Creation: Appeared in July 1933 as a renumbering of:
VA 18 from VA 5 (now SR 750) Afton to Woods Mill
VA 28 from Woods Mill east 3.5 miles (also a duplex with US 29)
VA 19 from US 29 to Richmond. This is the 2nd VA 6.

VA 18 and VA 19, Afton to Richmond 1932 Official

VA 6, Afton to Richmond 1933 Official

Adjustments: In 1935, VA 6 was rerouted to leave Patterson and use Kensington to VA 161 instead of Patterson all the way.

VA 6 using Patterson all the way to VA 161 1934 Official

VA 6 using Patterson to Kensington to VA 161 1935 Official

Also about 1935 (bridge date), VA 6 was removed from SR 737 west of Scottsville.
About 1938, VA 6 west was truncated to VA 151 Nellysford. Nellysford to Afton became VA 151 which used SR 638 in the Avon area.
In Apr 1949 (CTB), VA 6 was built onto new alignments in southwestern Albemarle County, leaving behind some abandoned routing but also SR 1809, SR 800, and SR 711.
In Feb 1952 (CTB), VA 6 was removed from the James River Correctional Center leaving behind SR 645. The old loop eventually became today's VA 310.
In Mar 1958 (CTB), VA 6 was removed from SR 810 between VA 151 and US 29.
In Dec 1963 (CTB), VA 6 was re-extended along VA 151 to Avon, then extended northeast as new primary routing to US 250 Critzers Shop.
In May 1965 (CTB), VA 6 was removed from SR 697/640 Cunningham Rd loop near Central Plains.
In Oct 1967 (CTB), VA 6 was removed from SR 649/704 loop at Central Plains.
In Oct 1971 (CTB), VA 6 was removed from SR 705 Cohassett Cir and the SR 612/671 loop at Cohassett.
About 1980 (Bridgge date), VA 6 was put on its wrong-leg alignment at Woods Mill. The previous US 29 approach became today's VA 6Y.
In Sep 1989 (CTB), VA 6 and VA 151 swapped routings north of Avon.

VA 151 replaces VA 6 to Afton 1938-39 Official

VA 6 re-extended north to US 250 1965 Official

VA 151 swaps with VA 6 1991 Official

Improvements:  Paved upon inception everywhere except from Scottsville west to US 29.
VA 6 was paved from US 29 to VA 6Y Schuyler in 1936.
VA 6 was paved from Scottsville west 3 miles in 1938.
The rest of VA 6 was paved between 1942-44.
VA 6 was first multilaned in 1960 or 1961 from Three Chopt Rd east to about where I-195 is now.
In 1963, VA 6 was multilaned west to Parham Rd.
In 1970, VA 6 was multilaned west to VA 157
In 1971, VA 6 was multilaned west to the Goochland line
In 1975, VA 6 was multilaned west to Manakin.
In 1979, VA 6 was multilaned on most of its US 29 duplex
In 1980, VA 6 was multilaned on the rest of the US 29 duplex
VA 7 is 6 or more lanes from US 15 to SR 7100 Fairfax County Pkwy
Posted:  Fully posted; Last known cutouts in Richmond replaced in 2018
The change from Patterson to Kensington is no longer posted.
Amy Barden reported an error US 6 shield on WB US 250 on Afton Mtn in late 2004. This shield was corrected in 2008.
There are VA 006 shields on business destination signs both directions on US 29 in Woods Mill
Multiplexes:  VA 151 (6.22 mi)
US 29 (4.24 mi)
VA 20 (0.58 mi)
US 15 (1.99 mi)
US 522 (1.74 mi)
Legislative names:  None
Other names:  Afton Mtn Rd (w of VA 151); River Rd (btw VA 151 and US 29); Thomas Nelson Hwy (US 29 duplex); Irish Rd (US 29 to VA 20); Valley Rd/Main St/Canal St (Scottsville); W. River Rd (Scottsville to US 15); James Madison Hwy (US 15 duplex); E. River Rd (US 15 to Columbia); St James St (Columbia); River Rd (Columbia to Manakin); Patterson Ave (Manakin to Richmond); Patterson Ave/Kensington Ave (Richmond)
Scenic Byway:  Entire route west of SR 650 Manakin.
Comment: VA 6 is a very nice ride along the James River.
VA 6 does not really traverse any populated areas and has no stoplights west of Goochland CH

Route 6: Alexandria, Fairfax, Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville, Boyce, Winchester, Gore, West Virginia Line

More specifically, VA 6 began at VA 1 (most likely now VA 400) Alexandria, using VA 236 west to Fairfax. Here VA 6 headed west on US 50 to Middleburg, then used SR 828 loop through Atoka, then crossed over US 50 and crossed Goose Creek near the north end of SR 624. VA 6 picked back up US 50 through Upperville toward Paris, where it used Federal St through the village.
VA 6 then used US 17-50 up to Ashby Gap but used the SR 601 access roads through the gap. VA 6 used US 17-50 more or less (some alignments are visible west of SR 601) to the Shenandoah River, where the crossing was slightly south, along River House Ln.
VA 6 followed SR 723 through Millwood and Boyce back to US 17-50. VA 6 used US 50 through Winchester, then SR 803 Round Hill Rd. VA 6 followed US 50 to West Virginia except: SR 817 Magic Mtn Rd; short SR loop west of Hayfield; Gore Rd through Gore; in between the end of US 50 4-lane and west of SR 703 there is an alignment to the northeast of US 50 with notably twisty curves that is now a long driveway; a short loop at the state line
VA 6 was renumbered as VA 36 in 1923.
A couple bridges from VA 6's time still exist: US 50 in Aldie and SR 723 at Opequon Creek.

Original VA 6 1922 Auto Trails

VA 36 replaces VA 6 1924 Official