Smithfield, Virginia is the "Ham Capital of the World"

Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County. According to its last census, the population was 8,533. Smithfield is small in size, but it has a title that no other place has.

Smithfield HamPhoto bySmithfield Market Place Screenshot

About the Smithfield ham

Because this quaint town in Virginia is widely known for its famous ham, it has the title "Ham Capital of the World."

The town is most famous for curing and producing the Smithfield ham. The Virginia General Assembly passed a statute defining "Smithfield ham" by law in 1926, with one of the requirements that it be processed within the town limits.

Smithfield Foods, a Chinese Fortune 500 company that owns Smithfield Packing Company and others, is the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. Based in Smithfield, the company raises 12 million hogs and processes 20 million pounds of hams annually.

About Smithfield

Even though Smithfield has the title "Ham Capital of the World," there is much more about the small town. Residents attend concerts in the park and enjoy community BBQs and countless other local events.

Smithfield makes the most of its stunning historic downtown, which features sites like the Smithfield Inn and historic homes, schools, and churches. According to the town website, "The Virginia Review" also called Smithfield "without a doubt, one of the prettiest towns in Virginia."