[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 8 (Thursday, January 20, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA

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                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2011

  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 400th 
anniversary of Henrico County, Virginia. The Citie of Henricus was 
established by Sir Thomas Dale in September 1611 and was named in honor 
of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Later in 1634, Henrico was 
designated as one of Virginia's first eight counties and at the time it 
included the counties of Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, 
Chesterfield, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Nelson and Powhatan and 
the cities of Charlottesville, Colonial Heights and Richmond.
  Henrico County was home to pioneer African-American educator and 
humanitarian Virginia Randolph, who founded the first public school 
vocational education program in the nation. She was born to former 
slaves and opened the Old Mountain Road School in 1892. The Virginia E. 
Randolph Community High School and the Virginia Randolph Special 
Education Center School, named in honor of Virginia Randolph, are 
located in Henrico County.
  Today Henrico County is situated in Central Virginia and includes a 
third of the Richmond metropolitan area. Business in Henrico continues 
to thrive while local attractions and historical sites attract 
residents and visitors to the county. In 1927, Henrico County was 
honored when Charles A. Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis at the 
grand opening of Byrd Field. This airport, now known as the Richmond 
International Airport, serves more than 3.5 million travelers annually. 
The Richmond International Raceway, RIR, America's Premier Short Track, 
is also located in Henrico. Each year RIR hosts both the NASCAR Sprint 
Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the citizens of Henrico 
as they celebrate the county's anniversary and wishing them the best 
for their continued growth and success.

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