Buckland's Rich History

African American          Native American          18th Century          19th Century          Civil War
Aerial view of Buckland from the northeast. Cerro Gordo is in the foreground, town in the center right. Buckland Mill Road (historic Mill Street) extends from the mill at lower right to Buckland Hall at top left. Rt-15/29 bisects Buckland on the original Fauquier and Alexandria Turnpike right-of-way.
Aerial view of Buckland from the northeast. Cerro Gordo is in the foreground, town in the center right. Buckland Mill Road (historic Mill Street) extends from the mill at lower right to Buckland Hall at top left. Rt-15/29 bisects Buckland on the original Fauquier and Alexandria Turnpike right-of-way.

Buckland is a humble place by modern standards. Understanding its history, significance, potential, and purpose is more complex. The Town of Buckland, located at US 29 and US 15 at the confluence of the Broad Run in western Prince William County, was chartered in 1798 during which 48 town lots were created.

 

The Prince William County Historic Overlay District encompasses 15 of the district’s 46 contributing resources. A much larger area of Buckland is listed on the PWC’s Register of Historic Sites, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and the National Historic Register which include the Town and surrounding plantations and a civil war battlefield. The Town survives as one of the best preserved 18th and early 19th century industrial towns in Virginia. In addition, Buckland includes significant histories based on pre-historic artifacts, commerce, civil war military engagements, as well as African American and Black Freedman contributions.

Sean Connaughton, Virginia Secretary of Transportation and former Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, speaks at 2014 dedication ceremony for an historical sign commemorating the Battle of Buckland Mills. John Rhodes, owner of Madison Crescent, hosted the event at the center. Like Buckland, the center is located within the core area of the battlefield. Rhodes funded the sign and is also a generous donor to the Buckland Preservation Society.