Mount Gilead, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mount Gilead, Virginia
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 Mount Gilead, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Mount Gilead, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Mount Gilead, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County |  Loudoun |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Mount Gilead is a small, quiet community in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is not an official town, but rather an unincorporated community. Mount Gilead sits on top of a 602-foot (183-meter) peak of Catoctin Mountain. It is located to the east of the North Fork of Goose Creek.
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History of Mount Gilead
Mount Gilead started in 1821. A doctor named Isaac Eaton bought 18 acres of land. He wanted to build a health spa there. This spa would use the natural springs from the mountain.
Founding the Community
In 1823, Dr. Eaton sold three smaller plots of land. These plots were used to create a new settlement. It was named Mount Gilead, after a mountain mentioned in the Bible. The next year, a post office opened in the village. This helped make it a real community. By 1835, the village had grown to 22 lots. Several streets were also laid out.
Mount Gilead During the Civil War
The American Civil War (1861-1865) mostly left Mount Gilead untouched. However, Dr. Eaton's health spa closed down. This happened because not many people visited during the war. After the war, during the Reconstruction period, the village continued to grow. A school opened in 1870. Also, several places for making products from the springs were established.
Decline of the Village
The village began to decline in 1889. This was when Coes Mill, a local business, closed. The post office in Mount Gilead closed in 1905. The school also closed in 1918.
When a law called Prohibition started in 1921, the last of Mount Gilead's industries stopped. By 1930, the county stopped taking care of the road to North Fork. This made Mount Gilead a dead-end road.
Mount Gilead Today
Today, Mount Gilead is still a small residential community. It has returned to a similar type of industry in a small way. The Willowcroft Vineyard operates just north of the village. This vineyard makes wine, connecting to the area's history with spring-fed businesses.
