Most Richmond suburbs can trace their origins back to a farm, a crossroads, maybe a railway stop. Midlothian can trace its origins back to the first commercially mined coal in the entire Colony of Virginia.
That’s not a small thing. And it sets the tone for a place that has always been more interesting than it gets credit for.
Where the Name Came From
The prevailing story is that two brothers from East Lothian and West Lothian in Scotland founded the original village where Midlothian now sits. When it came to naming it, the brothers wanted to honor their respective homelands and struck a compromise: Midlothian. (Is this a true story? I have no earthly idea. It’s the one I’ve always heard, though.)
Commercial coal mining was well underway in Chesterfield County by 1730. This was not only the first such operations in North America but also the county’s first true industrial development. Coal was first discovered near Manakin Town, a French Huguenot settlement, and Thomas Jefferson himself noted that the quality of Chesterfield’s coal was excellent. In fact, coal from Harry Heth’s Black Heath mines in the Midlothian area heated the White House during Jefferson’s presidency.
The Midlothian Turnpike, built in 1807 to carry carts of coal, became the first paved road in Virginia. And in 1831, the Midlothian to Manchester Railroad was built to haul coal to Virginia’s ports, making it the first railroad in the state. (If you knew any of this, consider me super impressed!)
That’s an extraordinary amount of history concentrated in one place. First commercially mined coal in North America. First paved road in Virginia. First railroad in Virginia. All within a few miles of what is now a Target and a Chick-fil-A. Progress.
The coal industry slowed through the early 20th century, and Midlothian spent a few quieter decades as a mostly rural community. Then came the Swift Creek Reservoir in 1965, the Powhite Parkway, and a wave of planned residential development that permanently changed the character of Chesterfield County’s west end. The suburbs that grew up around the reservoir are now some of the most established and sought-after addresses in the greater Richmond market.
The Schools
You may know that as Realtors, we cannot really say “good school/bad school” because those metrics are totally subjective. However, the tests and ratings are quite clear, that Chesterfield County Public Schools are consistently among the stronger divisions in Virginia, and the Midlothian area contains the district’s highest-performing schools. Midlothian High School is ranked 34th in Virginia by U.S. News and World Report and offers an International Baccalaureate program. Cosby High School is ranked 46th in Virginia and holds a 98% graduation rate, which is well above the state average. Both schools have received the President’s Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.
For families looking to make a move to the south side of the James River, the school picture here is a strong argument for Midlothian specifically, not just Chesterfield County generally. The difference between the western Chesterfield schools and other parts of the county is significant, and buyers who know the market factor it in.
Brandermill: The One Built Around a Lake
If you ask someone in the Richmond area what they picture when they think of Midlothian, there’s a reasonable chance they picture Brandermill. It has been here long enough to feel like it’s always been there.
Brandermill is a sprawling, award-winning master-planned community that has been around for over 40 years and boasts more than 13,000 residents across 80 smaller sub-neighborhoods within the community. The developer’s vision was explicit: build a neighborhood centered on natural beauty and active outdoor life, with the Swift Creek Reservoir as its central feature.
It worked. Brandermill borders a 1,700-acre stretch of the Swift Creek Reservoir, with many homes positioned directly on the water. Residents enjoy an 18-hole golf course, three pools, tennis courts, over 15 miles of trails, playgrounds, and pavilions. The range of homes within the community is wide: more modest single-family homes from the community’s earlier decades sit alongside larger, updated properties with reservoir views. It is genuinely diverse in its price points, which is part of what makes it accessible and part of what gives it staying power.
Brandermill sits at the intersection of Route 288 and Hull Street Road, making it well-positioned for commuters and within easy reach of all the shopping, restaurants, and entertainment along the Hull Street corridor.
Woodlake: The Resort That Became a Neighborhood
Woodlake was developed by the same group that built Brandermill, with planning beginning in 1981 and construction underway by 1984. In 1990, the community was voted Best Community in America by the Urban Land Institute. That award is now decades old, but the infrastructure it recognized is still very much in place.
Woodlake sits on the western shore of the Swift Creek Reservoir and is home to over 7,000 residents across 54 unique sub-neighborhoods, many of them bordering the water directly. Homes range from one-story properties with ample patios to two-story Colonials with multi-pane windows and traditional detailing. The community association runs a robust calendar of events that keeps the place feeling more like a small town than a subdivision. People who move to Woodlake tend to stay, which definitely tells you something.
The Other Neighborhoods Worth Knowing
Midlothian’s residential landscape extends well beyond Brandermill and Woodlake. Here’s an overview.
Hallsley is a newer luxury community with custom-built homes, resort-style amenities, and architectural variety that appeals to buyers who want new construction with genuine character. Well-regarded within the market and consistently in demand.
Salisbury is one of the area’s most established addresses, built around the Salisbury Country Club with large wooded lots, mature trees, and traditional home styles. The kind of neighborhood that attracts buyers who want established elegance rather than new construction.
Magnolia Green is a vibrant master-planned community with modern homes, an 18-hole golf course, parks, and trails. Newer construction, active community programming, and a location on the Hull Street corridor that puts everything within easy reach.
Charter Colony and Rountrey round out the picture for buyers looking at a mix of established and newer options, with good school access and the amenity infrastructure that Chesterfield’s western communities consistently deliver.
Dining Worth Driving For
Photo courtesy Style Weekly
Midlothian can surprise people on the restaurant front. Midlothian Chef’s Kitchen, led by Chef David Dunlap, a former executive sous chef at The Inn at Little Washington, has been voted Best Restaurant in Chesterfield County by Richmond Magazine. Seasonal, local, and genuinely excellent. Make a reservation.
The 1870 Restaurant and Bar is a French-inspired steakhouse inside a historic Virginia building on Midlothian Turnpike, with a speakeasy bar downstairs. It feels like a discovery even if you’ve lived here for years.
Charred Swift Creek is a wood-fired kitchen on Hull Street with a loyal following and one of the better cocktail programs in the county. For seafood, the Hard Shell at Bellgrade has been repeatedly voted Best Seafood in Richmond, which is not a small designation in a city that takes that kind of thing seriously.
The dining corridor along Midlothian Turnpike and Hull Street has genuinely grown up over the past decade. It is not downtown Richmond, and it is not trying to be. The good news? When I was growing up, you were lucky to find anything that was not a chain, and now there are some truly great local spots to check out without needing to cross a bridge or pay a toll.
What the Real Estate Market Is Actually Doing
Midlothian and western Chesterfield County have commanded consistent demand for a long time, and the reasons are fairly clear: strong schools, well-maintained communities, abundant outdoor amenities, and easy access to Richmond via the Powhite Parkway and Route 288.
Homes in Brandermill and Woodlake with reservoir access or views sell at a premium and move quickly. Newer communities like Hallsley and Magnolia Green attract buyers seeking modern finishes and master-planned amenity packages. Established neighborhoods like Salisbury appeal to buyers who want large lots and mature landscaping that new construction simply cannot replicate.
The range is wide and varied. Entry-level buyers can find options within established communities. Move-up buyers have plenty to consider. And at the higher end, Midlothian delivers the kind of custom, wooded, water-adjacent living that draws buyers from across the region.
If you are relocating to the Richmond area and considering the south side of the James River, Midlothian makes a great case for itself. The history alone is worth knowing. The community you’d be joining is worth a whole lot more.
Thinking about a move to Midlothian or western Chesterfield? I’ve been covering both sides of the James for more than 23 years. What questions can I answer for you?
