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Roanoke County

Named for Lord Botetourt, a royal Governor of Virginia, Botetourt County was formed in 1769 with boundaries extending west to the Mississippi River. Roanoke County was formed from a portion of this land in 1838. Roanoke’s earliest era of pioneer settlement produced two major military and political leaders. General Andrew Lewis and Col. William Fleming headed troops from Virginia who defeated the Shawnee at the Battle of Point Pleasant on the Ohio River in 1774. Both Lewis and Fleming then served as western Virginia leaders in the cause of the American Revolution. The county today (population 80,000) is the mostly affluent surburban area surrounding the City of Roanoke. It includes the Town of Vinton as well as Hollins, home of prestigious Hollins College for women, and historic Bonsack. Roanoke County’s name comes from the Indian word “Rawrenock”, which means wampum. These were white shell beads worn by native Americans. This explanation was handed down from Captain John Smith, who wrote about the origins of Roanoke Island in North Carolina’s Albemarle Sound. Many of the county’s areas are named for its mountain peaks. One of the most unusual names is Twelve O’ Clock Knob. The Mountain got its name because slaves west of Salem could look at it and tell it was time for lunch when the sun was at a point over the mountain’s 2,707-foot peak. Another of Roanoke County’s natural resources, underground springs, sparked names for many areas. These include Virginia Etna Springs, site of a former water bottling plant, and Botetourt Springs Resort. Begun in the 1820s, the resort became the nucleus of Hollins College. Another important spring was Big Cook Spring in Bonsack, an area heavily damaged by the Civil War. East of Vinton lies Bonsack, the home of Jim Bonsack. He quit Roanoke College to work on a competition for the first cigarette rolling machine. Young Bonsack won $75,000 competition prize, patented his invention in 1880 at the age of 22, made a fortune and spawned a national industry. Roanoke County’s pioneering spirit extends to modern times. The county was the first in the state to have curbside recycling. It also has been nationally recognized for governmental cooperation, quality of life and support of the Explore Park. Explore, a unique recreational and educational experience, is the county’s tourism focus. It opened in 1994, after the National Park Sevice completed a road to the area. This Park is located in East County near Vinton. Explore includes a frontier settlement, North American wilderness zoological park and environmental education center. This park will be completed in various phases with a major emphasis on environmental preservation. Information by The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau


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Frankin County

Pioneers moving southward from Pennsylvania and westward from Virginia’s Tidewater area, began settling the Franklin County region about 1750. Predominant among these early settlers were people of German, French, Scotch-Irish, and English stock. In 1785, after nearly a decade of debate, the General Assembly passed a Bill authorizing creation of a new county, which would be named after Benjamin Franklin. Already established and prosperous when the County was formed, Rocky Mount—located near the geographic center and named after an abrupt, rocky slope of land in the vicinity—became the County seat. On February 17, 1873, as a result of growth and change, the village of Rocky Mount became an incorporated town with established boundaries. Although rural and sparsely populated, Franklin County played a role in the major historical events that shaped America. During the Revolutionary War, munitions for the American cause were manufactured from locally mined iron ore by Colonel John Donelson at his iron works on Furnace Creek. Later renamed the Washington Iron Works, the furnace—the oldest County landmark—still stands in Rocky Mount. During the War Between the States, the County produced not only courageous fighters, but also strong leaders, the most famous of whom was Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early. Early is remembered as a sound and complete field commander whose record from 1861 to 1864 was second only to that of Stonewall Jackson himself. Following the war, Jubal Early returned to Rocky Mount where he practiced law. Franklin County also produced one of the nation’s most respected leaders. The eminent black educator, Booker T. Washington, was born April 5, 1856, on the Burrough’s Plantation, approximately sixteen miles northeast of Rocky Mount. As a slave, he spent his childhood in a one-room cabin. In 1881, after emancipation and a successful quest to educate himself, Washington established a new black school in Tuskegee, Alabama. Now nationally known, Tuskegee Institute gave Booker T. Washington a chance to achieve his goal of educating his people and providing them with opportunities never known before. Booker T. Washington’s birthplace is preserved today as the Booker T. Washington National Monument on Rt. 122 in Franklin County. Throughout the nineteenth century, the economy of Franklin County was supported by agriculture and the mining and production of iron. However, with the turn of the century, changes began to take place in Franklin County as the railroad and new and improved roads helped to speed the development of the County. The result was growth and industrialization. Although agriculture, including tobacco, remains an important element in Franklin County’s economy, timber is now the county’s most important natural resource. Locally manufactured products include furniture, building supplies, manufactured housing, and business products. In the 1960’s, a new project, the creation of Smith Mountain Lake, ushered in a new era of dramatic change to the County. The lake has attracted thousands of new residents to the County, and today the County is a new melting pot for the values and traditions of life-long residents and new settlers. A recently completed historic resources survey identified over one hundred important historic sites, many of which are now included on the Historic Register. Information by The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau


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Botetourt County

Botetourt County, founded in 1770, is historically unique. It was initially formed from the counties of Augusta and Rockbridge and it derived its name from Lord Botetourt, who was the Governor of Virginia. After the Revolutionary War, the county’s jurisdiction was extended to the Mississippi River, encompassing what is now West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and part of Illinois.

Today, Botetourt County—the Southern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley—lies in a broad valley which was once known as theFincastle Valley, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Its blueskies and clean air cover an ocean of farms, orchards, small towns, villages and quiet residential developments.

Located in Western Virginia near Roanoke, Botetourt is a scenic, historic county offering all the advantages of small-town and rural life plus the proximity to Western Virginia’s largest city and itsmedical,economic and cultural contributions. Here, much of the area’s historyhas been preserved for future generations. Information by Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce.


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Craig County

Rich in natural beauty, historic Craig County, Virginia is a place one won’t soon forget. Historic New Castle is the charming county seat of Craig County. The stately courthouse was built in 1852 with locally made bricks, and features a bell cast by the same foundry that made the Liberty Bell. This and other landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places include the old Brick Hotel and Star Saloon, built in the 1840’s, now the home of the Craig Historical Society and its museum, as well as the sheriff’s office. You’ll also want to view the many lovely old homes located in the down-town area. Paint Bank, a near by town, is home to Tingler’s Mill in operation since 1783. The 22 foot overshot waterwheel for the mill was used to generate electricity, bringing lights and other electrical conveniences to Paint Bank far before power came to New Castle. Traveling through Craig County you’ll find beautiful turn of the century farmhouses with rail fences and old barns, quaint rural churches, the Appalachian Trail in addition to the wonderful rural scenery. Spring, late summer and fall are wonderful times to visit Craig County, not only for the beautiful scenery but also for the activities that take place. In mid- April the county welcomes the arrival of spring with the annual Red Bud Festival. In late August, the four-day Craig County Fair is held with agricultural exhibits, shows, and a carnival. The Fall Festival held in October in New Castle features local performers, crafts, an antique car show, and tours of the Old Brick Hotel. In addition, Craig County is home to two national forests, Jefferson and Washington, which make up over 50% of the county. From camping and hiking to fishing and hunting to bird watching along the trails, the national forest provide visitors with a wealth of outdoor activities to choose from. Information by the Craig County Tourism Commission.


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