While it is often called a river town, Smithfield found its destiny on the farmland fields that roll uphill from the shorelines of the Pagan River—named by the Algonquin Indians after the pecan trees that lined its banks. The pecan shells and acorns that fell from the abundant oak foliage—like manna from the heavens—became the favored food of the swine set loose by the earliest English settlers. A gift of nature, that first American feedstock engendered a flavor in the pork so delicious it would ultimately turn that little river town into “The Ham Capital of the World.”

Smithfield’s story is emblematic of America’s story, but it’s a variation on a theme that harkens back to our origins. For this is a town that has miraculously managed—in the face of its global success—to sustain the quaint humility and human scale that was once the benchmark of every colonial rural community. A walk through Smithfield today is a walk through America’s earliest past, not with the grandeur of Philadelphia’s Independence Mall or the immersive authenticity of nearby Williamsburg, but along a path marked by the simplicity and honesty of hearty pioneers who found a wellspring of richness in the earth that nurtured such a love for this place they never wanted to leave. 

Today, some of the families who have been here for generations have determined it is time to create a new expression of the values and traditions that have sustained Smithfield over the centuries—to plant and grow within the town’s limits a new settlement where a rising generation of pioneers can learn to fall in love with the land again. But to tell you that story, we’ve got to go back to the beginning.

As a team, we immersed ourselves in the history, local precedents, community dynamics and the land. After gaining a deeper understanding, the Historical Concepts team began to draw.

By the end of our engagement, Smithfield Grange has a portfolio of assets to launch this real estate development community. Starting with an intent of positive legacy, a highly capable family, a masterful master plan, community engagement and a strong story to share with the world, Smithfield Grange is poised to develop into a lovable, charming community that enhances the fabric of this American classic, Smithfield Virginia.