is a Petersburg staple for refilling the family pantry.
Enjoy a fresh lunch and great environments in Petersburg's Alibi.
Petersburg residents order their favorite lunch at Croaker's Spot.
Trapezium Brewing is a favorite watering hole with fresh brick oven made pizza.
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Friday for the Arts is a monthly community event
There’s an artistic angle to Petersburg that has helped its image as an up-and-coming city. In particular, the second Friday of every month brings an art walk event to Old Towne. “It’s called Friday for the Arts,” says Navary. “It brings people out to look at the exhibits of the month, and to enjoy the little breweries and cafes.” One of the participating organizations, the Petersburg Area Art League, offers workshops and art classes.
River Street Market in Petersburg happens every Saturday for local produce and crafts.
Petersburg residents shopping local honey products found at the RBC Pecan Festival.
Live musicians perform at the weekly River Street Market held in Petersburg.
A variety of vendors make shop at the weekly River Street Market in Petersburg.
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Police staffing has increased by 20%
A key focus of the Partnership for Petersburg is reducing crime. From 2022 to 2023, there was a 20% increase in police staffing and a 33% percent reduction in the local crime rate. For example, in 2022, there were 857 property crimes reported, making the property crime rate 2,566 per 100,000 residents. By contrast, the national property crime rate in 2022 was 1,955 per 100,000 residents.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
