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Appomattox County was formed in 1845 from Buckingham, Prince Edward, Campbell and Charlotte Counties. In 1848, another part of
Campbell County was added. It was named for the Appomattox River. The name was borne earlier by an Indian tribe living near the mouth
of the river.
The Town of Appomattox is the county seat. About two miles East is the Old Appomattox Courthouse where on Sunday, April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee met with General Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of Wilmer McLean's house to discuss the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Today, with the help of the slide shows, walking tours and reenactors, visitors to the restored village become intimate observers to the drama played out in the days just prior to -- and immediately following -- the war's conclusion. When Appomattox county was formed in 1845, a courthouse was built in the village of Clover Hill, which had previously been in Prince Edward county. The name of the village of Clover Hill was later changed to Appomattox Courthouse. When the courthouse was destroyed in 1892, a new one was built about two miles west in the town of Appomattox, which had originally been named Nebraska. Later the town was renamed West Appomattox but in 1906, it became the Town of Appomattox again. Today, Cloverhill Village features 19th-century original structures, donated and relocated to the site. Cloverhill hosts a number of local festivals throughout the year, and Wesley Chapel is available for those with "nostalgic nuptials" in mind.
Two Appomattox county sites, marked with special red, white, and blue signs, on Virginia's Route 24 are part of "Lee's Retreat", a 25-stop driving tour between Petersburg and Appomattox. The route traces the more than 100-mile trek Lee and his army took while being pursued by Union troops.
 
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A self-guided tour of the Town of Appomattox, which includes 44 grand homes from the turn of the century, begins and ends at Main Street. Weekends and special
occasions, weather permitting, a shorter horse-and carriage tour awaits the more sentimental visitor. Virginia's Route 24 and a
well-maintained hiking trail, meandering through woodlands and crossing the Appomattox River, lead to other
Civil War sites including headquarters of both generals, a memorial to Confederate troops from North Carolina and a cemetery with the
remains of one Northern and 18 Southern soldiers.
Visitor should also stop by the modest cabin and simple grave site that
stand as markers to Joel Sweeney, a local man who popularized the five-string banjo that African slaves had improvised. Visitors can
also experience wine tasting and tours at Stonewall Vineyards and Winery in the northwest corner
of the county. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound at Holliday Lake State Park, Buckingham-Appomattox State Forest, and
along the James River.