There is one unique ZIP code in Ford, Virginia and it is 23850. Area code: 804.
1
ZIP codes
45.86
sq mi land
0.14
sq mi water
804
area code
Ford, VA ZIP code map
About Ford, VA
Ford, Virginia is a small rural community located in Dinwiddie County in the south-central region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Served by a single ZIP code, 23850, Ford offers residents a quiet, close-knit lifestyle rooted in the agricultural and historical traditions of the Virginia Piedmont. The community reflects the unhurried character of rural Southside Virginia, where wide open landscapes and a deep sense of local heritage define everyday life.
Location & geography
Ford, VA is situated in Dinwiddie County in south-central Virginia, roughly between the city of Petersburg to the northeast and the town of McKenney to the southwest along the US Route 1 corridor. Neighboring communities within a reasonable drive include Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Emporia, and Dinwiddie Court House, placing Ford within reach of a variety of larger regional services. The community covers 45.86 square miles of land and just 0.14 square miles of water, reflecting its predominantly rural, gently rolling terrain typical of the Virginia Piedmont region.
Community & economy
Ford, VA embodies the rural, agricultural spirit that has long defined Southside Virginia, with many residents maintaining deep generational ties to the land and to Dinwiddie County's traditions. Agriculture, forestry, and small-scale trades form the backbone of the local economy, with many residents commuting to nearby Petersburg or the greater Richmond metro area for additional employment opportunities. Daily life in Ford centers around community values, local churches, and the wide open spaces that make this part of Virginia a peaceful and grounded place to call home.
Transportation
Ford, VA is accessible primarily via US Route 1, a historic north-south corridor that has connected communities throughout Virginia for generations, providing the area's main artery for travel and commerce. Interstate 85 runs nearby to the west, offering convenient access toward the Raleigh-Durham area to the south and Petersburg and Richmond to the north. The nearest major commercial airport is Richmond International Airport (RIC), located approximately 40 to 45 miles north of the community, serving residents who require regional or national air travel.
History
Dinwiddie County, where Ford is located, has a history deeply intertwined with the Civil War, as the surrounding region was the site of significant military campaigns during the Siege of Petersburg from 1864 to 1865. The rural community of Ford developed as part of the broader agricultural settlement of Southside Virginia, where tobacco and timber played central roles in shaping the local economy during the 18th and 19th centuries. Over time, Ford has remained a quietly enduring rural settlement, preserving the landscape and community character that reflect centuries of Virginia's Southside heritage.
Did you know?
Ford, VA sits in one of Virginia's most historically significant counties, with Dinwiddie County serving as a backdrop for some of the final decisive campaigns of the American Civil War, making the surrounding countryside rich with preserved history just beyond the community's quiet roads. Despite its small size and single ZIP code, Ford's position in south-central Virginia places it within a region that has influenced the course of American history in ways far larger than its modest footprint might suggest.
