Greater Williamsburg

Greater Williamsburg offers a large slice of America’s early history and hosts a diverse cross-section of industries. At its core are two world-class institutions: the College of William and Mary and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Greater Williamsburg Partnership

 

 

 

Yorktown

Key Companies in Greater Williamsburg

The regional economy is largely supported by tourism and education, while several clusters poised for growth have enhanced traditional industry strengths, including advanced manufacturing, data analysis, and food and beverage.

Anheuser Busch, Williamsburg
Anheuser Busch, Williamsburg

Regional Highlights

Greater Williamsburg, consisting of the City of Williamsburg and the counties of James City and York, exudes unique character in an historic, attractive, and business-friendly environment. The area’s civilian labor force numbers nearly 153,000, while access to major metropolitan areas in Hampton Roads and Richmond expands the workforce to 1.3 million within commuting distance.

With close proximity to Hampton Roads’ military cluster, the Greater Williamsburg region is uniquely positioned to welcome businesses that contract with or support the military and government. The region is also home to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens, making the region a well-known vacation destination that caters to 6-8 million annual visitors.

Establishing an East Coast facility will support Navien’s growth and allow for faster delivery to primary eastern markets while balancing current shipments coming into California. We look forward to working with the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program as we grow this facility and its importance to Navien’s overall leadership position in North America.

Sangkyu Lee CEO of Navien, Inc.

Location

Bordering Virginia’s Hampton Roads region, Greater Williamsburg is midway between Richmond and Norfolk on the I-64/U.S. Route 60 corridor. The region is well-connected by road to the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region, and to the rest of the nation and world by land, air, rail, and sea.

Plains All American Pipeline, Yorktown
Plains All American Pipeline, Yorktown

  • Adjacent to I-64 and U.S. Route 60, Greater Williamsburg easily connects with Richmond and Norfolk.
  • Nearby I-95 and I-85 connect the region to major metro markets.
  • Freight rail service is provided by CSX Transportation, offering a wide range of reliable and efficient shipping options.
  • Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak, with trains departing from Williamsburg.
  • The Port of Virginia, offering the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast, is located 37 miles southeast.
  • Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport provides commercial air service, offering flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.
College of William & Mary
College of William & Mary

Talent Development in Greater Williamsburg

The renowned College of William and Mary, the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, educates approximately 8,600 students annually who provide creativity, energy, and intelligence to the vibrant region.

Katherine Rowe, College Of William & Mary
Katherine Rowe, College Of William & Mary

Range: The Case for the Liberal Arts

Dr. Katherine A. Rowe is the 28th president of William & Mary, a position she’s held since 2018 after serving as provost and dean of faculty at Smith College in Massachusetts. She’s also co-founder and CEO of Luminary Digital Media, a developer of apps enhancing engagement and learning of classic Shakespearean texts. She has published three books: “New Wave Shakespeare on Screen” with Thomas Cartelli, “Reading the Early Modern Passions: Essays in the Cultural History of Emotion” as co-editor, and “Dead Hands: Fictions of Agency, Renaissance to Modern.”

Read the Full Interview in Virginia Economic Review

Living in Greater Williamsburg

With a temperate climate, low crime rate, top-rated public-school system, access to reliable health care, and moderate cost of living – all within a semi-rural environment – the Greater Williamsburg region offers its residents exceptional quality of life at an affordable cost. With its host of attractions and amenities, outdoor recreation, restaurants, night life, and abundant housing, Greater Williamsburg is an ideal place to work and live.

The region is known as America’s Historic Triangle and boasts three living-history museums: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Yorktown Victory Center. Jamestown, the site of the first permanent English settlement in 1607, offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of early settlers, while Yorktown highlights the sights and sounds of the Revolutionary War and celebrates the British surrender.

Exploring the outdoors is another a great way to experience the Greater Williamsburg region. Whether on foot, by bike, or by kayak, possibilities for outdoor exploration are plentiful. The York, James, and Chickahominy Rivers all offer a range of water-related activities, and scenic trails and historic paths abound in the region. Residents and visitors can take in the sights of Colonial Williamsburg on a run down Duke of Gloucester Street, or enjoy the rich scenery by bike on the 23-mile Colonial Parkway.

Presidents Park, Williamsburg
Colonial Parkway, James City County