"A City Before the State chronicles the rise of the capital city of Williamsburg when Virginia was still a colony- the oldest, largest, most populous, and valuable portion of Britain's mainland empire in the 17[superscript th]c. Named in honor of King William III, Williamsburg thrived in the 18[superscript th]c, and was central to the founding of the nation before and during the American Revolution. When the capital was moved westward up the James River to Richmond in 1780, Williamsburg's fortunes changed.

In retrospect, however, Williamsburg's loss of status as capital was its salvation, as development would have destroyed many 18[superscript th]c, buildings that survived into the 20[superscript th]c."--BOOK JACKET.