Welcome
to the
Town of Onancock
on Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore
of the Chesapeake Bay

Onancock Sign

Onancock -- the "Coolest Town in the South" and the sixth coolest in the nation.
So voted by readers of Budget Travel Magazine
Read News Release

Our Town
A small, rural, waterfront village centrally located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with a history that begins with the discovery by John Smith in 1608 of the site that is now Onancock, Virginia.  We are proud of our history and the historic character of Our Town. Born and sustained from the Chesapeake Bay for centuries, today we treasure the quiet access to the water and the wildlife and marine life it contains. Our waterfront provides a pleasant place to launch your small boat, dock as you visit from the Chesapeake Bay and enjoy the amenities of our residential and business assets. It is easy to walk through Our Town and there is much to do in and around Onancock.

Onancock is an ideal town to visit, live and work. We are incorporated and provide all regular municipal services - water, sewer, police, street, trash pickup and fire department (volunteer).


Welcome to Onancock

Special Note regarding the 2010 Census:  What is the Census? The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States.  Who gets counted?  All U.S. residents are counted, both citizens and non-citizens.  How is the count done?  Census questionnaires will be delivered or mailed to households in March of 2010.  With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest in history and takes just 10 minutes to complete.   Why it's important:  The Census determines the distribution of more than $300 billion in Federal funding annually.  It's also used to determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S House of Representatives as well as redistricting of the state legislature and county board of supervisors.  When you receive your 2010 Census form, please take the time to fill it out and return it promptly.  For more information, visit the 2010 Census website at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

Click on any of the following for Town Information

Directory of Offices
Geography
Mayor & Council and Planning Commission
Official Meetings   and if you want the next
      Council Agenda
and Council Minutes commencing July 2007
History:  From the Beginning to Now
or a Brief History to the Civil War
Sample letter from a Visitor
Wharf to the Bay

The Ferry is Back !
Come to Onancock for great service to Tangier Island
The ferry will run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 1st through May 17th.   It will then start daily service (excluding Mondays and Wednesdays)  from May 19th through September.   It will also run on Memorial Day and Labor Day Mondays.
Leave Tangier
 Arrive Onancock
 Leave Onancock
 Arrive Tangier
7:30am
 8:45am
 10:00am
 11:15am
3:30pm
 4:45pm
 5:30pm
 6:45pm


Onancock News

Second Friday in Onancock

Onancock is a Pet Friendly Town

Visit by the ship Godspeed

The Onancock School
After years of being used by the Countywide School System, control of the Onancock School has reverted to the Town of Onancock.  A non-profit organization, Friends of Onancock School, has been formed and is investigating possible uses and will, hopefully, lease the building and grounds from the Town for various residents' usage.  Click on The Onancock School to go to the Friends web site.

Community Logo
Special state wide event celebrated in the year 2007
Here is how Onancock celebrated this birthday year.

Special annual events in the Town of Onancock
(some of last year's events may be shown until new information is available)

Harborfest

Christmas Homes Tour

Christmas Parade 

Patriotic Band Concert & Ice Cream Social

Paint Onancock - A Plein Air Event

Town Wide Yard Sale


In 2009, the 17th Annual
 Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival
will again start in Onancock on
 Thursday September 17, 2009
Click here to get all the activities.



Foggy church




Onancock - pronounced oh NAN cock - is a Native American name meaning "foggy place".   Onancock is located on Route 179 in the county of Accomack on the Bay Side of the Eastern Shore.  Year 2000 census shows 1525 residents within the Town boundaries.