Tabb, Virginia

Tabb is an unincorporated community in York County, Virginia, United States, on the Virginia Peninsula. Major roads include U.S. Route 17 and State Route 134 (Hampton Highway, which continues as Magruder Boulevard in Hampton).

The community was named for Mary Octavia Tabb who served as postmaster from 21 December 1893 until early 1910, as per National Archives and Records Administration. It is home to Tabb High School, one of four high schools in York County. It is also home to Tabb Middle School, Tabb Elementary School, and Mount Vernon Elementary School.

Tabb is served by the US Postal Service ZIP code 23693. The ZIP code area had an estimated population of 23,807 in 2014.

Tabb is primarily a residential community, with a few commercial interests. The largest employer in Tabb is a Walmart Supercenter department store built on the site of a former Cinema-City drive-in theater and grocery store at the intersection of U.S. Route 17 and State Route 171. Other major employers nearby include the NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base. With a number of small farms that offer fresh locally grown produce, and equestrian facilities, the community serves as a rural escape for the nearby cities of Hampton and Newport News.

The first organized land battle of the American Civil War, the Battle of Big Bethel, was fought on land in nearby Hampton as well as area that later became Tabb.

Thorpeland Plantation

The historic Thorpeland Plantation, a colonial manor house begun in the 17th century on land originally patented by Christopher Calthorpe on July 13, 1635 is located in Tabb. It is one of the oldest wood frame houses still standing in America.

Further reading

• National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20408-0001. Record of Appointment of Postmasters.
• Hagemann, James A. The Heritage of Virginia: The story of place names in the Old Dominion. Norfolk, VA: The Donning Company, 1988.

External links

• York County Virginia Local Government
• Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors
• ePodunk profile
• Satellite View of Tabb (Google Maps)
• Description of Christopher Calthorp
• Civil War map of the area