Welcome to Historic Chatham

Chatham, Virginia, has been making history since 1777. Known for magnificent homes and manicured lawns, the Town features a strong mix of active lifestyles, modern comfort and Old-Fashioned charm.

Chatham, Virginia, has been making history since 1777. Known for magnificent homes and manicured lawns, the Town features a strong mix of active lifestyles, modern comfort and Old-Fashioned charm.

Chatham, Virginia, has been making history since 1777. Known for magnificent homes and manicured lawns, the Town features a strong mix of active lifestyles, modern comfort and Old-Fashioned charm.

County Seat

Chatham’s third courthouse was built in 1853. It has a long and storied history of legal judgements, including Ex Parte Virginia. The Town of Chatham serves as the County seat for Pittsylvania County.

Chatham’s third courthouse was built in 1853. It has a long and storied history of legal judgements, including Ex Parte Virginia. The Town of Chatham serves as the County seat for Pittsylvania County.

Chatham’s third courthouse was built in 1853. It has a long and storied history of legal judgements, including Ex Parte Virginia. The Town of Chatham serves as the County seat for Pittsylvania County.

No Lobsters

Remember the Redcoats? Chatham does. The Stars and Stripes proudly line Main Street every national holiday. While the British are long gone, the Colonial spirit remains. Celebrate Colonial heritage. Visit Chatham.

Remember the Redcoats? Chatham does. The Stars and Stripes proudly line Main Street every national holiday. While the British are long gone, the Colonial spirit remains. Celebrate Colonial heritage. Visit Chatham.

Remember the Redcoats? Chatham does. The Town proudly reminds everyone of the British departure from the 13 Colonies quite often. The Stars and Stripes are not restricted to July the 4th. Celebrate our rich heritage. Visit Chatham.

Chatham Events

Chatham residents take fun seriously. From monthly summer car shows to the winter appearance of Carter's Hill (sledding), the Town supports a number of events throughout the year. Check Upcoming Events.

Chatham residents take fun seriously. From monthly summer car shows to the winter appearance of Carter's Hill (sledding), the Town supports a number of events throughout the year. Check Upcoming Events.

Chatham residents take fun seriously. From monthly summer car shows to the winter appearance of Carter's Hill (sledding), the Town supports a number of events throughout the year. Check Upcoming Events.

Public Services

Town residents enjoy many amenities and services hard to find outside the Town limits. Residents enjoy dedicated police, fire, and water departments with high response times and low water rates. Parks also highlight.

Town residents enjoy many amenities and services hard to find outside the Town limits. Residents enjoy dedicated police, fire, and water departments with high response times and low water rates. Parks also highlight.

Town residents enjoy many amenities and services hard to find outside the Town limits. Residents enjoy dedicated police, fire, and water departments with high response times and low water rates. Parks also highlight.

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Welcome to Historic Chatham
Chatham, Virginia, has been making history since 1777. Known for magnificent homes and manicured lawns, the Town features a strong mix of active lifestyles, modern comfort and Old-Fashioned charm.
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Notable Residents

Chatham is a home for creators, innovators, leaders, and thinkers. Throughout its history, notable Chatham residents have made an impact in art, leadership, literature, music, and scholarship. They have an outsized footprint in collective achivement. All notable residents have a well defined connection to Chatham either by birth or residence. Many have advanced their areas of focus while living in or very near Chatham.

The Notable Residents list is not finite. Please contact the Town if you know an individual that meets the requirements to join this list, or if you have an update, correction, or additional information for the current entires.

 

CHATHAM'S NOTABLE RESIDENTS

Emerson, Claudia (1957-2014, birthplace), American poet. 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for "Late Wife," a poetry collection. Named Poet Laureate of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine in 2008. 2011 winner Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada.
Fitzgerald, Madalene Vaden, genealogist and historian. Published the booklet, Pittsylvania: Homes and People of the Past (1987). Collaborated with Frances Hallam Hurt for the booklet, Eighteenth Century Landmarks of Pittsylvania County, Virginia (1966).
Robert Prunty (1965 to present, birthplace), Head Football coach, Hampton University. Former Head Post-Graduate coach, Hargrave Military Academy (producing 27 NFL players). 2011, 2012 Scout.com Recruiter of the Year. Stints at East Carolina University, Texas Tech. Four Bowl apprenances.
Dr. Fillmore Hargrave Sanford (1914-1967, birthplace), University of Texas psychology professor. Authored Psychology for Naval Leaders (1949), Authoritarianism and Leadership (1950), and Psychology: A Scientific Study of Man (1961). American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology past president.
Geyer, Vernon (1921-2001), geologist and sculptor. Known for sculpting mermaids, busts, animals, and children. Collections presented at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts, the Womack Museum, and the private collections of local supporters.  
 
 
Laura Hankins Adcock, jazz vocalist
Laura White Alderson, journalist, writer, poet, and publicist, of Raleigh, NC
Norman Amos, woodcarver
Frank Andrews, artist in leaded glass
Jesse Andrews, photographer
Beatrice Baldwin, artist
Laura Bradley, artist
Sara Hunt Briggs, artist
Ann Fox Casada, writer
Dr. Jim Casada, historian, outdoorsman, writer, columnist, and editor
Maud Carter Clement (1879-1969), historian and writer
Kimberly Ryan Clifton, writer and columnist
Joseph F. "Rick" Cline, historian and writer
Nancy Compton, artist
Dr. William B. Crawley, Jr., historian and writer
Carson Davenport, artist
Tim Davis, journalist, writer, editor
Arthur de Ponceau, poet
Elsabee Dixon, ceramic artist
Roger Dodson, historian and writer
Carolyn Thompson Dudley, art psychotherapist
Kaye Jackson Elliott, television and radio writer, producer, graphical artist, and on-screen personality
Ward Elliott, musician and master instrument maker
Bev Emerson, musician
Archer T. Gammon - Army Medal of Honor recipient
Jeff Guenther, artist
Barbara Hall, writer, producer, singer, and songwriter
Karen Hall, writer, producer
William T. Hathaway, naturalist and writer
Charles Hawkins, artist, sculptor, and Chatham's state senator
Dr. Jay Hayes, historian and writer
Wyatt C. Hedrick (1888-1964), architect
Wilson G. Hibble, artist
Chris Hughes, historian and author
Farida Hughes, artist (paintings and works on paper)
Frances Hallam Hurt, writer and dramatist
Henry Hurt, editor and writer
Cary James, architect and writer
Helen James, artist, illuminator, and quilter
Estelle Jefferson, artist
Langhorne Jones, Sr., jurist, historian and writer
Sue Kottwitz, jewelry designer
Kenyon McCann, writer and dramatist
Hugh D. McCormick (1903-1998), historian and writer
Dr. Edgar Melton, historian and writer
Herman Melton, historian and writer
Dr. James Melton, historian and writer
William Melton, filmmaker and administrator
Alice Meyer, artist
Joe Miller, artist and graphic designer
Bobby Mitchell - Professional golfer
Robin Lawrence Mildrum, artist
Henry H. Mitchell, editor, writer, and artist
Patricia B. Mitchell, food history writer
Preston B. Moses (1908-1996), editor, artist
Louise McCormick Motley, artist
Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), artist
Lucille Mabel Walthall Payne, writer
Tom Royster, photographer
Jack Sanford - Baseball player (first baseman) and coach
R. Nevitt Sanford (1909-1995), psychologist, author
Paul Shelton (1915-1998), master saddlemaker
Ricky Van Shelton, musician and writer
Landon Spradlin, musician and evangelist
Mary Tallent, writer
Ann Taylor, newscaster
Mark Thomas, journalist, writer
Estes Thompson, journalist, editor
Gloria Hall Thompson, artist
L. J. Toler, journalist
Agnes Fulcher Tune, artist
Estelle Ironmonger Tyler, historian and writer
Michiel VanDerSommen, sculptor
Ellen Bryant Voigt, poet
Biff Watson, musician
Jim Watson, musician, and writer
Dr. Thomas L. Watson (1871-1924), geologist and writer
Christine Whitehead, artist and cancer therapist
Harriet Whitehead, research analyst, anthropologist, and writer
John Hurt Whitehead, photographer and writer
Mary Elizabeth Whitehead, musician
James Womack, master saddlemaker
Susan Worley, journalist, writer
Jerry Wyatt, actor, vocalist, and teacher/director/producer
Jonathan Yardley, writer, book critic, columnist
S. Dail Yeatts, educator, historian
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