Colonial Williamsburg is the historic istrict of the independent city of Williamsburg, Virginia. It consists of many of the buildings that from 1699 to 1780 formed the colonial capital of Williamsburg straddling the boundary of two of the original shires of Virginia, James City Shire (now James City County), and Charles River Shire (now York County). For most of the 18th century, Williamsburg was the center of government, education and culture in the Colony of Virginia.