As far as the origins of the district’s name, the prevailing story is that two brothers from East Lothian and West Lothian in Scotland founded the original village where Midlothian is currently situated. When it came to naming the village, the brothers wanted to name it after their respective homelands and struck a compromise with the name Midlothian.

Midlothian is the site of the first commercially-mined coal in the Colony of Virginia and North America. Mid-Lothian Mining and Manufacturing Company, owned by the Woolridge family, was one of the most prominent mining businesses at the time. Other mine owners include French Huguenots and Harry Heth of Black Heath mines.

Remnants of Midlothian’s mining history can be found at sites like Mid-Lothian Mines Park. See below for more to explore in Midlothian.

Key Attractions

Mid-Lothian Mines Park 

One of the first major industrial sites in the country is now a 44-acre preserve, dedicated to the citizens of Chesterfield County. Mid-Lothian Mines Park features cut stone ruins of coal mines from the 18^th century, now surrounded by beautiful woodlands. The park is free and open to the public from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. In December, the park is the site of the annual CarMax Tacky Light Run.

Robious Landing Park

Robious Landing Park is a 102-acre site that includes 3.4 miles of trails and provides easy access to the James River for kayaking, canoeing, rowing and fishing. There are picnic shelters, playgrounds and restrooms available for park goers.

Entertainment and Recreation

Looking for something to do in Midlothian? There’s no shortage of activities in this district! Check out the golf courses, batting cages, indoor go karts and indoor pickleball court in the area. Stonebridge Recreation Center also hosts an abundance of programming and activities for all ages, from arts and crafts to Tai Chi, karate, line dancing and technology lectures. 

Looking to learn more about Midlothian? Check out this blog post for Midlothian District Supervisor Mark Miller’s overview of the district.

Experience Chesterfield promotes and celebrates all the things to see, do and experience within Chesterfield County. The website is not paid to endorse individual businesses or events and any that you may see mentioned are just a sampling of the many wonderful places to visit in Chesterfield. If you operate a hospitality related business in Chesterfield, please be sure to reach out to our partners at Richmond Region Tourism to create a business listing for our website. You can also reach out to Virginia Tourism Corporation to create a business listing on their site for additional exposure. 

The post District Spotlight: Midlothian appeared first on Experience Chesterfield.

A Day in the District highlights each County Supervisor’s favorite spots, hidden gems and the facts and anecdotes that make their district special. Representing Midlothian is District Supervisor, Mark Miller. 

As a long-distance runner, I like to take in the natural beauty of the Midlothian District while putting in the miles. My favorite ten-mile loop begins in Ramsgate, takes me to Queenspark and then across Huguenot at the train tracks at Cranbeck and over to Robious and into Settlers Landing finally making my way over to Huguenot Park and back through Queenspark and back to Ramsgate.  Always a wonderful run.  

One of my favorite events to attend is Live Red’s Robious Landing Triathlon, which takes participants through Robious Landing Park and several beautiful neighborhoods in the district. Robious Landing Park provides easy access to the James River for kayaking, canoeing, rowing, and fishing. The 102-acre site also houses over 3 miles of trails, playgrounds, picnic shelters and sand volleyball. The park is on the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail, with several species of birds, amphibians and reptiles to see.  And, of course, there is always the Sportsbackers Tacky-light run!

Mid-Lothian Mines Park is an interesting and beautiful spot to stroll with friends and family. As one of the first major industrial sites in the United States, the park became a 44-acre preserve when it opened in 2004. The Grove Shaft ruins tell the story of the violent Grove Shaft mine explosion that trapped 32 men on Feb. 3, 1882. 

Not too far from the park, the county’s newest library, Midlothian Library, provides 25,000-square-feet to host story time, arts and crafts, and programming for children. One of the neatest new features of the library is the digital media lab, which houses a 3D printer as well as a green screen. Finish your day back outside at the library’s outdoor patio and reading garden to view the native plants and other scenery while reading. The Midlothian District is a fun mix of old and new. 

The post A Day in the District: Mark Miller – Midlothian appeared first on Experience Chesterfield.