Doswell, Virginia

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States}}

{{redirect|Doswell|the American meteorologist|Charles A. Doswell III}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Doswell, Virginia

|settlement_type = Unincorporated area

|image_skyline = File:Shops in Doswell.jpg

|imagesize =

|image_caption = Local businesses along US 1 in Doswell

| subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = Virginia

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Hanover

|image_map = Image:VAMap-doton-Doswell.PNG

|map_caption = Location in Hanover County in the Commonwealth of Virginia

|population_total = 1833

|timezone = Eastern (EST)

|utc_offset = -5

|timezone_DST = EDT

|utc_offset_DST = -4

|named_for = Major Thomas Doswell

|postal_code_type = ZIP codes

|postal_code = 23047

|area_code = 804

}}

Doswell is an unincorporated community in Hanover County in the Central Region of the U.S. state of Virginia. Originally called Hanover Junction, it was located on the Virginia Central Railroad (later, part of the C&O) at a crossing of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, a north–south route. Both railroads are now owned by CSX Transportation, although the former Virginia Central line is leased to a short-line carrier, Buckingham Branch Railroad. The area near the Doswell train station is a popular train-watching site for railfans.

The name was changed to Doswell in the early 1890s in honor of Major Thomas Doswell (1823—90).[http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Doswell_Thomas Dictionary of Virginia Biography] The first Doswell in the area was James Doswell, a captain in the American Revolution.

Formerly consisting primarily of farmland, Doswell currently has many residents who commute to jobs in Richmond.