Tappahannock is the oldest town in Essex County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,375 at the 2010 census,[5] up from 2,068 at the 2000 census. Located on the Rappahannock River, Tappahannock is the county seat of Essex County.[6] Its name comes from an Algonquian language word lappihanne (also noted as toppehannock), meaning “Town on the rise and fall of water” or “where the tide ebbs and flows.” In 1608 John Smith landed in Tappahannock and fought with the local Rappahannock tribe. After defeating them, he later made peace.[7][8][9][10]

In 1682 a local man, Jacob Hobbs, established a trading post in the now extinct Rappahannock County[11] (in the vicinity of present-day Tappahannock). This area became known as “Hobbs Hole”. The town comprised 50 acres (20 ha) divided into half-acre squares.[12] The port was established at Hobbs Hole and called “New Plymouth”,[12] later changed back to the Native American name “Tappahannock”. As part of the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730 public warehouses for inspection and exportation of tobacco were established at Hobbs Hole.