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Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the population was 28,245. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown.
History
Founding, colonial eraCaroline County was established in the British Colony of Virginia in 1728 from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. It was named for Caroline of Ansbach, the wife of King George II of Great Britain.
During the Colonial Period, Caroline County was the birthplace of Thoroughbred horse racing in North America. Arabian horses were imported from England to provide the basis for American breeding stock.
Patriot Edmund Pendleton played a large role in the Virginia Resolution for Independence (1775). Caroline native John Penn was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, albeit as a delegate from North Carolina.
19th centuryExplorers William Clark and his slave York were members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803–1805). Both were born near what is now Ladysmith.
In 1847, after being a member of the first graduating class of Virginia Military Institute (VMI), William "Little Billy" Mahone (1826–1895) of Southampton County began teaching at Rappahannock Academy in Caroline County. He was to become prominent as a railroad builder and developer, Confederate General, leader of Virginia's short-lived Readjuster Party, and a United States Senator.
On May 10, 1863, Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died of complications from pneumonia at the Chandler plantation in Guinea Station (also known as Guiney's Station), in the unincorporated Caroline County community of Woodford. The Chandler residence is now known as the "Jackson Shrine."
During Union General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, Confederate troops under General George E. Pickett fought Union troops near Milford. Just as the Civil War was concluding in April 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated in Washington, DC as part of a conspiracy to kill the leaders of the United States. As the conspirators fled, a manhunt was launched. After 10 days, in the wee hours of April 26, federal troops tracked down John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, and fellow conspirator David E. Herold at Garrett's farm about 3 miles west of Port Royal. Booth was fatally shot during their capture by federal troops. Herold was returned to Washington, where he was executed by hanging with 3 co-conspirators on July 7, 1865.
20th centuryIn 1958, Richard and Mildred Loving challenged miscegenation laws in the state when they married. Although they married in Washington, DC, they returned to live in Caroline County, where they were arrested and charged under the state's anti-miscegenation statute, the Racial Integrity Act of 1924. Their case went to the Supreme Court of the United States, which in 1967 found anti-miscegenation statutes to be unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia.
At the southern edge of the county, The Meadow, a farm originally established in 1810, became a premier facility for breeding, raising and training Thoroughbred race horses. In 1972, Riva Ridge, raised at The Meadow, won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, two of the three events of the Triple Crown. The following year, Secretariat, born at The Meadow, won the famous Triple Crown for the Chenery family's Meadow Stable.
21st centuryIn 2003, The State Fair of Virginia purchased Meadow Farm. It began developing the facility to become a new home for the annual Virginia State Fair. Long held at locations in Richmond and Henrico County, it was increasingly squeezed out by expanding development around it and growth of the event itself. Most recently, it was held at Strawberry Hill in central Henrico County, at the facility which became Richmond International Raceway. Beginning in September 2009, the annual Virginia State Fair is held at the new Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The annual Richmond Celtic Games and Festival will also be held at the new facility.
In 2009 the National Civic League presented Caroline County with one of ten annual All-America City Awards.



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Caroline Circuit Courthouse
Bowling Green

Caroline Progress
This weekly paper published in Bowling Green prints a column about the history of the area and also maintains an archives.

Caroline Historical Society
P.O. Box 324, Bowling Green, VA 22427.


Historic Port Royal
P.O. Box 233, Port Royal, VA 22535

HPR invites you to celebrate historic Port Royal with them.
Individual dues are $20.00 year. Send your full name, phone number and mailing address.

Caroline Library
17202 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, VA 22427.

There is also a branch located at 18108 Allen, Ruther Glen, VA 22546.




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I can Be caontact me at lesl8willia@yahoo.com Last updated: April 28th 2011