The Henrico Board of Supervisors made history Tuesday night when it elected two African-Americans to the county’s top elective leadership posts.

The five-member board selected Frank J. Thornton as its chairman and the Rev. Tyrone E. Nelson as vice chairman.

It’s the first time since 1934, when Henrico County adopted the county- manager form of government, that two African-Americans have led the board of supervisors.

It’s also likely the first time two representatives from the predominately black eastern end of the county have served in leadership positions on the five-member council at the same time.

Mr. Thornton represents the Fairfield District; Rev. Nelson, the Varina District. Roughly 30 percent of Henrico’s population is African-American.

“It was not long ago that persons who look like me were not able to vote in the United States,” Rev. Nelson said in a statement. “I do not take this lightly — that I am able to serve in this leadership capacity in this great county.”

Mr. Thornton, a language professor at Virginia Union University and the first African-American elected to the board of supervisors in 1996, has previously served as board chair in 2011, 2005 and 2000.

This is the first time Rev. Nelson, pastor at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Richmond’s Jackson Ward, has held a board leadership role since he was elected in 2011.

Mr. Thornton said he looked forward to running the board of supervisors the “Henrico Way.”

“The Henrico Way is our way of serving our citizens in which they are receiving optimal and positive results in government service,” he said in a statement. “It is my hope and our challenge that we take the Henrico Way to an even higher level during the upcoming year.”