Esmont, Virginia

Esmont is a census-designated place (CDP) in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States.[1] The population as of the 2010 Census was 528.

Esmont
Census-designated place
Esmont
Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia
Esmont
Esmont (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°49′53″N 78°36′26″W
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyAlbemarle
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID1494219[1]

Esmont, Guthrie Hall, and Mountain Grove are listed the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

History
Esmont, 1910, at the railroad tracks
Former Esmont National Bank, currently U.S. Postoffice Esmont, Va 22937

The town was built from land purchased from the former Esmont plantation estate, built by Dr. Charles Cocke, and for which the town was named. Having rich soil, the town has historically been a farming community with a predominantly African American population. The area has been populated since the eighteenth century, though it did not acquire a post office until the later nineteenth century.[3] Slate quarrying began near Esmont in 1883, and by the mid 1920s, the 6000 acre alwas the nation's largest soapstone producer. The quarry operation stopped in the 1960s due to environmental concerns. At its peak, Esmont had a depot for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, 3 stores, St. Steven's Episcopal Church (built of wood in 1914 and still in operation) and a bank (now converted into a post office). It has recently been the focus of an oral history project by the Carter Woodson institute.[4]

New Hope Baptist is a historically Black church in Esmont. In 1974, the pastor was Rev. H.J. Scruggs, Jr.[5]

In 1974, Esmont also boasted a Greencroft Garden Club.[5]

References
  1. "Esmont Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. "Esmont Oral History Project". University of Virginia; The Carter G. Woodson Institute. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  4. https://scottsvillemuseum.com/esmont/home.html
  5. Ford, Frances (December 5, 1074). "Esmont News". Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune.



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