Cross Keys, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cross Keys
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 Cross Keys
Location in Virginia
Cross Keys
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Rockingham County |
Cross Keys is a small, unincorporated community located in Rockingham County, in the state of Virginia. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's governed by the county.
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Where is Cross Keys?
Cross Keys is found in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. You can find it along State Route 276. This road is just south of a larger town called Harrisonburg.
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A Look at Cross Keys' History
Cross Keys is famous for an important event from the American Civil War.
The Battle of Cross Keys
On June 8, 1862, a major battle happened here. It was called the Battle of Cross Keys. This battle was part of a larger series of events known as Jackson's Valley Campaign. During this campaign, Confederate forces, led by General Stonewall Jackson, fought against the Union Army. The Battle of Cross Keys was a victory for the Confederates. The American Civil War was a conflict in the United States from 1861 to 1865. It was fought between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy).
What's the Weather Like?
The climate in Cross Keys is known as a humid subtropical climate. This means the area has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild, meaning not too cold, but they can still be cool. On climate maps, this type of weather is often shown as "Cfa."
Culture and Music in Cross Keys
Cross Keys has a special connection to music, especially a unique style called shape note singing.
Ananias Davisson and Shape Note Singing
A very important person in music history, Ananias Davisson, is buried in the Cross Keys cemetery. Davisson was a publisher. He created the very first Southern shape note tunebook, which was a book of songs. This book was called the Kentucky Harmony and it came out in 1816.
Davisson was from the Shenandoah Valley area. However, he collected many of the songs for his book during trips to other states like Kentucky and Tennessee.
Modern Shape Note Gatherings
Today, many of Davisson's musical compositions are still used. They have been republished in a book called the Shenandoah Harmony. Every year, people who love shape note singing gather for an event called the Northern Shenandoah Valley All Day Shenandoah Harmony Singing. This event often ends with singers visiting the Cross Keys cemetery. There, they sing Davisson's song "Retirement" right at his graveside. It's a way to honor his musical legacy.
