Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Richmond (Va.) Reel 997.

Preferred Citation

Manchester (Va.) Ordinances, 1874-1910. Richmond (Va.) Reel 997, Local government records collection, Richmond (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Acquisition Information

These orginal volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the City of Richmond.

Reel 997 was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.

Historical Information

Manchester was established as a town by the General Assembly in November 1769. According to this act, "the honorable William Byrd hath lately laid out a parcel of his lands at Rocky Ridge, at the falls of the James River, in the county of Chesterfield, in lots and streets for a town." Directors and trustees were appointed and the town was named Manchester. The town was incorporated on February 27, 1834. On March 20, 1874, a city charter was approved by the General Assembly and the city was divided into 4 wards. Three members from each ward served on the City Council, the main governing body of the city along with the mayor. On April 15, 1910, the city of Manchester was officially annexed to the City of Richmond with the provisos that a free bridge would be constructed to connect Manchester with Richmond and that Manchester would retain a courthouse. Today the area is also known as South Richmond. The town of Manchester was named probably for Manchester Parish in Chesterfield County. The parish in turn was named either for George Montague, fourth duke of Manchester, or for the town of Manchester, England.

Scope and Content

Manchester (Va.) Ordinances consist of two volumes dealing with regulations concerning all aspects of city government. On March 20, 1874, the General Assembly granted Manchester a charter. Manchester had achieved independent city status. The first volume, 1874-1900, records the passage of ordinances related to this specific development. The volume begins with "an ordinance prescribing rules for the government of the Council"--one of the city's two governing bodies. The second volume, 1902-1910, contains an internal index (A-W) organized alphabetically by subject according to the order in which it appears in the volume. This volume begins with "an ordinance adopting a set of rules for both branches of the City Council of the City of Manchester." Further ordinances deal with issues of the city such as the revenue of the city, city debt, city property, health, departmental organizations, nuisances and offences. No ordinances were recorded for the year 1901.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Additonal Richmond City Goverment Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm"

A wonderful history of Manchester, "Old Manchester and Its Environs, 1769-1910," was published in 1993 by noted local historian, Benjamin B. Weisiger III.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Richmond (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Municipal government--Virginia--Manchester.
• Public records--Virginia--Manchester.

Geographical Names:

• Manchester (Va.)--History.
• Richmond (Va.)--History--20th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Manchester.
• Ordinances--Virginia--Manchester.

Adjunct Descriptive Data