{{Use American English|date=April 2026}} '''Israel Hill''' was an unincorporated community in Prince Edward County, Virginia, United States along the Appomattox River. Founded in 1810 as a community for free black people in the area, Israel Hill has since become part of Farmville, Virginia.
== History == Israel Hill developed as a community of free Black people in Prince Edward County, Virginia along the Appomattox River around 1810.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israel Hill on the Appomattox|url=http://www.co.prince-edward.va.us/travel_israelhill.shtml|website=Prince Edward County|access-date=11 June 2015|ref=3|archive-date=14 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614083401/http://www.co.prince-edward.va.us/travel_israelhill.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> The will of Richard Randolph emancipated all of his slaves at Randolph's death in 1796. Israel Hill was established by Judith Randolph after the death of her husband Richard Randolph who inherited land and slaves from his father. He was a nephew of Thomas Jefferson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pocketsights.com/tours/place/Randolph-Plantation-Scandal-at-Bizarre-and-Israel-Hill-29367|title=Randolph Plantation, Scandal at Bizarre, and Israel Hill - High Bridge Walking Tour - PocketSights|website=pocketsights.com}}</ref>
In 2009 a historical marker commemorating the community was erected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://richmond.com/news/marker-recognizes-free-black-community-of-israel-hill/article_10535efc-5c71-56bb-9e55-c9e242a10d31.html|title=Marker recognizes free black community of Israel Hill|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}</ref><ref name="HMDB">{{cite web|title=Free Blacks of Israel Hill|website=HMdb.org The Historical Marker Database|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=28041}}</ref> The community is now part of Farmville, Virginia.
Melvin Patrick Ely, a history professor at the College of William and Mary, wrote ''Israel on the Appomattox'' about the community.<ref>{{cite book| title=Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern Experiment in Black Freedom from the 1790s Through the Civil War| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTxd5ZSyZNwC&q=Melvin+Patrick+Ely| publisher= Random House, Inc.| year= 2005| isbn= 978-0-679-76872-2 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel Hill}} Category:African-American history of Virginia Category:Populated places in Cumberland County, Virginia Category:1810 establishments in Virginia
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