University in Westham, Virginia where John-Boy attends college, located about 28 miles from Walton's Mountain s2/e24 and s3/e11 In reality, the web site of The University of Richmond, once called Richmond College, says, "Earl Hamner, creator of the television show "The Waltons," attended Richmond College in the 1940s. The college John Boy Walton attended, Boatwright University, is based on Richmond College." Also, if you go to , you will find out why Earl Hamner may have used the name "Boatwright" for the name of his college.