Smithfield is a small river town with a real Main Street and a famous ham. Isle of Wight County wraps around it with farms, creeks and quiet neighborhoods.
Smithfield · Southside
Overview
Smithfield is a historic town on the Pagan River in Isle of Wight County, in Southside Hampton Roads. Buyers choose the area for its small-town feel, lower county tax rate and the James River Bridge, which puts Carrollton and Smithfield within reach of Newport News.
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Neighborhoods
The town’s historic district has more than 70 contributing Colonial, Federal and Victorian buildings around Main Street.
An established Smithfield community near downtown that has long drawn retirees, military families and relocating buyers.
A Smithfield community built around the 18-hole Cypress Creek Golfers’ Club course, opened in 1998.
A fast-growing community at the south end of the James River Bridge, popular with Newport News commuters.
A large Carrollton subdivision, first approved in the 1970s, that grew quickly after about 2000.
A newer neighborhood in the Smithfield area of Isle of Wight County.
A separate small town in western Isle of Wight County with its own elementary, middle and high school.
Schools
| School | Virginia rank |
|---|---|
| Windsor High | 78th of 331 |
| Smithfield High | 154th of 331 |
| Smithfield Middle | 31st of 416 |
| Georgie D. Tyler Middle | 102nd of 416 |
SchoolDigger 2026 statewide rankings (source). Zones follow addresses; confirm with Isle of Wight County Schools.
Commute
| To | Off-peak |
|---|---|
| Newport News Shipbuilding (via James River Bridge) | ~25-30 min |
| Fort Eustis (Joint Base Langley-Eustis) | ~30 min |
| Langley AFB | ~40 min |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth) | ~35 min |
| Naval Station Norfolk | ~45-50 min |
| Yorktown (via James River Bridge) | ~45 min |
| Downtown Suffolk | ~25 min |
Approximate off-peak drive times; rush hour and tunnel traffic add time. PCSing? See our military relocation guide.
Living here
Tour a 17th-century brick church that is a National Historic Landmark.
See local history downtown, including the world’s oldest ham.
Browse galleries, shops and the Arts Center @ 319 in the historic district.
Walk the trails, rent a kayak and bring the dog to the dog park.
Take in James River views and a small river beach at a fort site dating to 1623.
Follow a self-guided trail past mounted cannons above the James River.
Get a value based on what actually sold near you this season, from a local team that knows the neighborhoods.
Questions
Smithfield is an incorporated town inside Isle of Wight County. Town residents pay county taxes plus a small town tax. Other parts of the county, like Carrollton, are unincorporated and pay only county taxes.
Isle of Wight County Schools serves the whole county, including Smithfield and Windsor. Its high schools are Smithfield High and Windsor High. On SchoolDigger’s 2026 Virginia rankings, Smithfield Middle placed 31st of 416 middle schools and Windsor High placed 78th of 331 high schools.
The county rate is $0.81 per $100 of assessed value, and the Town of Smithfield adds $0.16 per $100. For a $350,000 home in town, that is about $2,835 county plus $560 town, or $3,395 a year. The same home in Carrollton, outside town limits, would owe about $2,835.
The James River Bridge connects Carrollton to Newport News. Off-peak, Newport News Shipbuilding is roughly 25 to 30 minutes from Smithfield, and less from Carrollton. The bridge carries more than 30,000 vehicles a day, so rush hour is slower.
Yes. The county is bounded by the James River on the north, and Smithfield sits on the Pagan River. Many neighborhoods back up to creeks. Check flood zones and dock permits before you buy on the water.
More in the Southside
Key Areas
Figures were checked in October 2026. Tax rates, school rankings and drive times change; confirm them for a specific address before you buy.
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