1.
108th Virginia General Assembly
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The 108th Virginia General Assembly was the meeting of the legislative branch of the Virginia state government from 1914 to 1916, after the 1913 state elections. It convened in Richmond for two sessions, resignations and new members are discussed in the Changes in membership section, below. April 8,1914, John M. Hart resigns to accept appointment as Collector of Internal Revenue for the Western District of Virginia, replaced by William L. Andrews at start of extra session. April 13,1914, Richard C. L. Moncure resigns to accept appointment as Collector of Internal Revenue for the Eastern District of Virginia, oConor Goolrick at start of extra session. June 25,1914, Samuel T. Montague resigned to become postmaster of Portsmouth, corbitt at start of extra session. December 19,1914, Edward Echols dies, replaced by William H. Landes at start of extra session
2.
Virginia State Capitol
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The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government of the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the third capital city of the U. S. state of Virginia. It houses the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, the Virginia General Assembly, the Capitol was conceived of by Thomas Jefferson and Charles-Louis Clérisseau in France. Although it was completed in 1788 and is 228 years old as of 2016, in the early 20th century, two wings were added, leading to its present appearance. In 1960, it was designated a National Historic Landmark, during the American Colonial period, Virginias first capital was Jamestown, where the first legislative body, the Virginia House of Burgesses, met in 1619. The new government used four state houses at different times at Jamestown due to fires, the first Representative Legislative Assembly convened on July 30,1619 at the Jamestown Church which served as the first Capitol. With the decision to relocate the government inland to Williamsburg in 1699, nearby was the grand Governors Palace. It burned in 1747 and was replaced in 1753, the Capitol at Williamsburg served until the American Revolutionary War began, when Governor Thomas Jefferson urged that the capital be relocated to Richmond. The building was last used as a capitol on December 24,1779, when it convened in Richmond on May 1,1780, the legislature met in a makeshift building near Shockoe Bottom. By 1788, the Old Capitol where the Virginia Ratifying Convention met was at the New Academy by the Chevalier Quesnay, plans were begun for a new building to serve a new state, the Commonwealth of Virginia. The site selected for a new, permanent building was on Shockoe Hill, Thomas Jefferson is credited with the overall design of the new Capitol, together with French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau. The design was modeled after the Maison Carrée at Nîmes in southern France, the only other state to accurately copy an ancient model is the Vermont State House, which based its portico on the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens. Jefferson had Clérisseau substitute the Ionic order over the more ornate Corinthian column designs of the prototype in France, at the suggestion of Clérisseau, it used a variant of the Ionic order designed by Italian student of Andrea Palladio, Vincenzo Scamozzi. The cornerstone was laid on August 18,1785, with Governor Patrick Henry in attendance, in 1786, a set of architectural drawings and a plaster model were sent from France to Virginia, where it was executed by Samuel Dobie. It was sufficiently completed for the General Assembly to meet there in October 1792 and it is one of only twelve Capitols in the United States without an external dome. The building also served as the Capitol of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, the first Flag of the United States to fly over the capitol since secession was hoisted by Lieutenant Johnston L. de Peyster. U. S. President Abraham Lincoln toured the Capitol during his visit to Richmond about a week before his assassination in Washington, from April 6 until April 10,1865 Lynchburg served as the Capital of Virginia. Under Gov. William Smith, the executive and legislative branches of the moved to Lynchburg for the few days between the fall of Richmond and the fall of the Confederacy. After the end of the American Civil War, during the Reconstruction period, Virginia was under military rule for almost five years, before the proceedings could begin, the gallery gave way and fell to the courtroom floor
3.
Virginia
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Virginia is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, as well as in the historic Southeast. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, the capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond, Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The Commonwealths estimated population as of 2014 is over 8.3 million, the areas history begins with several indigenous groups, including the Powhatan. In 1607 the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent New World English colony, slave labor and the land acquired from displaced Native American tribes each played a significant role in the colonys early politics and plantation economy. Although the Commonwealth was under one-party rule for nearly a century following Reconstruction, the Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World. The state government was ranked most effective by the Pew Center on the States in both 2005 and 2008 and it is unique in how it treats cities and counties equally, manages local roads, and prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. Virginias economy changed from agricultural to industrial during the 1960s and 1970s. Virginia has an area of 42,774.2 square miles, including 3,180.13 square miles of water. Virginias boundary with Maryland and Washington, D. C. extends to the mark of the south shore of the Potomac River. The southern border is defined as the 36° 30′ parallel north, the border with Tennessee was not settled until 1893, when their dispute was brought to the U. S. Supreme Court. The Chesapeake Bay separates the portion of the Commonwealth from the two-county peninsula of Virginias Eastern Shore. The bay was formed from the river valleys of the Susquehanna River. Many of Virginias rivers flow into the Chesapeake Bay, including the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James, the Tidewater is a coastal plain between the Atlantic coast and the fall line. It includes the Eastern Shore and major estuaries of Chesapeake Bay, the Piedmont is a series of sedimentary and igneous rock-based foothills east of the mountains which were formed in the Mesozoic era. The region, known for its clay soil, includes the Southwest Mountains around Charlottesville. The Blue Ridge Mountains are a province of the Appalachian Mountains with the highest points in the state. The Ridge and Valley region is west of the mountains and includes the Great Appalachian Valley, the region is carbonate rock based and includes Massanutten Mountain. The Cumberland Plateau and the Cumberland Mountains are in the southwest corner of Virginia, in this region, rivers flow northwest, with a dendritic drainage system, into the Ohio River basin
4.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
5.
Senate of Virginia
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The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing a number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the Lieutenant Governor presides daily over the Virginia Senate. In the Lieutenant Governors absence, the President pro Tempore presides, the Senate is equal with the House of Delegates, the lower chamber of the legislature, except that taxation bills must originate in the House, similar to the federal U. S. Congress. Members of the Virginia Senate are elected every four years by the voters of the 40 senatorial districts on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, the last election took place in November 2015. There are no limits for Senators. In the 2007 Virginia state elections, the Democratic Party reclaimed the majority in the Senate for the first time since 1995, the Republicans took control of the Senate for the first time in history after a January 1998 special election. The 2011 elections resulted in a 20–20 split between the parties, but as the tie breaker was Republican Lt, Governor Bill Bolling, the Republicans effectively regained control. The Democratic majority would prove short-lived, however, as Senator Phil Puckett resigned, effective June 8, the Republicans solidified their majority following a Special Election win on August 19,2014, which increased their total number of seats to 21. The Senate of Virginia was created by the 1776 Constitution of Virginia, along with the House of Delegates, the Senate comprised a new bicameral legislature designed to replace the colonial Virginia House of Burgesses, which formally dissolved on the sixth of May,1776. Pursuant to the original Virginia Constitution, the Senate was only permitted to file amendments, accordingly, the Senate had far less power than the House, until the revised Virginia constitution of 1851 allowed the Senate to propose new laws. The annual salary for senators is $18,000 per year, to qualify for office, senators must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the district they represent, and qualified to vote for General Assembly legislators. The regular session of the General Assembly is 60 days long during even numbered years and 30 days long during odd numbered years, the Senate of Virginia has 10 Standing Committees and a Committee on Rules. The Senate of Virginia has its own coat of arms designed and granted by the College of Arms in England, the coat of arms also makes up the official seal of the Virginia Senate. It bears no resemblance to the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia and this is not to be confused with the Seal of the London Company, for other than both devices displaying a quartered shield, there is little resemblance between them. The Senates arms have a shield in the center which is divided into four sections by a red cross, in each quarter are smaller shields representing the arms of four countries that contributed settlers to Virginias most early waves of European immigration. An ivory gavel emblazoned on the arm of the red cross represents the Senate as a law making body. The cardinal and dogwood depicted are Virginias official state bird and tree, the ribbon contains the Latin motto of the Senate, Floreat Senatus Virginiae, which means May the Senate of Virginia flourish
6.
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
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The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor, the office is currently held by Democrat Ralph Northam. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately and thus may be of different political parties, the lieutenant governors office is located in the Oliver Hill Building on Capitol Square in Richmond, Virginia. Unlike the governor, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia can run for re-election, since the late 1920s, the lieutenant governor has been one of only three positions that competes in a statewide election in Virginia. Since the governor cannot succeed himself, whoever is elected lieutenant governor is almost always considered a candidate for governor. This is especially the case if the lieutenant governor and the attorney general come from different parties, the office of Lieutenant Governor is of colonial origin and can be traced to the Virginia Council of London. The Council was appointed by the King, and in turn, virginia’s first Constitution, adopted in 1776, provided a Council of State from which a President was annually selected from its members. The President acted as Lieutenant Governor in the case of the death, inability, the Virginia Constitution of 1851 abolished the Governor’s Council of State and provided for the popular election of the Lieutenant Governor. Shelton Farrar Leake, from Albemarle County, was the first elected Lieutenant Governor, constitutionally, the Lieutenant Governor is president of the Senate of Virginia, as is the case with many other lieutenant governors in the United States. Unlike most of his counterparts, however, the lieutenant governor presides over the chamber. Parties No party/Conservative Democratic Whig Republican As of January 2017, six former U. S. lieutenant governors of Virginia were alive, the oldest being Douglas Wilder. The most recent death of a former U. S. lieutenant governor of Virginia was that of Richard J. Davis and he is also the most recently serving U. S. lieutenant governor of Virginia to die. Lieutenant Governor of Virginias website List of past Lieutenant Governors
7.
James Taylor Ellyson
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James Taylor Ellyson was a U. S. political figure from the Commonwealth of Virginia who served in a number of state political positions. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Ellyson enlisted to fight for the Confederacy in 1863 and he attended Columbian College and Richmond College for one term each before attending and graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in law. Ellyson began his career as a member of the Richmond City Council. In his long career, he went on to serve in the Senate of Virginia, as mayor of Richmond. To date, he is the only Lieutenant Governor of the commonwealth who served for three terms, Ellyson was also a trustee of Richmond College from 1891–1919, and president of the Board from 1908 through 1919. Ellyson left office in 1918 and died just over a year later and he is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. James Taylor Ellyson at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007 James Taylor Ellyson at Find a Grave Museum of the Confederacy
8.
Edward Echols
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Edward Echols was a U. S. political figure from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Echols held office as the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1898 to 1902, edward Echols was born in Monroe County. There is some confusion over his birth year, but he is listed in the 1850 census as being one year old in September 1850 and he and his family moved to Staunton, Virginia, after the Civil War. He also served for six years in the Virginia House of Delegates and his father, John Echols, was a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Echols served as the National Valley Banks third president from 1905 to 1915 and his house at Staunton, known as Oakdene, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982
9.
Democratic Party (United States)
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The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The Democrats dominant worldview was once socially conservative and fiscally classical liberalism, while, especially in the rural South, since Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal coalition in the 1930s, the Democratic Party has also promoted a social-liberal platform, supporting social justice. Today, the House Democratic caucus is composed mostly of progressives and centrists, the partys philosophy of modern liberalism advocates social and economic equality, along with the welfare state. It seeks to provide government intervention and regulation in the economy, the party has united with smaller left-wing regional parties throughout the country, such as the Farmer–Labor Party in Minnesota and the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota. Well into the 20th century, the party had conservative pro-business, the New Deal Coalition of 1932–1964 attracted strong support from voters of recent European extraction—many of whom were Catholics based in the cities. After Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal of the 1930s, the pro-business wing withered outside the South, after the racial turmoil of the 1960s, most southern whites and many northern Catholics moved into the Republican Party at the presidential level. The once-powerful labor union element became smaller and less supportive after the 1970s, white Evangelicals and Southerners became heavily Republican at the state and local level in the 1990s. However, African Americans became a major Democratic element after 1964, after 2000, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Asian Americans, the LGBT community, single women and professional women moved towards the party as well. The Northeast and the West Coast became Democratic strongholds by 1990 after the Republicans stopped appealing to socially liberal voters there, overall, the Democratic Party has retained a membership lead over its major rival the Republican Party. The most recent was the 44th president Barack Obama, who held the office from 2009 to 2017, in the 115th Congress, following the 2016 elections, Democrats are the opposition party, holding a minority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The party also holds a minority of governorships, and state legislatures, though they do control the mayoralty of cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Washington, D. C. The Democratic Party traces its origins to the inspiration of the Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and that party also inspired the Whigs and modern Republicans. Organizationally, the modern Democratic Party truly arose in the 1830s, since the nomination of William Jennings Bryan in 1896, the party has generally positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party on economic issues. They have been liberal on civil rights issues since 1948. On foreign policy both parties changed position several times and that party, the Democratic-Republican Party, came to power in the election of 1800. After the War of 1812 the Federalists virtually disappeared and the national political party left was the Democratic-Republicans. The Democratic-Republican party still had its own factions, however. As Norton explains the transformation in 1828, Jacksonians believed the peoples will had finally prevailed, through a lavishly financed coalition of state parties, political leaders, and newspaper editors, a popular movement had elected the president
10.
Virginia House of Delegates
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The Virginia House of Delegates is one of two parts in the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years, unlike most states, these take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, the Speaker is almost always a member of the majority party and, as Speaker, becomes the most powerful member of the House. The House shares legislative power with the Senate of Virginia, the house of the Virginia General Assembly. The House of Delegates is the successor to the Virginia House of Burgesses. The House is divided into Democratic and Republican caucuses, in addition to the Speaker, there is a majority leader, majority caucus chair, minority leader, minority caucus chair, and the chairs of the several committees of the House. Through the House of Burgesses, the Virginia House of Delegates is considered the oldest continuous legislative body in the New World, originally having 22 members, the House of Burgesses met from 1619 through 1632 in the choir of the church at Jamestown. From 1632 to 1699 the legislative body met at four different state houses in Jamestown, the first state house convened at the home of Colonial Governor Sir John Harvey from 1632 to 1656. The burgesses convened at the state house from 1656 until it was destroyed in 1660. Historians have yet to identify its location. The House has met in Virginias Capitol Building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, the legislative body met from 1788 to 1904 in what is known as today the Old Hall of the House of Delegates or commonly referred to as the Old House Chamber. The Old House Chamber is part of the original Capitol building structure and it measures 76 feet in width and is filled today with furnishings that resemble what the room would have looked like during its time of use. There are many bronze and marble busts of historic Virginians on display in the Old House Chamber, including, George Mason, George Wythe, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and Meriwether Lewis. From 1904 to 1906, University of Virginia graduate and architect John K. Peeples designed, the General Assembly members and staff operate from offices in the General Assembly Building, located in Capitol Square. Prior to 1788 the House of Delegates met in the Colonial Capital of Williamsburg, in 1999, Republicans took control of the long-time Democratic House of Delegates for the first time since Reconstruction. The annual salary for delegates is $17,640 per year, each delegate represents roughly 83,000 people. Candidates for office must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the districts they seek to represent, and qualified to vote for General Assembly legislators. The regular session of the General Assembly is 60 days long during even numbered years and 30 days long during odd numbered years, the House has 14 standing committees
11.
Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr.
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Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr. was a Virginia politician. He represented Winchester in the Virginia House of Delegates, and served as that bodys Speaker from 1908 until 1914. One of his sons, Richard, became famous as an aviator who led an expedition to the South Pole, another, Harry, would serve as Governor of Virginia. He was the son of Jennie and William Byrd, clerk of the House of Delegates, supervising. Speakers and Clerks of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1776-2007, richmond, Virginia, Virginia House of Delegates. Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr. at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007 Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr. at Find a Grave
12.
Richmond, Virginia
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Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond Region and it was incorporated in 1742, and has been an independent city since 1871. As of the 2010 census, the population was 204,214, in 2015, the population was estimated to be 220,289, the Richmond Metropolitan Area has a population of 1,260,029, the third-most populous metro in the state. Richmond is located at the line of the James River,44 miles west of Williamsburg,66 miles east of Charlottesville. Surrounded by Henrico and Chesterfield counties, the city is located at the intersections of Interstate 95 and Interstate 64, Major suburbs include Midlothian to the southwest, Glen Allen to the north and west, Short Pump to the west and Mechanicsville to the northeast. The site of Richmond had been an important village of the Powhatan Confederacy, and was settled by English colonists from Jamestown in 1609. The present city of Richmond was founded in 1737 and it became the capital of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia in 1780. During the American Civil War, Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America, the city entered the 20th century with one of the worlds first successful electric streetcar systems. The Jackson Ward neighborhood is a hub of African-American commerce. Richmonds economy is driven by law, finance, and government, with federal, state. Dominion Resources and MeadWestvaco, Fortune 500 companies, are headquartered in the city, in 1737, planter William Byrd II commissioned Major William Mayo to lay out the original town grid. The settlement was laid out in April 1737, and was incorporated as a town in 1742, Richmond recovered quickly from the war, and by 1782 was once again a thriving city. A permanent home for the new government, the Virginia State Capitol building, was designed by Thomas Jefferson with the assistance of Charles-Louis Clérisseau, after the American Revolutionary War, Richmond emerged as an important industrial center. The legacy of the canal boatmen is represented by the figure in the center of the city flag, on April 17,1861, five days after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, the legislature voted to secede from the United States and joined the Confederacy. Official action came in May, after the Confederacy promised to move its capital to Richmond. It became the target of Union armies, especially in the campaigns of 1862. The Seven Days Battles followed in late June and early July 1862, during which Union General McClellan threatened to take Richmond, three years later, as March 1865 ended, the Confederate capitol became indefensible. On March 25, Confederate General John B, gordons desperate attack on Fort Stedman east of Petersburg failed
13.
Republican Party (United States)
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The Republican Party, commonly referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, the other being its historic rival, the Democratic Party. The party is named after republicanism, the dominant value during the American Revolution and it was founded by anti-slavery activists, modernists, ex-Whigs, and ex-Free Soilers in 1854. The Republicans dominated politics nationally and in the majority of northern States for most of the period between 1860 and 1932, there have been 19 Republican presidents, the most from any one party. The Republican Partys current ideology is American conservatism, which contrasts with the Democrats more progressive platform, further, its platform involves support for free market capitalism, free enterprise, fiscal conservatism, a strong national defense, deregulation, and restrictions on labor unions. In addition to advocating for economic policies, the Republican Party is socially conservative. As of 2017, the GOP is documented as being at its strongest position politically since 1928, in addition to holding the Presidency, the Republicans control the 115th United States Congress, having majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The party also holds a majority of governorships and state legislatures, the main cause was opposition to the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise by which slavery was kept out of Kansas. The Northern Republicans saw the expansion of slavery as a great evil, the first public meeting of the general anti-Nebraska movement where the name Republican was suggested for a new anti-slavery party was held on March 20,1854, in a schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin. The name was chosen to pay homage to Thomas Jeffersons Republican Party. The first official party convention was held on July 6,1854, in Jackson and it oversaw the preserving of the union, the end of slavery, and the provision of equal rights to all men in the American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877. The Republicans initial base was in the Northeast and the upper Midwest, with the realignment of parties and voters in the Third Party System, the strong run of John C. Fremont in the 1856 United States presidential election demonstrated it dominated most northern states, early Republican ideology was reflected in the 1856 slogan free labor, free land, free men, which had been coined by Salmon P. Chase, a Senator from Ohio. Free labor referred to the Republican opposition to labor and belief in independent artisans. Free land referred to Republican opposition to the system whereby slaveowners could buy up all the good farm land. The Party strove to contain the expansion of slavery, which would cause the collapse of the slave power, Lincoln, representing the fast-growing western states, won the Republican nomination in 1860 and subsequently won the presidency. The party took on the mission of preserving the Union, and destroying slavery during the American Civil War, in the election of 1864, it united with War Democrats to nominate Lincoln on the National Union Party ticket. The partys success created factionalism within the party in the 1870s and those who felt that Reconstruction had been accomplished and was continued mostly to promote the large-scale corruption tolerated by President Ulysses S. Grant ran Horace Greeley for the presidency. The Stalwarts defended Grant and the system, the Half-Breeds led by Chester A. Arthur pushed for reform of the civil service in 1883
14.
David C. Cummings Jr.
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David Campbell Cummings, Jr. was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the Virginia Senate, representing the states 1st district. He was elected in 1911, defeating incumbent Republican Alanson T. Lincoln, Cummings, Jr. at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007 David C. Cummings, Jr. at Find a Grave
15.
Washington County, Virginia
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Washington County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,876, for thousands of years, indigenous peoples of varying cultures lived in the area. At the time of European encounter, the Chiska had a village near what is now Saltville. The Cherokee annexed the region from the Xualae around 1671, the county was formed by Virginians in 1776 from Fincastle County. It was named for George Washington, who was then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, Washington County is among the first geographical regions to be named after the president of the United States. Washington County was raided by the Chickamauga Cherokee during the Cherokee–American wars, in July,1776, Chief Dragging Canoe led an attack on Blacks Fort. The area remained prone to attack until after Chickamauga leader Bob Benge was finally slain by settlers in Washington County in 1794, as with many other frontier counties, the boundaries and territory changed over the years. In 1786 the northwestern part of Washington County became Russell County, in 1814 the western part of what remained of Washington County was combined with parts of Lee and Russell counties to form Scott County. In 1832 the northeastern part of Washington was combined with part of Wythe County to form Smyth County, finally, with the incorporation of the town of Goodson as the independent city of Bristol in 1890, Washington County assumed its present size. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 566 square miles. The county is divided into seven districts, Harrison, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Tyler. As of the census of 2000, there were 51,103 people,21,056 households, the population density was 91 people per square mile. There were 22,985 housing units at a density of 41 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97. 56% White,1. 32% Black or African American,0. 11% Native American,0. 27% Asian,0. 03% Pacific Islander,0. 14% from other races, and 0. 58% from two or more races. 0. 63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,25. 80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10. 40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the family size was 2.84. In the county, the population was out with 20. 80% under the age of 18,8. 70% from 18 to 24,28. 30% from 25 to 44,26. 90% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years, for every 100 females there were 94.20 males
16.
Smyth County, Virginia
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Smyth County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,208, Smyth County was formed on February 23,1832, from Washington and Wythe counties. The county is named after Alexander Smyth, a general during the War of 1812 who was elected to the state Senate, House of Delegates, and as a Representative to the United States Congress. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 452 square miles. The population density was 73 people per square mile, there were 15,111 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96. 86% White,1. 87% Black or African American,0. 15% Native American,0. 18% Asian,0. 32% from other races,0. 86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26. 00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12. 50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.83. In the county, the population was out with 21. 60% under the age of 18,8. 00% from 18 to 24,28. 10% from 25 to 44,26. 00% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years, for every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males, the median income for a household in the county was $30,083, and the median income for a family was $36,392. Males had an income of $26,698 versus $19,712 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,105, about 9. 90% of families and 13. 30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15. 20% of those under age 18 and 14. 00% of those age 65 or over. The organization markets the area through www. VisitVirginiaMountains
17.
Bristol, Virginia
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Bristol is an independent city in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,835 and it is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State Street. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bristol, Virginia, with neighboring Washington County, Virginia, evan Shelby first appeared in what is now the Bristol area around 1765. In 1766, Shelby, moved his family and settled at a place called Big Camp Meet and it is said that Cherokee Indians once inhabited the area and the Indian village was named, according to legend, because numerous deer and buffalo met here to feast in the canebrakes. Shelby renamed the site Sapling Grove, in 1774, Shelby erected a fort on a hill overlooking what is now downtown Bristol. It was an important stopping-off place for such as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark. This fort, known as Shelby’s Station was actually a combination trading post, way station, anderson laid out the original town of Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia and building began in 1853. Samuel Goodson, who owned land that adjoined the original town of Bristol TN/VA at its northern boundary, anderson was unable to incorporate Bristol across the state lines of Tennessee and Virginia. In 1856, Goodsonville and the original Bristol, Virginia were merged to form the town of Goodson. Incorporation for Bristol, Tennessee and Goodson, Virgina occurred in 1856, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroads reached the cities in the late summer of 1856. In 1890, Goodson, Virginia once again took the name Bristol, the Grove, Solar Hill Historic District, and Walnut Grove are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bristol is located in southwestern Virginia at 36°36′N 82°11′W and it is bordered to the west, north, and east by Washington County, Virginia, and to the south by the city of Bristol in Sullivan County, Tennessee. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 13.2 square miles, of which 13.0 square miles is land and 0.15 square miles. Little Creek and Beaver Creek flow south through the city, Little Creek flows into Beaver Creek two blocks south of the line in Tennessee. Beaver Creek is a tributary of the South Fork Holston River, the city is served by Interstates 81 and 381, and by U. S. Routes 11,19,58, and 421, I-81 leads northeast 149 miles to Roanoke, Virginia, and southwest 113 miles to Knoxville, Tennessee. Interstate 381 is a spur from Interstate 81 that provides access to Bristol, Virginia and it runs for 1.7 miles from the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Keys/Church Streets in Bristol at exit 0 north to Interstate 81. The I-81 interchange, the one on I-381, is signed as exits 1A
18.
Scott County, Virginia
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Scott County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,177 and its county seat is Gate City. Scott County was formed by an act of the General Assembly on November 24,1814 from parts of Washington, Lee, the early settlers found evidence of a former native village at the mouth of Stony Creek on the Clinch river. Thomas McCulloch was the first white settler within the county, in 1769, daniel Boone commanded several forts located here in 1774 during Dunmores War, and several more were built in successive years. Even so, the Chickamauga Cherokee leader Bob Benge remained active in the area throughout this time, during the Cherokee–American wars, by the times houses were built in the 1790s, the largely Scots-Irish population had increased by reason of its situation along the Wilderness Road. After Scott County was formed in 1814, the first court took place in 1815, and the first public schools in 1870. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 539 square miles. 97. 9% were White,0. 6% Black or African American,0. 2% Native American,0. 2% Asian,0. 1% Pacific Islander,0. 4% of some other race and 0.7 of two or more races. As of the census of 2000, there were 23,403 people,9,795 households, the population density was 44 people per square mile. There were 11,355 housing units at a density of 21 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 98. 51% White,0. 59% Black or African American,0. 14% Native American,0. 07% Asian,0. 02% Pacific Islander,0. 15% from other races, and 0. 52% from two or more races. 0. 42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,26. 10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13. 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the family size was 2.82. In the county, the population was out with 20. 60% under the age of 18,7. 50% from 18 to 24,27. 30% from 25 to 44,26. 80% from 45 to 64. The median age was 41 years, for every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males, the median income for a household in the county was $27,339, and the median income for a family was $33,163. Males had an income of $28,328 versus $20,553 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,073, about 13. 00% of families and 16. 80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20. 10% of those under age 18 and 20. 50% of those age 65 or over
19.
Lee County, Virginia
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Lee County is the westernmost county in the U. S. As of the 2015 estimate, the population was 24,742, the first Europeans to enter what is present-day Lee County were a party of Spanish explorers, Juan de Villalobos and Francisco de Silvera, sent by Hernando de Soto in 1540, in search of gold. The county was formed in 1793 from Russell County and it was named for Light Horse Harry Lee, the Governor of Virginia from 1791 to 1794, who was famous for his exploits as a leader of light cavalry during the American Revolutionary War. He was also the father of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Lee County was the final front on the Kentucky Trace, now known as the Wilderness Road and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine. During the 1780s and 1790s, fortified buildings called stations were built along the trail for shelter from Indian raids as the settlers followed Daniel Boones footsteps into Kentucky. One of the largest early landowners in the was Revolutionary War officer and explorer Joseph Martin, because of his rank, Martin had been awarded some 25,000 acres, which he later divided up and sold. In 1814, parts of Lee County, Russell County, in 1856, parts of Lee County, Russell County, and Scott County were combined to form Wise County. The economy of Lee County is dependent largely on growing tobacco, the decline of both has left a large unemployment in the county. Lee County shares Cumberland Gap National Historical Park with Kentucky and Tennessee, attractions listed in the park include Hensleys Settlement, the Pinnacle Overlook, the Sand Cave, and the White Rocks overlooking the towns of Ewing and Rose Hill. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 437 square miles. Additionally, Cumberland Gap in the far part of Lee County is closer to Montgomery, Alabama. The county is divided into seven districts, Jonesville, Rocky Station, Rocky Station Mineral, Rose Hill, White Shoals, Yoakum, St. Charles, Pennington Gap, Keokee, Robbins Chapel and Yoakum Mineral. SR70 As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,587 people residing in the county. 94. 2% were White,3. 7% Black or African American,0. 4% Native American,0. 2% Asian,0. 6% of some other race and 0. 9% of two or more races. According to the census 2009 estimates, there were 25001 people,11,587 households, the population density was 54 people per square mile. There were 11,587 housing units at a density of 25 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96. 3% White,2. 9% Black or African American,0. 2% Asian,0. 1% from other races,0. 7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The largest ancestry groups in Lee County include, English, Irish, German,27.0 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
20.
Wise County, Virginia
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Wise County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,452, the county was formed in 1856 from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties and named for Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. The Cherokee conquered the area including Wise from the Xualae between 1671 and 1685 and it was later contested by the Six Nations and the Shawnee. The first white explorers to have reached present-day Wise county are said to have been Thomas Walker and Christopher Gist, among the earliest settlers within the county was William Wells in around 1792. Virginias two highest security prisons are located in Wise County, Red Onion State Prison, opened in 1998. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 405 square miles. The county is part of the Appalachians and has many features, including the peak of High Knob. The population density was 102.8 people per square mile, there were 17,940 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93% White,5. 2% Black or African American,0. 10% Native American,0. 30% Asian,0. 01% Pacific Islander,1. 10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27. 40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90. In the county, the population was out with 20. 80% under the age of 18 and 14. 10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years, for every 100 females there were 107 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.08 males, the median income for a household in the county was $35,053. The per capita income for the county was $17,512, about 19. 30% of the population were below the poverty line. The homeownership rate for the county is 70. 00% Wise County Public Schools operates seventeen school facilities in the county for over 7,000 students, Wise County Christian School operates as a private school in the county. The Coalfield Progress is a newspaper covering news through the county. The Post also at is a newspaper serving Big Stone Gap, Virginia. WAXM WDXC WGCK-FM WISE-FM WLSD WNVA WNVA-FM A large portion of the Jefferson National Forest is contained within Wise County, and these two factors, combined with Wise Countys location in the Appalachian Mountains, mean that Wise County offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation
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Buchanan County, Virginia
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Buchanan County is a United States county located on the western border near the far western end of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is part of the Southwest Virginia region and lies in the Ridge-and-Valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains, Buchanan County was established in 1858 from parts of Russell and Tazewell counties, and it was named in honor of former President James Buchanan. In 1880, part of Buchanan County was taken to form Dickenson County, as of the 2010 census, the county population was 24,098, and had a double-digit percentage population decrease over the last three censuses. In addition, as of 2012, Buchanan was the fifth-poorest county in Virginia, the county was formed in 1858 from parts of Russell County and Tazewell County. It was named for James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, in 1880 the southwestern part of Buchanan County was combined with parts of Russell County and Wise County to become Dickenson County. Helen Timmons Henderson helped participate in the work of the Buchanan Mission School at Council and she and Sarah Lee Fain of Norfolk became the first two women to be elected into the Virginia General Assembly. They were both Democrats in the House of Delegates, when Helen was in office, the delegates agreed to let 6.2 miles of improved road to be placed from Russell County, across Big A Mountain, to Council. Route 80 is also known as Helen Henderson Highway, In 1876, Grundy was chosen and became the county seat of Buchanan County, it was named in honor of Felix Grundy, a Senator from Tennessee. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 503.8 square miles. It is home to Poplar Gap Park, the county is divided into seven supervisor districts, Garden, Hurricane, Knox, North Grundy, Prater, Rock Lick, and South Grundy. The population density was 54 people per square mile, there were 11,887 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile. Of all households,22. 50% were made up of individuals and 9. 40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.87. In the county, the population was out with 21. 40% under the age of 18,8. 50% from 18 to 24,31. 20% from 25 to 44,27. 50% from 45 to 64. The median age was 39 years, for every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.30 males, the median income for a household in the county was $22,213, and the median income for a family was $27,328. Males had an income of $29,540 versus $17,766 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,788, about 19. 80% of families and 23. 20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30. 20% of those under age 18 and 16. 90% of those age 65 or over. Garden District, Buddy Fuller Hurricane District, William P, tiller Commissioner of the Revenue, A
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Dickenson County, Virginia
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Dickenson County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,903, Dickenson County, formed in 1880 from parts of Buchanan County, Russell County, and Wise County, is Virginias youngest county. It was named for William J. Dickenson, delegate to the Virginia General Assembly from Russell County, 1859–1861, 1865–1867, and 1877–1882. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 334 square miles. The county is divided into five districts with a supervisor elected for each district every four years. The districts are, Clintwood, Ervinton, Sandlick, Kenady, the population density was 49 people per square mile. There were 7,684 housing units at a density of 23 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 98. 96% White,0. 35% Black or African American,0. 12% Native American,0. 07% Asian,0. 05% from other races,0. 43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25. 30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88. In the county, the population was out with 22. 10% under the age of 18,8. 90% from 18 to 24,27. 60% from 25 to 44,26. 90% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years, for every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males, the median income for a household in the county was $23,431, and the median income for a family was $27,986. Males had an income of $27,281 versus $17,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,822. About 16. 90% of families and 21. 30% of the population were below the poverty line, 101st Airborne Division Trazel Silvers, former professional basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters and in Europe. Dickenson Online – Portal of information related to Dickenson County, ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center
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Russell County, Virginia
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Russell County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,897, on January 2,1786, Russell County was established from a section of Washington County. Summers, a Washington County historian later wrote, Washington County lost a great extent of country, the county was named for Culpeper County native Colonel William Russell. The first court met in May 1786 in the Castles Woods settlement in the house of William Robinson, later, a new place was built to house the County Seat. The structure used as a courthouse still stands, and is referred to as The Old Courthouse, the present Courthouse, located in Lebanon, has been in use since 1874. The County has been home for many well known such as Daniel Boone. Russell County was also the birthplace of other counties, the counties of Wise, Lee, Tazewell, and Scott were formed from parts of Russell County. The largest cattle farm East of the Mississippi River, and one of the oldest corporations in the country, Stuart Land & Cattle, is headquartered at Rosedale in Russell County. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 477 square miles. The 4th highest peak in VA is located on the part of the county. Dickenson County – northwest Buchanan County – north Tazewell County – east Smyth County – southeast Washington County – south Scott County – southwest Wise County – west US19 US58 Alt. SR63 SR65 SR67 SR71 SR80 SR82 As of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people,11,789 households, the population density was 64 people per square mile. There were 13,191 housing units at a density of 28 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96. 07% White,3. 08% Black or African American,0. 11% Native American,0. 05% Asian,0. 28% from other races,0. 78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23. 10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10. 00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87. In the county, the population was out with 21. 20% under the age of 18,8. 60% from 18 to 24,30. 90% from 25 to 44,26. 00% from 45 to 64. The median age was 39 years, for every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.30 males, the median income for a household in the county was $26,834, and the median income for a family was $31,491
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Tazewell County, Virginia
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Tazewell County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,078, Tazewell County is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA Micropolitan Statistical Area. Before the arrival of pioneers, Tazewell County was a ground for Native Americans. Although rare in the eastern United States, there are petroglyphs near the summit of Paintlick Mountain, in the spring of 1771, Thomas and John Witten established the first permanent settlement in Tazewell County at Crab Orchard. Tazewell County was created on December 20,1799, the land for the county was taken from portions of Wythe and Russell counties. It was named after Henry Tazewell, a United States Senator from Virginia, state legislator, Jeffersonville was established the following year as the county seat. On February 29,1892, Jeffersonville was renamed Tazewell, paramounts 1994 film Lassie was filmed here. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 520 square miles. Since it contains portions of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians and the Cumberland Plateau, of the most unusual areas is Burkes Garden, a bowl-shaped valley formed by the erosion of a doubly plunging anticline. Tazewell County includes the headwaters of four watersheds, which are the Upper Clinch, Middle New, North Fork Holston, the population density was 86 people per square mile. There were 20,390 housing units at a density of 39 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96. 16% White,2. 29% Black or African American,0. 17% Native American,0. 61% Asian,0. 16% from other races,0. 51% of the population Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25. 20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85. In the county, the population was out with 21. 40% under the age of 18,8. 40% from 18 to 24,27. 20% from 25 to 44,27. 50% from 45 to 64. The median age was 41 years, for every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males, the median income for a household in the county was $27,304, and the median income for a family was $33,732. Males had an income of $28,780 versus $19,648 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,282, about 11. 70% of families and 15. 30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20. 30% of those under age 18 and 13. 90% of those age 65 or over
25.
Roanoke County, Virginia
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Roanoke County is a county located in the U. S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 92,376, Roanoke County is part of the Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The independent cities of Roanoke and Salem are located within the boundaries of Roanoke County, the incorporated town of Vinton is the only incorporated municipality within the county. While significant areas of the county are rural and mountainous, most residents live in the suburbs near Roanoke, the county was established by an act of the Virginia Legislature on March 30,1838 from the southern part of Botetourt County. It was named for the Roanoke River, which in turn was derived from a Native American term for money, additional territory was transferred to Roanoke County from Montgomery County in 1845. Salem was originally the county seat, when Salem became an independent city, by agreement with the county the Roanoke County Courthouse remained in Salem and the two localities share a jail. However, the County Administrative Offices were moved to the Cave Spring District. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 251.3 square miles. The county is governed by a Board of Supervisors with one elected from each of the five magisterial districts, Catawba, Cave Spring, Hollins, Vinton. Vinton is an town with an elected town council and town manager. The population density was 342 people per square mile, there were 36,121 housing units at an average density of 144 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93. 63% White,3. 35% Black or African American,0. 12% Native American,1. 61% Asian,0. 02% Pacific Islander,0. 39% from other races, and 0. 89% from two or more races. 1. 04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,25. 10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10. 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the family size was 2.88. In the county, the population was out with 22. 70% under the age of 18,6. 60% from 18 to 24,27. 50% from 25 to 44,27. 20% from 45 to 64. The median age was 41 years, for every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.30 males, the median income for a household in the county was $47,689, and the median income for a family was $56,450. Males had an income of $39,126 versus $26,690 for females
26.
Montgomery County, Virginia
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Montgomery County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 94,392, Montgomery County is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Montgomery County was established in 1777 from Fincastle County, the county is named for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 389 square miles. The western part of the county is in the New River watershed. 87. 6% were White,5. 4% Asian,3. 9% Black or African American,0. 2% Native American,0. 8% of some other race and 2. 1% of two or more races. As of the census of 2000, there were 83,629 people,30,997 households, the population density was 215 people per square mile. There were 32,527 housing units at a density of 84 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 90. 00% White,3. 65% Black or African American,0. 18% Native American,3. 97% Asian,0. 04% Pacific Islander,0. 63% from other races, and 1. 53% from two or more races. 1. 58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,25. 50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6. 60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the family size was 2.87. In the county, the population was out with 17. 10% under the age of 18,31. 30% from 18 to 24,25. 60% from 25 to 44,17. 30% from 45 to 64. The median age was 26 years, for every 100 females there were 110.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.90 males, the median income for a household in the county was $32,330, and the median income for a family was $47,239. Males had an income of $33,674 versus $23,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,077, about 8. 80% of families and 23. 20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14. 60% of those under age 18 and 8. 80% of those age 65 or over
27.
Roanoke, Virginia
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Roanoke is an independent city in the southern U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 97,032 and it is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. Roanoke is the largest municipality in Southwest Virginia, and is the municipality of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is composed of the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem, and Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, bisected by the Roanoke River, Roanoke is the commercial and cultural hub of much of Southwest Virginia and portions of Southern West Virginia. The town first called Big Lick was established in 1852 and chartered in 1874 and it was named for a large outcropping of salt which drew the wildlife to the site near the Roanoke River. In 1882 it became the town of Roanoke, and in 1884 it was chartered as the independent city of Roanoke, the name Roanoke is said to have originated from an Algonquian word for shell money. The name for the river was used by the Algonquian speakers who lived 300 miles away where the river emptied into the sea near Roanoke Island. The native people who lived near where the city was founded did not speak Algonquian and they spoke Siouan languages, Tutelo and Catawban. There were also Cherokee speakers in general area who fought with the Catawba people. The city grew frequently through annexation through the middle of the twentieth century, the last annexation was in 1976. The state legislature has since prohibited cities from annexing land from adjacent counties, during colonial times the site of Roanoke was an important hub of trails and roads. The Roanoke Gap proved a useful route for immigrants to settle the Carolina Piedmont region, at Roanoke Gap, another branch of the Great Wagon Road, the Wilderness Road, continued southwest to Tennessee. In the 1850s, Big Lick became a stop on the Virginia, however, the Financial Panic of 1873 wrecked the AM&Os finances. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahones role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern financial interests took control, the AM&O was renamed Norfolk and Western Railway. Frederick J. Kimball, an engineer and partner in the Clark firm, headed the new line. For the junction for the Shenandoah Valley and the Norfolk and Western roads, Kimball and his board of directors selected the small Virginia village called Big Lick, on the Roanoke River. Although the grateful citizens offered to rename their town Kimball, at his suggestion, as the N&W brought people and jobs, the Town of Roanoke quickly became an independent city in 1884. In fact, Roanoke became a city so quickly that it earned the nickname Magic City, kimballs interest in geology was instrumental in the development of the Pocahontas coalfields in western Virginia and West Virginia
28.
Radford, Virginia
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Radford is an independent city in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,408, for statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Radford with neighboring Montgomery County. Radford is included in the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford metropolitan area, Radford is the home of Radford University. The Radford Arsenal is nearby in Pulaski and Montgomery counties, Radford City has four schools, McHarg Elementary, Belle Heth Elementary, Dalton Intermediate, and Radford High School. Millennials make up over 55. 5% of the population of Radford, radfordva. gov Radford was named for Dr. John B. Dr. Radfords home Arnheim was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, Radford was originally a small village of people that gathered near the New River, which was a major draw to travelers for fresh water and food while traveling west. The town had a population increase in 1854 when the Virginia. A large depot was placed at Lovely Mount because of its positioning between the eastern and western parts of the state. The Railroad Depot caused the population of Radford to boom and it also caused a major increase in the amount of trade and business in the area. The original name for Radford was Lovely Mount because of the location of the depot, from 1900 to 1930, many companies came to Radford, including an ice company, a creamery, milling companies, piping, and preserving plants. In 1913, Radford was selected to home to State Normal School. The school would later, in 1924, become Radford College, the presence of a college brought even more attention to Radford, causing even more population growth. In 1940–1941 the US Military decided to build a plant for gunpowder and other ammunition needed by the military. Thus the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, or the Arsenal as it would come to be called, joined the railroad, many families moved to the area. Housing for the Arsenal was built in areas of town and these neighborhoods still exist today, Monroe Terrace, Radford Village. Today these are Radfords main residential neighborhoods, the railroad ceased passenger service through Radford 1971 as personal transportation moved to the fairly new interstate highway system and the airways. However, the route through Radford is still a major component of Norfolk Southern Railways Roanoke to Bristol route. But, Radford no longer needed the railroad service to survive
29.
Giles County, Virginia
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Giles County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,286, Giles County is included in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Giles County is the location of Mountain Lake, one of two natural fresh water lakes in Virginia. The Lake drains into Little Stony Creek, which passes over The Cascades, Giles County was established in 1806 from Montgomery, Monroe, Wythe, and Tazewell counties. The county is named for William Branch Giles who was born in Amelia County in 1762, Giles became a lawyer and from there was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served from 1790 to 1815. He also served in the Virginia General Assembly from 1816 to 1822, in 1827, he was elected Governor. In all, he served his nation and state around a total of forty years. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 360 square miles. The population density was 48 people per square mile, there were 8,319 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96. 74% White,1. 51% Black or African American,0. 12% Native American,0. 32% Asian,0. 36% from other races,1. 21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27. 86% of all households were made up of individuals and 12. 56% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88. In the county, the population was out with 22. 70% under the age of 18,4. 89% from 20 to 24,23. 85% from 25 to 44,29. 43% from 45 to 64. The median age was 43 years, for every 100 females there were 96.14 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.55 males, the median income for a household in the county was $45,231, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had an income of $41,521 versus $36,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,766, about 6. 60% of families and 12. 7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17. 70% of those under age 18 and 10. 50% of those age 65 or over. Giles County has five incorporated towns, only nine other counties have more towns than Giles. Of the 191 towns in Virginia, Glen Lyn is the fifth smallest in population, thirty-nine percent of Giles residents live in one of the five towns
30.
Bland County, Virginia
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Bland County is a United States county located in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Like most of Southwestern Virginia, it is part of the Appalachian region, the county seat is the unincorporated village of Bland. Bland County was created in 1861 from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, the new county was named in honor of Richard Bland, a Virginia statesman who served in the House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,824, Bland County is also one of the few counties in the United States that do not contain any incorporated municipalities. The push to create Bland County resulted from popular dissatisfaction with the required to travel to the various county seats in the area. The distances and the mountain trails created a significant hardship for those needing to conduct legal affairs. In addition, the growing population resented paying taxes for benefits outside of the local area and this pressure eventually persuaded the Virginia General Assembly to take action to form a new county in the southwestern portion of the state. Bland County was officially formed on March 30,1861 from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, additional land from Giles County was added later. The county was named after Richard Bland, a Virginia statesman and political figure who helped lead the struggle for freedom and independence from England. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 358.7 square miles. Bland County lies within the Appalachian Regional Commissions definition of the Appalachian region, the county is mountainous with small river valleys running through the county. The county lies entirely within the Ridge and Valley physiographic province, the North Fork of the Holston River has its head waters in Bland County. The population density was 19 people per square mile, there were 3,161 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 94. 82% White,4. 19% Black or African American,0. 09% Native American,0. 12% Asian,0. 01% Pacific Islander,0. 09% from other races, and 0. 68% from two or more races. 0. 47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,37. 4% were of American,11. 8% German,11. 5% English and 10. 9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 23. 30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10. 30% 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 2.85. The population distribution of Bland County is,19. 40% under the age of 18,7. 60% from 18 to 24,30. 60% from 25 to 44,27. 90% from 45 to 64, the median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 119.90 males, for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.90 males
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Pulaski County, Virginia
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Pulaski County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,872, Pulaski County is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Pulaski County was formed on March 30,1839 from parts of Montgomery and Wythe counties and it was named for Count Casimir Pulaski, who fought during the American Revolution as part of George Washingtons army. Pulaski had been a nobleman in Poland, but had been exiled and he joined the army in 1777 and became a brigadier general and chief of cavalry in the Continental Army. He was fatally wounded at Savannah and died on October 11,1779, Casimir Pulaski is one of the most honored American heroes in terms of places and events named in his honor. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 330 square miles. It is named for W. Graham Claytor, Sr. of Roanoke, Virginia, the population density was 110 people per square mile. There were 16,325 housing units at a density of 51 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 92. 60% White,5. 57% Black or African American,0. 15% Native American,0. 32% Asian,0. 04% Pacific Islander,0. 37% from other races, and 0. 94% from two or more races. 0. 96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,27. 00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the family size was 2.80. In the county, the population was out with 20. 60% under the age of 18,7. 30% from 18 to 24,29. 20% from 25 to 44,27. 70% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years, for every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males, the median income for a household in the county was $33,873, and the median income for a family was $42,251. Males had an income of $30,712 versus $21,596 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,973, about 10. 60% of families and 13. 10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18. 90% of those under age 18 and 11. 50% of those age 65 or over. Of Game and Inland Fisheries, Claytor Lake webpage
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Wythe County, Virginia
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Wythe County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,235, Wythe County was formed from Montgomery County in 1790. It was named after George Wythe, the first Virginian signer of the Declaration of Independence, during the Civil War the Battle of Cove Mountain was fought in the county. Wythe Countys Austinville community, which was founded by Stephen and his brother Moses Austin, father of the famous Stephen F. Austin. In the 1790s the Austins took over the mines that produced lead and zinc, the town was named for the Austin surname, lead was mined and shipped throughout the fledgling country, lead shot was also produced. Located near Fosters Falls, Jackson Ferry Shot Tower still stands as a testament to the citizens of Wythe County, lead was hoisted to the top of the tower using block and tackle and oxen. The lead was melted in a retort and then poured through a sieve at the top of the tower, the droplets of molten lead would become round during the 150-foot descent. The shot would collect in a kettle of water and slave laborers would enter through a 110-foot access tunnel located near the bank of the New River to retrieve the shot from the kettle. The lead mines closed in 1982 due to new United States Environmental Protection Agency standards, the mines have since filled with water, the main shaft extended in excess of 1100 feet straight down. Another notable area within the county is the community of Fort Chiswell - named for a French. The fort and its surrounding buildings served as the county seat until the town of Wytheville was established approximately 10 miles to the west. The fort fell into disrepair and its ruins were covered over when the intersection of I-77, a pyramid marker now stands in the approximate location of the former fort. The community was named for Colonel John Chiswell who helped establish the lead prior to the Austins purchase. Wythe Countys location, at the confluence of I-81 and I-77 which is, incidentally, recently Gatorade and Pepsi manufacturing facilities have located here, primarily due to the ease of access and central location along the Eastern seabord. There are a variety of travel-related businesses including several hundred rooms, several truck stops. Tourism takes a variety of different forms in Wythe County, there are numerous opportunities for those that enjoy outdoor activities including a variety of trails, campgrounds, and parks in the area. Its first winery opened in 2006 and a second opened in 2007, a dinner theatre is located in the county seat, Wytheville. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 465 square miles
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Carroll County, Virginia
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Carroll County is a United States county located in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Roughly one fifth of the county lies in the Virginia Piedmont region, the Carroll county seat and largest town is Hillsville. The county was established in 1842 from part of Grayson County, and was named in honor of Charles Carroll. The borders of Carroll County were later expanded by including land from Patrick County, the total size of the county is 478 square miles, and, as of the 2010 census, the population was 30,042. Carroll, along with other Appalachian counties, is among the poorest parts of Virginia, the first European settlers arrived in the region in the mid 18th century. These were primarily Scotch-Irish pioneers, who were used to high mountain altitudes, however, early settlement was slow, mostly due to the poor agricultural soil of the area. As a result, lead mining was one of the first economic activities in the region, as the areas population density increased, Carroll County was created in 1842 from part of Grayson County. The new county was named for Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Parts of Patrick County were added later to increase the size of Carroll County, the first piece was taken in 1845, and another part, which would later become the Fancy Gap District, was added in 1854. It is the county in Virginia with Piedmont topography of roughly one fifth in the southeast part of the county. The Blue Ridge escarpment usually defines the county lines in both North Carolina and Virginia, the CDP community of Cana is in the Virginia Piedmont while the rest of the county is in the Appalachian Mountains. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 478 square miles. The population density was 61 people per square mile, there were 14,680 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97. 97% White,0. 44% Black or African American,0. 14% Native American,0. 10% Asian,0. 82% from other races,1. 64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25. 40% of all households were made up of individuals and 12. 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.80. In the county, the population was out with 21. 10% under the age of 18,7. 20% from 18 to 24,28. 00% from 25 to 44,26. 70% from 45 to 64. The median age was 41 years, for every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males, the median income for a household in the county was $30,597, and the median income for a family was $36,755
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Grayson County, Virginia
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Grayson County is a county located in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,533, mount Rogers, the states highest peak at 5,729 feet, is in Grayson County. Grayson County was founded in 1793 from part of Wythe County and it was named for William Grayson, delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two U. S. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 446 square miles. The southernmost point in Virginia lies in Grayson County, the population density was 40 people per square mile. There were 9,123 housing units at a density of 21 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 91. 70% White,6. 79% Black or African American,0. 12% Native American,0. 07% Asian,0. 03% Pacific Islander,0. 70% from other races, and 0. 60% from two or more races. 1. 55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,26. 80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12. 90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the family size was 2.77. In the county, the population was out with 19. 50% under the,7. 60% from 18 to 24,29. 80% from 25 to 44,26. 20% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years, for every 100 females there were 107.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.70 males, the median income for a household in the county was $28,676, and the median income for a family was $35,076. Males had an income of $24,126 versus $17,856 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,768, about 10. 00% of families and 13. 60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18. 80% of those under age 18 and 16. 30% of those age 65 or over. Grayson is economically isolated, without an Interstate Highway and surrounded by mountains and it struggled to attract and retain business, a situation made much worse beginning in 2009 with the recession. Losses of jobs in the furniture and textile sectors resulted in an unemployment rate of 14. 6%, as part of the reformation of county government beginning in 2009, the new but idle River North Correctional Center was activated by the state brought in several hundred jobs. County government efforts were successful in retaining Core Fitness Nautilus facility as the largest employer in the county, independence Lumber suffered significant losses in a fire in November 2012 which forced it to relocate operations to North Carolina. Efforts by the county led to the rebuilding and reopening its facility in 2014 with 125 jobs
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Patrick County, Virginia
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Patrick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,490 and it is located within both the rolling hills and valleys of the Piedmont Region of Virginia and mountainous Southwest Virginia. Patrick County was formed in 1791, when Patrick Henry County was divided into Patrick County, Patrick Henry County was named for Patrick Henry, and was formed in 1777. Prior to the formation of Patrick County, one of the Virginia colonys first frontier forts lay within the boundaries of what was then Halifax County on the banks of the North Mayo River. The location of Fort Mayo, now marked by a Virginia state historic marker, Fort Mayo was the southernmost of the Virginia frontier forts and saw action during the French and Indian War. One of Patrick Countys most prominent early settlers was Col. Abraham Penn, born in 1743 in what is today Amherst County, Virginia. Penn qualified as Lieutenant in the Amherst County militia in June 1768, Penn later moved with his wife Ruth to present-day Henry County, Virginia, where he patented lands at the later site of Beaver Creek Plantation. Penn served on the Committee of Safety for both Henry and Pittsylvania counties, and as a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly from Henry County. Eventually selling those lands to the Hairston family, Penn moved with his family a few miles farther west to what is today Patrick County, during the American Revolution Col. Militia under Penns command were also involved in the Battle of Eutaw Springs. Penn was later present at Yorktown to witness the surrender of the British forces under General Cornwallis, Col. Penn was one of the organizers of Patrick County, which he served many years as a justice. The unincorporated community of Penns Store is named for Col. Penn, the Abram Penn Highway in Patrick County is also named for Col. Penn, who died in 1801. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 486 square miles. Patrick County has two defined physiographic provinces lying within its boundaries, the population density was 40 people per square mile. There were 10,083 housing units at a density of 20 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 91. 10% White,5. 9% Black or African American,0. 30% Native American,0. 20% Asian,0. 00% Pacific Islander,1. 40% from other races, and 1. 10% from two or more races. 2. 40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,25. 80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the family size was 2.81. In the county, the population was out with 21. 70% under the age of 18,7. 10% from 18 to 24,28. 00% from 25 to 44,26. 70% from 45 to 64
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