Name: Middlesex County
Brand: Larry S. Chowning
SKU: 9781467102506
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Middlesex County

9781467102506

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Just 35 years after Jamestown was settled, Virginia colonists planted tobacco in nearby Middlesex County, an area strategically located between two major rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Middlesex life has been closely tied to both land and water. From the commerce of the early steamboats to the modern oyster-farming industry, the waterways have provided an avenue for business and a bountiful harvest of crabs, fish, and oysters. The county's modern boating industry grew from a 19th-century wooden boatbuilding tradition. The center of that industry, Deltaville, is known today as the "Boating Capital of the Chesapeake Bay." From the county's oyster heritage came Virginia's most famous celebration, the Urbanna Oyster Festival, which annually draws 60,000 people to the small waterfront town. Stately homes and churches that predate the Revolutionary War include Colonial Christ Church, which annually attracts hundreds of marines to the gravesite of Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the United States Marine Corps, who retired to the county in 1955.

Norfolk County

9780738506500

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A major player in the country's development, Norfolk County possesses a unique history, one that reflects the many challenges and accomplishments that America has experienced since the country's birth in the late eighteenth century. The county's citizens have weathered a variety of storms, both natural and manmade, ranging from hurricanes, floods, British occupation and attacks, Federal occupation, and aggressive civic annexation, and have created a beautiful and useful landscape, appealing to both the artist's eye and industrialist's practicality.
This volume, with over 200 black-and-white images, takes readers into one of the Tidewater region's most historic locations and into an age made memorable by its unpaved roads, its early streetcars and horse-drawn wagons, its lively waterfront district on the Elizabeth River, and its emerging cityscape bordered by picturesque dairy farms. A rare visual journey, Norfolk County explores, through word and image, the area's diverse past, touching upon many elements of everyday life, including scenes of early one-room schoolhouses, historic churches, well-known industries, lush countrysides, and life along the river, as well as capturing vintage views of Great Bridge, Deep Creek,
and the Great Dismal Swamp.

Music Makers of the Blue Ridge Plateau

9780738554105

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During the late 1920s, Ralph Peer and the Victor Recording Company visited the city of Bristol to look for new talent. They stumbled upon Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, two future legends of country music; however, other amazing musicians were unable to make the trip to Bristol for the auditions because of work and family obligations. For the locals, music was more than a way to earn fame and fortune; the music was part of the fabric of life in this rural environment. Some individuals did become famous, including the Stoneman Family, who recorded "The Ship That Didn't Return/ The Titanic," and Henry Whitter, who recorded "The Wreck of Old 97," but that was never the focus. The songs they played and created accompanied an entire generation through the Great Depression and World War II and into the vigorous growth of the 1950s and 1960s. All of these musicians influenced the birth, growth, and continued development of the Galax Fiddlers Convention, which is known around the world by old-time mountain music fans.

Northampton County

9780738587219

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Shortly after European colonists landed at Jamestown in 1607, they established a settlement in Northampton County. Settlers caught fish and shellfish in the shallow bays and creeks along the seaside and bayside and distilled salt from seawater to help preserve this bounty through the winter. Since 1608, Northampton has provided food for Virginia and the world. Fishing, crabbing, and clam aquaculture today are still an important part of the economic backbone of Northampton, but Northampton has been best known in recent years for land-based food production. The sandy soils of Northampton have always been productive, but when the railroad was built in 1884, it gave growers a method of getting produce to markets in a timely manner. So Northampton's history and culture have centered around food--gathering it, producing it, and shipping it--and the photographs in Images of America: Northampton County document this legacy.

African-American Education in Westmoreland County

9780738501451

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Primarily known as the birthplace of three prominent and celebrated Americans, our nation's first and fifth presidents and the South's most revered general during the War between the States, Westmoreland County enjoys a fascinating and diverse history, one shaped by both the contributions of its white and black citizens. Like many Southern states, Virginia's Northern Neck did not legalize formal education for African Americans until 1870. From that date to 1958, black students studied in small "separate but equal" oneand two-room schoolhouses throughout the county and remained
segregated until 1970. African-American Education in Westmoreland County is a unique study of the traditions, institutions, and people who were involved in teaching and educating the black population throughout the county. In this volume, with many never-before-published photographs, you
will take a visual journey through the area's past and visit the oneand two-room schoolhouses of Templemans, Potomac, and some of the smaller areas, such as Frog Hall and Mudbridge; and meet the dedicated and creative teachers and their students who studied and learned in this picturesque region nestled between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers.

African-American Education in Westmoreland County

Around South Hill

9780738587134

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South Hill was formerly located on the old Buckhorn Road near the Meherrin River. It was the site of the first chartered school in Mecklenburg County in 1814. When the founder/teacher/minister/postmaster died in 1857, many from the community relocated 3 miles east to the Boydton-Petersburg Plank Toll Road. In 1888, W. W. "Buck" Harris, a local wheelwright and landowner at Piney Pond and Plank Road, died. At auction, 55 acres of his property were purchased, platted, and parceled for sale by A. E. Batemen and Charles Peck to establish a new South Hill community, which surrounded the Atlantic-Danville Railroad depot. Following this, South Hill became known as the town of highways. With each new highway came significant changes for the town and county.

Around Clarksville

9780738567921

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Clarksville, Virginia's only lakeside town, is part of Western Mecklenburg County. It was the county's first incorporated town and was named for its founder, Clarke Royster. The area gained its fame when William Byrd II surveyed Buffalo Springs in 1726 and dubbed the waters "the water that Adam drank." The town was originally home to the Occoneechee Indians, who were driven from the area 50 years earlier when Nathaniel Bacon fought his last battle at Fort Occoneechee, massacring over 300 members of the tribe. This battle became his legacy. Today tourists are drawn to the area for annual fishing tournaments and lake activities.

Virginia State Parks

9780738587189

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Pres. Franklin Roosevelt's establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 had lasting conservation impacts across the nation. Virginia joined this effort when Will Carson of the Virginia Conservation Commission convinced Roosevelt to use the Civilian Conservation Corps to build a state park system. Virginia is distinguished as the only state in the nation to open a system of state parks on one day. On June 15, 1936, the first six state parks--Douthat, Seashore (present day First Landing), Hungry Mother, Fairy Stone, Westmoreland, and Staunton River State Parks--were opened. From these humble beginnings, the commonwealth has developed over 35 diverse, award-winning state parks. From seashore to mountains, take a journey across Virginia through a vast array of landscapes and unrivaled natural and cultural resources.

African Americans of Spotsylvania County

9780738553535

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This volume pays homage to religion, work, service, education, and the human touch that brought families through undeniably difficult times.

Spotsylvania County, Virginia, was established in 1721, but it was not until after the Civil War that the names of approximately 4,700 African Americans born and/or living in the county were recorded for the first time. More than 150 African Americans were over the age of 70 as recorded in the 1870 census report. The county is best known as the namesake of its dynamic governor, Alexander Spotswood, and for its bloody Civil War battles. The African American community emerged from the ravages of war after more than 140 years of slavery. The community formalized the institutions they developed for survival during those years and charted a path for their growth.

African Americans of Spotsylvania County

Bridgewater

9780738586502

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The story of Bridgewater is one of survival. Since its founding in 1835, this community has endured six major floods, economic crises, and a war that took place on its own soil. Despite the adversity it faced, the town has not only prevailed but has grown into one of the strongest and most progressive towns in Virginia.

Warrenton

9781467121675

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Explore the fascinating history of Warrenton, Virginia with more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

When Warrenton was founded in the 18th century, it was nothing more than a dusty road and watering hole. It served as a tavern and courthouse for weary travelers on the Falmouth-Winchesterand Alexandria-Culpeper roads.

As it grew and became the seat of Fauquier County, it was transformed into a magnet for judges and lawyers--many of whom shaped the country's government after the Revolutionary War. Almost a century later, Warrenton changed hands more than 60 times during the Civil War; it experienced Reconstructionand rose from the ashes after a great fire that wiped out almost half the town. Today, it has become an epicenter for equestrians, serving as home to foxhunters, the Virginia Gold Cup Steeplechase, and the Warrenton Horse Show.

With vintage photographs, Warrentonbeckons readers back in time, along the backdrop of beautiful 18th- and 19th-century architecture and estates, to remember the spirit of a bygone era that still paints the streets and colors the culture of the people who live there.

Stafford County

9780738518480

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Formally established in 1664, Stafford County, Virginia, has a complex history. Long before John Smith discovered Stafford, the Patowomecke and Manahoac Indians thrived here. As the county began to grow, the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, which border Stafford, provided sources of food and transportation for people and goods. They also provided energy for the operation of iron works, as well as flour and lumber mills. During the Revolutionary War, Stafford's mineral and iron works helped us fight for our nation's independence by supplying the Continental Army with equipment; during the Civil War, Stafford hosted Union and Confederate troops during the battles over Fredericksburg. Famous Staffordians include George Washington and George Mason. Works by Gari Melchers, an internationally renowned impressionist painter who resided in Stafford, are on display around the world and in the United States. Today, much of the historic landscape of Stafford has disappeared. This detailed pictorial volume containing over 200 images--many of which have never been published--offers a peek at a history in danger of being forgotten.

Downtown Newport News

9780738585819

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Read about Newport News' history as a vital early settlement in the nascent America and its center for commerce and more, until the start of WWII.

Settled in 1621, Newport News has the oldest English place name of any city in the New World. Its name is said to have come from ""Newport's news"" that supply ships were coming to save the starving Jamestown colonists in 1610. Farming and fishing were the primary occupations until Collis P. Huntington chose Newport News for the eastern terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in the 1870s. In 1886, he founded the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, which has built some of the most famous ships in history. By 1900, a vital city had grown where there were previously only farms and forest. Through vivid images, maps, and reminiscences, Images of America: Downtown Newport News tells the story of the city's once popular and thriving downtown commercial, social, and entertainment area, which met its end from flight to the suburbs after World War II.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Court House

9780738514840

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Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County both witnessed the ravages of America's defining drama. This is the story of a town forced into exodus by the harsh hand of war and of the strength that helped its residents find rebirth from the ashes of destruction. This shared experience would bring people like John Henry Myer and Joseph Walker into a united community, despite diverse backgrounds and racial differences. Fredericksburg had enjoyed prosperity as a colonial-era tobacco port, but economic and agricultural changes diminished this importance. By the 1850s, Fredericksburg had been eclipsed by Richmond to the south and Alexandria to the north. Shortly before the Civil War, a small industrial boom revitalized the town only to be cast asunder by the events of 1861-1865. Ten miles south is Spotsylvania Court House, the county seat. Here too, fate would deal a blow as warring armies raged over the pastoral setting, leaving destruction in their wake.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Court House

Appomattox County

9780738567334

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Appomattox County, formed in 1845 and named after the nearby river, was originally best known for growing tobacco. However, that dramatically changed in 1865 when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the McLean House. In the 1930s, efforts began to commemorate Civil War events, and a national park was created. Each year, the county's 14,000 residents host the 125,000 visitors who flock to the area to learn more about the county's pivotal heritage. Boasting a unique history abundant with churches, notable citizens, and special events, this photograph collection shows the diverse and memorable history of Appomattox.

Jamestown Exposition

9780738501673

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The fascinating story of the Jamestown Exposition of 1907, a tricentennial celebration of America's first settlement in 1607, continues to unfold in this companion volume, which explores the exposition's parades, exhibitions, and the people who worked and participated in the days' events. Not only important as a statewide event, the exposition provided the United States government and many other states a stage to display their history and culture for the whole world to see and enjoy. In this second volume, you will continue your visual journey on the exposition grounds, viewing the new wonders of the time--flying machines--and the architecturally diverse State Buildings, such as Kentucky's frontierera fort, Virginia's replica colonial planter's mansion, and Vermont's country cottage. As you thumb through these pages, you will learn the incredible stories of some of the most famous people of the day who attended the exposition, such as William Jennings Bryan and Mark Twain, and the captivating history of the Black Jamestown Exposition Company, a group that
held a separate exhibit along with the festivities of the larger exposition. Also, the exposition served as the starting point for the around-the-world voyage of President Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, a bold demonstration of America's naval superiority and new role as a leading world power.

Smithfield

9780738517421

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The history of Isle of Wight County and Smithfield are nearly as old as the settlement of the nation itself. In 1608, explorer Capt. John Smith visited the area south of his Jamestown Colony in search of food and trade with the Warascoyak Indians. The region's first inhabitants took root in 1619, and the town of Smithfield was established in 1752. A culinary specialty of the area learned from the Native Americans was introduced to the rest of the world in the late 1700s--a salt-cured cut of pork later known as Smithfield Ham. The popularity of the ham grew, and everyone from royalty (Queen Victoria ordered hams frequently) to presidents have dined on the delicacy, making the quaint village of 6,500 "Ham Town U.S.A." Today, the only place to get a genuine Smithfield ham is from this Virginia town.

Tazewell County

9780738542201

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A pictoral history of Tazewell County, documenting this county's development and evolution through time via rare and vintage images.

Tazewell County, one of the gems of Southwest Virginia, lies within a couple hours' drive of four state lines in this unique corner of the Commonwealth. There are five incorporated towns in Tazewell County, each one unique in its history and in the contributions of its citizens. Tazewell, formerly known as Jeffersonville, is the county seat and political center of the county; Bluefield, once called Graham, shares its name with its sister city in West Virginia. Richlands was once destined to become the ""Pittsburgh of the South""; Cedar Bluff lies in a uniquely beautiful setting on the banks of the Clinch River; and Pocahontas, center of the famous Pocahontas Coalfields, is potentially the ""Coalfield Williamsburg"" of Southwest Virginia. As readers review these photographs of Tazewell County's growth and development in this historical collection, it will stir within them many memories of the great people and places that have made Tazewell County such a unique Virginia treasure.

Campbell County

9780738592534

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Campbell County, formed in 1782 from Bedford County, was the first Virginia county created after the Revolutionary War. It is named for Gen. William Campbell, patriot commander at the Battle of King's Mountain and brother-in-law to Patrick Henry. Scotch Irish Presbyterians settled the Hat Creek area in the late 1730s. Soon after, the Flat Creek area was settled, followed by the Concord area. The county gave up portions of its land in 1845 and 1848 to help form Appomattox County. Historically an agrarian area, several of the towns arose from the tobacco industry while others were railroad towns. The county has changed since its early days of manufacturing and railroad-dominant towns to being primarily residential, but its residents continue to treasure their heritage and appreciate the contributions the county has made over the years.

Newport News

9780738515847

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Within slightly more than 100 years, the sleepy village of Newport News has transformed itself from a sparsely populated region of watermen and farmers to a city known as one of the nation's greatest centers for shipbuilding, scientific research, Virginia history, and scenic sites. Nestled along the eastern coast of Virginia on the James River, Newport News has a colorful and dynamic history intrinsically linked to the surrounding water. As the town filled with people of great energy and enthusiasm, their hard work propelled local industry to the forefront of the city's reputation.

Madison County

9780738587202

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This fertile and beautiful land, with its small rivers and valleys and surrounding mountains, was designated Madison County in 1792. The county was named for the family of James Madison, fourth president of the United States and the father of the Constitution. His family ran a mill on the Rapidan River, which is now located in the southern section of Madison County. Early in the 18th century, descendants of English and French colonials settled the southern sections of the county, and Quakers and German Lutherans settled the northern sections. Madison County's first church, Hebron Lutheran, was built in 1740, and its public church school was opened in 1748. Archaeologists have gathered evidence that Native Americans hunted and gathered in the region thousands of years earlier.

Danville

9780738517339

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Located in South Central Virginia on the North Carolina border, Danville remains one of the most dynamic destinations in the state. The geographic region that is now Danville was home to the Morotock Indians in the 1600s and frequented by traders as early as 1673. It was not until the late 1700s that the Virginia General Assembly was petitioned to establish a Tobacco Inspection Site along the Dan River. On November 23, 1793, the Assembly approved the request and decreed that 25 acres south of the river be founded as the Town of Danville. The city's first cotton mill was constructed in 1828, and five years later the town became the City of Danville. The town served as the last capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War and was also the site of the infamous "Wreck of the Old 97"--inspiration for the popular ballad. In the more than 200 years since its founding, Danville's rich history has been driven by tobacco and textile markets.

Linden Row Inn

9781467122559

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Included in the National Register of Historic Places, the collection of Greek Revival row houses that make up the Linden Row Inn have played a significant role in the history of Richmond, Virginia, for two centuries. As a child, Edgar Allan Poe played in the private garden that occupied this site, and he later courted his first love, Elmira Royster, among the roses and linden trees. During the Civil War, Linden Row was a meeting place for leaders and supporters of the Confederacy; later, it was home to a prestigious girls' school, whose pupils included Irene and Nancy Langhorne, known in later years as the Gibson Girl and Lady Nancy Astor. In 1922, two of the original ten houses were torn down and replaced by the Medical Arts Building. In 1950, local preservationist Mary Wingfield Scott purchased the remaining houses to save them from the wrecking ball, donating them in 1980 to the Historic Richmond Foundation. In 1988, under the supervision of the foundation, seven of the eight remaining houses were renovated and restored to become the Linden Row Inn, which still welcomes travelers today.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Apparatus Heritage

9780738552637

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The formation of the volunteer fire and rescue departments were a central part of Loudoun County's rich history. In the beginning, residents rallied to provide fire protection and emergency medical care to their neighbors. As more communities were
established, fire and rescue departments worked together to provide assistance to each other during an emergency. As Loudoun County experiences incredible growth, volunteers from the community
work side-by-side with career personnel to ensure that citizens are well protected. The images in this volume capture the history of Loudoun's fire and rescue apparatus, from the earliest trucks to today's modern fire and rescue vehicles. The photographs depict a time when departments struggled to raise funds and provide protection to their communities. This Images of America book shows how far fire and rescue departments have come to ensure the protection of life and property in Loudoun County.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Apparatus Heritage

Urbanna

9780738592350

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Urbanna is one of oldest English-settled towns in America. In 1680, the Virginia Assembly created the town by approving the Act of Cohabitation, which was designed to create 19 towns in Virginia. Urbanna was officially established in 1706 by the assembly, which named the town Burgh of Urbanna, Latin for "City of Anne," after Queen Anne of England. Throughout the colonial period, the town was a tobacco inspection port. It was invaded by the British during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 and then by Union troops during the Civil War. After the Civil War, oysters from the Rappahannock River became the primary source of income for residents until the 1960s. As a tribute to the oyster, the town annually holds the Urbanna Oyster Festival, which draws over 60,000 people to the shores of the little town.

Bland County

9780738587332

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Bland County is one of the smallest counties of the Old Dominion, yet it is filled with spectacular, unspoiled, scenic vistas that rival any rural area on the North American continent. Bland County is a tree-covered paradise with no incorporated towns, and about one-third of the county's 369 square miles are included in the Jefferson National Forest. The history of Bland County after the arrival of European settlers includes stories of patriotism, independence, as well as struggles against incredible odds. The Virginia General Assembly formed Bland County on March 30, 1861. The county has always been for progress, with lumber companies arriving in the late 19th century to harvest the county's vast timber resources and the railroad following at the start of the 20th century. Bland County was also home to a huge Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the 1930s. From communities like Ceres to No Business and Hicksville to Bland, the entire county has a great story to tell.

Around New Market

9780738542805

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Central to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the town of New Market lies at the western base of the Massanutten range. Its crossroads go back to two Native American hunting trails that crossed here throughout the ages. By the 1740s, Swiss-German settlers began moving southward from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, region and settled in New Market, followed by Scotch-Irish immigrants. According to folklore, when it was incorporated in 1796, the community was named New Market after the famous race course in England. The area still shines with its agrarian roots, while over the years, it has fostered many educational institutions and maintained historically heavy commerce.

Chesapeake Bay Deck Boats

9781467105194

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During the 1880s, Chesapeake Bay boatbuilders began constructing small wooden open boats, referred to as deadrise boats, out of planks with V-shaped bows. As boatbuilders created larger deadrise boats, decks were installed to provide more work and payload space; these deck boats also had a house/pilothouse near the stern and a mast closer to the bow of the boat. Deck boats were powered by gasoline engines but also utilized sails and wind. From the 1910s to the 1940s, auxiliary "steadying" sails were raised to help steady the boat when encountering adverse seas. More deck boats were built in the 1920s than in any other decade. Over the history of the boats, several thousand worked the bay in the freight business, were used to buy and plant oysters, worked in the bay's pound net fishery, and dredged for crabs and oysters. Approximately 40 boats are left on the bay. A few still work the water. Some have found new life as recreational yachts, and others are education boats owned by museums and nonprofits. In 2004, boat owners formed the Chesapeake Bay Buyboat Association, which holds an annual rendezvous at different ports as a way to educate the public about this unique aspect of Chesapeake Bay maritime history.

The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival

9780738542102

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During the month of April, the residents of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Orange Counties converge on the city of Charlottesville to celebrate the beauty of Central Virginia and honor the state flower. Beginning in 1950 as the Apple Harvest Festival, the festival took on its current name, the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival, in 1958. Each year, Charlottesville comes alive not only with the blooms and blossoms of spring, but with fireworks, amusement rides, and a host of local royalty. The beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and fall foliage as well as breathtaking springs and some of the nation's oldest and most prestigious plantations make this area one of the most popular places to visit in the South. The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival takes pride in being a long-standing part of an area rich in tradition and heritage.

Hiltons

9780738554235

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Hiltons is located in the southwest corner of Virginia and was named for the Reverend Samuel Hilton, who moved to the region from North Carolina in 1795. In the 1880s, Hiltons became a vital link for goods being transported both to and from the region when the railroad was constructed from Bristol to Appalachia. U.S. Highway 58 winds through Hiltons to Virginia Beach, providing many miles of scenic travel on what was, for many years, an important transportation route. The Hiltons area is blessed with natural beauty, including the scenic Clinch Mountains, a part of the Appalachian chain, and the lazy flowing north fork of the Holston River. Hiltons is home to the world-renowned Carter family of country music fame and is the location of the Carter Family Museum and Fold, which continues to provide old-time country music entertainment.