Rockbridge County, Virginia

Rockbridge County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650. Its county seat is the city of Lexington. Rockbridge County completely surrounds the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington with Rockbridge County for statistical purposes.

History

thumb|right|Maple Hall, [[Antebellum architecture|antebellum house in Rockbridge County north of Lexington]]

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) 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.

thumb|right|View of the [[Maury River, near Lexington ]]

According to the US Census Bureau, 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, 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

thumb|right|200px|[[Raphine, Virginia]]

National protected areas

Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
George Washington National Forest (part)
Jefferson National Forest (part)
United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Major highways

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Demographics