Visit Where Big Adventures Await

Welcome to the historic yet modern Town of Halifax, Virginia

For over a century, the county seat Town of Halifax has been admired for its handsome houses, churches, and lush landscaping. It offers the charm of a small town and the relaxed atmosphere of a rural retreat, yet is served by fiber optic internet access not seen in many large cities.

The town is bounded by the shores of Banister Lake and the lower Banister River and surrounded by farmland and rolling woodlands. The Mountain Road Historic District is a tree-shaded road that stretches west from the courthouse square into the countryside and is a great walking tour for architecture, history, and landscapes. The road was built up slowly so it now presents a range of buildings from the early 19th century to the present.

Serving as the County Seat since 1777, the Halifax Courthouse Historic District includes the downtown central business district. Though the Town of Halifax only has a population of about 1,300, it has a variety of businesses, including restaurants (fine dining, casual, and fast food), banking, insurance, farm supplies, physician’s and veterinarian’s offices, event venue, attorneys, website developer, auto repair, convenience stores and gas stations.

Historic Business District

Most of the buildings in the Town of Halifax have been in existence since the late 1890’s, and new photos of the town look remarkably like historic ones. The History photo album shows some angles from both historic and modern times.

Halifax County was formed from Lunenburg in 1752, and the Town of Halifax has been the county seat since 1777. The courthouse town of Banister, named after the neighboring river, grew around the new courthouse. Called Banister Town during the Civil War, the town became Houston in 1890 to entice a new railroad, and after WWI changed its name to Halifax.

Farmers Market

The Farmers Market has grown and evolved over the years, now offering both indoor and outdoor shopping with farmers, artisans, antique dealers, book shops, and bakers.

We offer something for everyone!

• Locally grown fresh vegetables and fruits
• Fresh eggs and USDA inspected goat, lamb, pork meat
• Fresh baked goods
• Relishes, jams, and jellies
• Goat milk soap
• Bedding plants, vegetable plants, and cut flowers
• Custom made products for pets
• Antiques, crafts, and fine art
• Used books

We’re always busy planning special projects for the kids in our community, teaching them the importance of agriculture and community.

Outdoor Recreation

Banister Lake, a reservoir formed by the Banister River dam, lies within the Town of Halifax and provides ample opportunities for recreation. Recreational activities on the lake include boating, fishing, and kayaking.

There are two put-ins for motorized boats and canoes or kayaks:

• Banister Lake Access, located beside the bridge on 501, has a boat ramp and ADA accessible courtesy pier for motorized boats, and a canoe/kayak hand launch.
• King’s Bridge Access offers hand launch only for canoes & kayaks with wayside, scenic river overlook/interpretive signage.

Wildlife lovers enjoy the Virginia Birding & Wildlife Trail at the lake, where they might spot deer, wild turkeys, river otters, beaver, great blue herons, hawks, bald eagles, ospreys, and other creatures.

Other recreational opportunities in the area include Staunton River State Park, which is an International Dark Sky Park, Buggs Island Lake which is Virginia’s largest lake, and the Virginia Civil War Trails. VA 360 & VA 344 State Scenic Byways link routes and access to scenic, historic, cultural, natural and archaeological features unique to Halifax County and Southern Virginia.

The Tobacco Heritage Trail creates a network of regional and local bikeways, walking & equestrian trails and blueways along river corridors to connect visitors and residents with the natural beauty found on farmland, historic sites, state parks and state rivers.

Genealogy Research – Portal to the Past

Occupying a site that has been used for court purposes since 1803, the Courthouse holds hundreds of thousands of documents relating to the people and property of Halifax County, Virginia. The court records go back to 1752, when Halifax County was cut off from Lunenburg.

The Courthouse was built in 1838 and is one of the Classical Revival court buildings erected by master designer and builder, Dabney Cosby and son, Dabney Cosby, Jr. The senior Cosby worked with Thomas Jefferson on the construction of the University of Virginia and provided Southside Virginia with a variety of architecturally literate houses, churches and public buildings. He abandoned the strict temple form for the Halifax County courthouse in favor of a T-plan and Greek Ionic order.

Fine Dining and Casual Restaurants

The acclaimed Molasses Grill serves innovative Southern cuisine, inspired cocktails, and homemade desserts and attracts foodies from hours away. The Virginian-Pilot newspaper out of Virginia Beach reviewed 200 restaurants throughout the state and has declared Molasses to be one of “the 30 places to eat in Virginia before you die.”

“In the vast expanse of central Virginia, towns are like islands surrounded by rolling farmland. It’s impossible to guess where gourmets gather. That’s the case in Halifax. Across from the pillared courthouse, circa 1777, the Molasses Grill has been pleasing refined palates since 2005. That’s when chef Steven Schopen, an English chap with worldly roots, and his wife, Karen, opened this restaurant. Inside, brick walls and burnished pine lend a sense of calm, but opening the menu causes palpitations. Schopen pairs Southern staples with locally sourced ingredients and turns out house-made sausages, breads and dishes such as grilled pork tenderloin with a shellac of bourbon and molasses. Or how about fried chicken and some pimento mac and cheese? Worth the 5-mile or so detour from the straightaway.” – The Virginian-Pilot

Viny’s Italian Restaurant, founded by an Italian native, is a popular spot for New York-style pizza, pasta, subs, and other Italian-American favorites. It’s known for its fresh ingredients and serving up classic dishes with a local flair – and is so popular, it’s currently expanding its footprint beside the Farmers Market.

The Packhouse Cafe offers a cozy atmosphere paired with a delicious menu featuring hearty comfort food and homemade specialties. With friendly service and a focus on local ingredients, it’s a perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, or a quick coffee break.

Sam’s Kitchen is a casual eatery serving American standards, such as burgers, pizza, pasta, steaks and seafood. It also offers vegetarian options.

If you’re looking for fast food, Hardee’s is here to serve you, too!