Railroad

Economic, inindustrial and social developments in an area are closely tied to the availability of transportation systems to an area and the railroad had such an effect on Louisa County. 

The first railroads came to Louisa as a result of the rising presence of the mining industry.  Trains were necessary to transport mined ores to Richmond as well as other locations across the nation. 

The railroad helped the population of Louisa County grow 12 percent between 1830 and 1860. The railways stimulated economic development by providing a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to ship iron ore as well as agricultural products to the markets and deep water ports in Richmond.

Along the new line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, grwoth sprouted in now ways as depots such as Fredrick's Hall, Bumpass, Pendleton, Tolersville, Louisa, and Trevilians became important points for the shipping and receiving of goods and passenger travel. The vital nature of the railroad for moving supplies and troops led to two major clashes in Louisa County between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War: the Union raid at Fredrick's Hall on February 28, 1864 and the Battle of Grevilians in June of that same year. The ravages of Civil War campaigns left many roads in ruins.