Rockbridge County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is the city of Lexington. Rockbridge County completely surrounds the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington. The

Bureau of Economic Analysis The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the United States Department of Commerce is a U.S. government agency that provides official macroeconomic and industry statistics, most notably reports about the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United ...

combines the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington with Rockbridge County for statistical purposes.

History

The Monacan Indian Nation inhabited the area for thousands of years before American settlers arrived in the area. Multiple mounds were constructed near the modern towns of Rockbridge and Rockbridge Baths. Rockbridge County was established in October 1777, from parts of now neighboring Augusta and Botetourt counties, and the first county elections were held in May 1778. Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, a notable landmark in the southern portion of the county. Rockbridge County was formed during an act of assembly intended to reduce the distance that residents had to travel to the nearest courthouse, and to ensure trials were held fairly, and among neighbors rather than strangers. The first court session in Rockbridge County was held at the home of Samuel Wallace on April 7, 1778. Because there were many subsistence farmers in the area, residents held fewer enslaved African Americans in Rockbridge County than in many parts of Virginia. The anti-slavery movement was stronger in Rockbridge than in the Tidewater or Piedmont regions. Several faculty members at Washington College (now

Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University (Washington and Lee or W&L) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among ...

) vigorously opposed slavery. But, many of the wealthiest residents of Rockbridge County were planters and large landowners; they held numerous slaves and bequeathed them as property to their widows and children, or gave them as wedding gifts. Cyrus McCormick grew up on his father's plantation in Raphine. His father held 41 enslaved African Americans and was a major property owner in real estate as well. McCormick invented the mechanical reaper near Steele's Tavern at the northern end of the county.

Geography

The hilly terrain of Rockbridge County was densely wooded in the eighteenth century. Its more level areas have now been cleared and turned to agriculture. The county is bordered by high ridges along its NW and SE borders, with the crests running NE-SW. The terrain's highest point ( ASL) is Rocky Mountain on its SE border with Amherst County. Maury River Lexington Virginia

According to the

US Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water. Rockbridge County is one of the 423 counties served by the

Appalachian Regional Commission The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal–state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Congress established A ...

, and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book '' American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America''.

Adjacent counties

* Bath County – northwest * Augusta County – northeast * Nelson County – east * Amherst County – southeast * Bedford County – south * Botetourt County – southwest * Alleghany County – west Raphine1

National protected areas

Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...

(part) * George Washington National Forest (part) * Jefferson National Forest (part) * United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Major highways

Demographics

2020 census

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.42%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 2.97%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.26% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. There were 8,486 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.84. The county population contained 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,035, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $28,217 versus $19,946 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $18,356. About 6.60% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Media

* The Rockbridge Advocate (monthly magazine) * The News-Gazette (weekly newspaper) * The Rockbridge Report (weekly broadcast and website, Washington & Lee University journalism students) * EyeOnVirginia.com (videos and interviews with Rockbridge area newsmakers) * Radio - 96.7 3WZ and 100.3 The Big Dawg

Communities

The independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington (incorporated 1892 and 1966 respectively) are enclaves within the boundaries of Rockbridge County, and are not a part of the county. Lexington is the county seat, despite its independent status, and shares three constitutional officers with Rockbridge County: Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Commonwealth's Attorney. Buena Vista does not share constitutional officers with either Rockbridge County or Lexington.

Towns

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

* Goshen

Census-designated places

* East Lexington * Fairfield

Unincorporated communities

* Brownsburg * Collierstown * Gilmore Mills * Marlbrook * Mechanicsville * Natural Bridge * Natural Bridge Station * Raphine * Rockbridge Baths * Steeles Tavern *

Vesuvius Mount Vesuvius ( ) is a Somma volcano, somma–stratovolcano located on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, Italy, about east of Naples and a short distance from the shore. It is one of several volcanoes forming the Campanian volcanic arc. Vesuv ...

Notable people

* Robert H. Adams (1792–1832), born in Rockbridge County, United States Senator from

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

* John Allen (1771–1813), born in Rockbridge County, a Kentucky political figure and colonel of militia, killed in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

* Adam Rankin Alexander (1781–1848), born in Rockbridge County, United States Congressman from

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

* Archibald Alexander (1772–1851), born in Rockbridge County, noted

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

clergyman, president of

Hampden–Sydney College Hampden–Sydney College (H-SC) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Men's colleges in the United States, college for men in Hampden Sydney, Virginia. Founded in 1775, it is the oldest privatel ...

, and one of the founders of and the first professor of

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a Private university, private seminary, school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Establish ...

* Samuel Dale (1772–1841), born in Rockbridge County, American frontiersman, known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama" and a veteran of the Creek War of 1813–1814 * Pierre Daura (1896–1976), Spanish/Catalan painter, naturalized American who lived in the county * Jessie Benton Frémont (1824–1902), born in Rockbridge County, American writer and political activist * William C. Friday (1920–2012), born in Raphine, Rockbridge County, American educator, public servant and President of

University of North Carolina The University of North Carolina is the Public university, public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referre ...

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two indi ...

(1793–1863), born in Rockbridge County, the only person to serve as governor of two U.S. states (

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

and

), victor at the Battle of San Jacinto, President of the

Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas (), or simply Texas, was a country in North America that existed for close to 10 years, from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846. Texas shared borders with Centralist Republic of Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande, an ...

, and United States Senator * Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863), one-time resident of Lexington, the county seat; General in the Confederate Army * Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), former commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the U.S. Civil War; after the war he accepted the presidency of

(then Washington College) * Robert Wood Lynn, American poet, winner of Yale Younger Poets Prize * Sally Mann (born 1951), celebrated American photographer * Charlie Manuel (born 1944), American and Japanese baseball player and

World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...

champion manager of the Philadelphia Phillies * Rick Mast (born 1957), Fan-favorite

Winston Cup The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the most prestigious stock car racing series in the United States. The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, ...

and Busch Series driver * Cyrus McCormick (1809–1884), inventor of the reaper * Miles Poindexter (1868-1946), Graduate of Fancy Hill Academy and Washington & Lee University,

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

from Washington, 1920 Republican Primary Presidential Candidate, United States

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

, Author, retired to and died in his home in Arnolds Valley * Samuel B. Pryor (1816–1866), First mayor of Dallas, TX. He was in the first class of the Virginia Military Institute. * Archibald Roane (1759/60–1819), lived in Rockbridge County in the 1780s, Governor of Tennessee * William Taylor (missionary) -- Nineteenth century missionary who spread and/or introduced Methodism around the world through his missionary work. * A. Willis Robertson (1887–1971), U.S. Senator, father of Pat Robertson * Pat Robertson (1930–2023), American minister, university president and media figure * Archibald Stuart (1795–1855), founder of

Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...

* Cy Twombly (1928–2011), born in Lexington, American

expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...

painter

Politics

References

External links

Rockbridge County Tourism Website – dining, lodging, events and attractions
{{authority control Virginia counties 1777 establishments in Virginia Populated places established in 1777 Counties on the James River (Virginia)