I’m not gonna be able to find a direct source for the forest part easily but knowing chesterfields (and for most part virginias) history from the 1800s-1950s our reliance on wood for construction and energy along with needing cleared land for farming use dramatically reduced the acreage of forests that we have today.

You can google vintage aerial photos of the area back to the 50’s and see how much land was cleared for farms and the lack of woods.