Colonial Beach is a vibrant waterfront town located on the Potomac River in the Northern Neck Region of Virginia. It has a history dating back to 1892. Our diverse year-round population of 3900 (2020 census) doubles on weekends and in the summer due to 2nd home owners long-term guests. The adjacent 4th District of Westmoreland County adds another 3600 full-time residents.Incorporated in 1892, we are governed by a 7-person Council including the Town Mayor. We have an independent school district with ~600 students in grades K-12. We have our own Police Department, a volunteer Fire Department and volunteer Rescue Squad. The Town has over 19 NGO’s including the Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation, Downtown Colonial Beach, multiple & diverse Churches, Civic organizations and smaller charitable organizations. These NGO’s have formed an Alliance and all work well together.
Colonial Beach has a very active volunteer community of citizens who support dozens of events held throughout the year. The Chamber and the Foundation sponsor more than 15 major annual events each year running from Spring though Christmas. These events bring citizens as well as visitors and tourists to Colonial Beach. Being a beach town, the Summer months are especially active in our downtown, boardwalk, and beachfront areas. Downtown Colonial Beach has helped the town gain our historic designation and is working towards Main Street status. There are active development projects currently underway that are part of a revitalization effort. Additionally, a Comprehensive Plan has recently been adopted by the Town Council and active strategic planning activities are underway.
Our full-time resident base is a mix of retirees, working families and young adults who identify as white (75%), Black/African American (10%), Mixed 7%), Hispanic (4%), and Asian (2%). People choose to live in Colonial Beach because of the natural beauty and abundance of outdoor activities as well as the small-town atmosphere combined with multiple amenities. The proximity to Fredericksburg and Dahlgren Naval Base makes it an ideal location for an easy commute to good jobs. We have an excellent school system and citizens refer to “Drifter Pride”as one of our assets. As citizens we have easy access to multiple wineries, breweries, restaurants and a host of activities.
We are proud of our Town and believe it can become even better by engaging the broader community to become more involved.