Following Governor Ralph Northam’s recent announcement for Juneteenth to become a state holiday, James City County’s Board of Supervisors has approved Friday, June 19 as a holiday for County staff.
Most County offices and facilities will be closed in observance of the holiday. The following will remain open:
- James City County Recreation Center
- Abram Frink Jr. Community Center
- Parks (Visit the website for details)
- Convenience Centers and Garbage Transfer Station
- Voter Registration and Elections office
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 that word of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War finally reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, thus marking the end of slavery in the United States. Texas was the last of the former Confederate states to abolish slavery. As one of the places where slavery began in our country, it is fitting that James City County should take this important step to recognize the end of that terrible portion of our nation’s past. We hope that by observing this important holiday, we can embrace a more inclusive view of our history and celebrate independence for all.
Media Contact:
Renee Dallman, Public Information Officer
757-253-6605; renee.dallman@jamescitycountyva.gov