Brandermill is a major suburban residential and commercial development in the Southside

Southside (Richmond, Virginia)

The Southside of Richmond is an area of the Metropolitan Statistical Area surrounding Richmond, Virginia. It generally includes all portions of the City of Richmond which lie south of the James River, and includes all of the former city of Manchester...

 of Richmond, Virginia. It is located near Midlothian, Virginia

Midlothian, Virginia

Midlothian is an unincorporated community in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. Founded over 300 years ago as a coal mining village, it is now a suburban community located in the Southside of Richmond well beyond the city limits of Richmond in the Richmond–Petersburg region.It was named...

 at the southern terminus of the Powhite Parkway

Virginia State Route 76

Virginia State Route 76 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Powhite Parkway , the state highway runs from SR 652 near Midlothian north to Interstate 195 in Richmond. SR 76 is a toll freeway that connects SR 288, U.S...

 and is centered around the Swift Creek Reservoir. The Census Bureau defines it as a Census-designated place

Census-designated place

A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...

 (CDP), with a population of 13,173 as of 2010.

In 1977, Brandermill developers East West Partners (then known as "The Brandermill group) were recognized for their work when Brandermill was named "The Best Planned Community in America" by Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens (magazine)

Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per...

 and the National Association of Home Builders

National Association of Home Builders

The National Association of Home Builders is one of the largest trade associations in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NAHB's mission is "to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry...

.
It was the first planned community in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County, Virginia

Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...

. It had a golf course, a church, and public schools.

Notorious murderer John List

John List

John Emil List was an American murderer. On November 9, 1971, he murdered his wife, mother, and three children in Westfield, New Jersey, and then disappeared. He had planned everything so meticulously that nearly a month passed before anyone noticed that anything was amiss...

was arrested while living in Brandermill.