WILLIAMSBURG – On Tuesday, officials from across the Peninsula met for York County’s State of the County event at the Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center to hear updates on the county’s economy, initiatives and goals for the coming year.
York County administrator Mark Bellamy noted the year’s theme of the sold-out event was “moving forward.”
“Moving forward with purpose, moving forward together, and moving forward while never losing sight of the values that brought us here,” he said.
Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Doug Holroyd was the primary speaker, at the event that began shortly after noon. He delivered updates on economic growth, the school system, public libraries, parks and recreation, first responders and financial efforts with the help of six videos. There was also a brief video of a colonial reenactor running past Yorktown landmarks that culminated in him showing a piece of paper that read “2031.”
On the economic front, Holroyd highlighted June’s Sail Yorktown Festival, which brought over 30,000 visitors to the waterfront and resulted in nearly 10,000 riders on the trolley.
In the first half of 2026, the county welcomed 213 new businesses, which Holroyd said was a sign of the “strong and welcoming environment” the county is creating for local entrepreneurs.
The school system’s accolades include being ranked the number one school district in Virginia for 2026 by online rankings company Niche, being in the top 2% of school districts nationwide, with all 19 of its schools fully accredited, three National Blue Ribbon schools and one of six school divisions in Virginia given a Purple Star designation. The latter is awarded to schools “that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military,” according to the Virginia Department of Education’s website.
Holroyd also mentioned the 1% local sales tax referendum, which residents will see on the ballot in November.
“If approved, it would create a dedicated funding source for school capital, supported not only by York County residents, but also by hundreds of thousands of visitors who shop and dine in our community each year,” he said. “I believe this is a referendum on maintaining the quality of our schools.”
Holroyd said the county’s parks welcomed more than 350,000 visitors each year. The following video touched on Trail 757 and the county’s first-ever Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which launched this year.
Holroyd also spoke about the county’s Fire & Life Safety Department’s new Whole Blood Program, which allows EMS personnel to perform blood transfusions in the field. He also noted that the county remains “one of the lowest crime communities in the region,” due to “proactive policing, strong community relationships and a focus on prevention.”
In a sixth video, county administrator Mark Bellamy touched on the county’s first comprehensive compensation study in decades, and “ongoing evaluation of employee benefit strategies,” though he didn’t go into detail.
He also mentioned the success of the county’s GovSeries, which is an 11-week program where participants learn more about what goes on behind the scenes for the county’s government processes.
Holroyd briefly spoke about the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Siege of Yorktown in 2031, though he didn’t give specifics on any plans the county has for it.
“Throughout today’s program, you’ve more than new projects or recent accomplishments,” Holroyd said in closing. “You’ve seen a community that’s planning ahead, making thoughtful investments, preparing for future generations and preserving the exceptional quality of life that makes York County such a special place.”
