Bath County is a United States county located in the Shenandoah Valley on the central western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,209, making it the second-least populous county in Virginia. Bath's county seat is Warm Springs, while the largest community is Hot Springs.
Established in 1790, Bath County was named for the natural hot springs found in the region. The county is known for its mountainous terrain and picturesque landscapes, including the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
History
Bath County was created on December 14, 1790 from parts of Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier counties. Due to the many mineral springs found in the area, the county was named for the English spa and resort city of Bath. In the early 1700s, before the county was formed, the area that subsequently became Bath County was settled by people with ancestry principally in England, Scotland, Germany, Wales, Ireland and France. The families who settled in what has since become Bath County who came to Virginia from England predominantly came from the counties of Derbyshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, the western portion of Sussex, Dorset, Somerset (where Bath in England is located), Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Kent and Lincolnshire.
Like much of the Shenandoah Valley region, Bath had a relatively large share of residents descended from Scots-Irish immigrants and German farmers, both of which groups were moving southward from the back country of Pennsylvania. By 1800, Bath County's population consisted mostly of subsistence farmers, though some were also artisans and a smaller number were shopkeepers.
Economy
Like its namesake, Bath County's economy is focused on tourism and recreation. The county's major employer is The Omni Homestead, a resort and historic hotel built in 1766 as "The Homestead" in Hot Springs. Additional recreational opportunities are provided by camping and fishing at Lake Moomaw in the southern part of the county.
Ecology
The Nature Conservancy owns more than of forest habitat in the county, established as the Warm Springs Mountain Preserve, which adds additional protection to some of the most ecologically significant habitats in the Central Appalachian Mountains.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (1.0%) are water. 89% of Bath County is forest, with 51% in George Washington National Forest and 6% in Douthat State Park. The county is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, 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.
Located along the western central border with West Virginia, Bath County contains a number of villages, including Hot Springs, Warm Springs, Millboro, and Mountain Grove. Hot Springs and Warm Springs are the most well known of the villages, given their natural mineral springs. Bath County is the only county in Virginia without a traffic signal.
Adjacent counties
- Highland County – north
- Augusta County – northeast
- Rockbridge County – east
- Alleghany County – south
- Greenbrier County, West Virginia – southwest
- Pocahontas County, West Virginia – west
thumb|279x279px|Warm Springs Valley
National protected areas
- George Washington National Forest (part)
- United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)