Before the English colonized the areas around Williamsburg, it was largely wooded territory, with Powhatan Native Americans dwelling there. Early colonial settlements were full of conflicts between natives and new settlers. The area which became Williamsburg got settled in 1638 as Middle Plantation.
In 1722, the town of Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a city, believed to be the oldest charter in the United States. Williamsburg saw combat in the spring of 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign. A contingent of Confederate defenders known as the Army of the Peninsula was stationed here.
Williamsburg continued being a small quiet town in the early 20th century. Few new structures came up beside the earlier colonial-era buildings. The town was decidedly less progressive than other Virginia communities. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is Virginia's largest tourist attraction and is the cornerstone of the Historic Triangle.
The 9th G7 Summit was held in Williamsburg in 1983. And more recently in February 2009 President Barack Obama took his first trip aboard Air Force One to a House Democrats retreat in Williamsburg to attend and address the “Issues Conference”.
