Basic City, Virginia facts for kids
Basic City was once a busy town in Augusta County, Virginia, in the United States. It was officially formed in 1890. The town got its name from a special way to make steel, which people hoped would be a big industry there. This idea led to many people buying land, hoping its value would go up a lot.
Between 1890 and 1893, Basic City grew very fast. It was like a "boomtown" because many new factories and shops opened. Two important railroads, the Norfolk and Western and the Chesapeake and Ohio, met here at a spot called The Iron Cross. At one point, Basic City was even bigger than the nearby town of Waynesboro, Virginia.
The End of Basic City
However, things changed when the country faced a big economic downturn, sometimes called the Panic of 1893. This happened between 1893 and 1896. During this time, it became hard to find money for new businesses. Many new industries in Basic City went bankrupt and had to close. The price of land dropped, and many businesses that started between 1890 and 1893 did not survive.
In August 1923, Basic City joined with the nearby Town of Waynesboro. Waynesboro had been around since 1798. The people in both towns voted to join together. The new combined town was first called Waynesboro-Basic. But just one year later, in 1924, the Virginia General Assembly (Virginia's lawmaking body) changed the name back to "Waynesboro."
Basic City's Legacy Today
In 1948, the Town of Waynesboro became an independent city. This means it became a city that governs itself, separate from the county. Basic City, however, became one of Virginia's "Lost Towns." These are towns that no longer exist as separate places.
Today, you can still find a few reminders of Basic City. The Basic City Luncheonette is one example. There's also a city park called Basic Park. A newer business, the Basic City Beer Company, opened recently in an old factory building. Also, the Basic United Methodist Church (BUMc) has kept "Basic" in its name for a long time.
