Rockbridge County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockbridge County
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Church Hill (Lexington, Virginia)
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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
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 Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| Founded | October 1777 (established) 1778 (organized) |
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| Named for | Natural Bridge | |
| Seat | Lexington | |
| Largest town | Lexington | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 601 sq mi (1,560 km2) | |
| • Land | 598 sq mi (1,550 km2) | |
| • Water | 3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.6% | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 22,650 | |
| • Density | 37.69/sq mi (14.551/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 6th | |
Rockbridge County is a county located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It's on the western side of the state. In 2020, about 22,650 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Lexington.
Rockbridge County completely surrounds the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington. This means these cities are inside the county but are governed separately.
Contents
History of Rockbridge County
Long ago, the Monacan Indian Nation lived in this area for thousands of years. They built many mounds near where the towns of Rockbridge and Rockbridge Baths are today.
Rockbridge County was officially created in October 1777. It was formed from parts of nearby Augusta and Botetourt counties. The first elections for the county were held in May 1778.
The county got its name from the famous Natural Bridge. This amazing natural landmark is in the southern part of the county. The county was formed to make it easier for people to reach the courthouse. It also helped make sure trials were fair and held among neighbors. The very first court meeting in Rockbridge County happened on April 7, 1778, at Samuel Wallace's home.
Many people in Rockbridge County were small farmers who grew just enough food for themselves. Because of this, there were fewer enslaved African Americans here compared to other parts of Virginia. The movement against slavery was stronger in Rockbridge than in some other regions of the state. Some teachers at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) were strongly against slavery.
However, some of the richest people in Rockbridge County were large landowners. They had many enslaved people who were treated as property. These enslaved people were often given to family members as gifts or passed down through wills.
Cyrus McCormick grew up on his family's large farm in Raphine. His father owned many enslaved people and a lot of land. Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper near Steele's Tavern. This invention helped farmers harvest crops much faster.
Geography and Nature
In the 1700s, Rockbridge County was very hilly and covered in thick forests. Today, many of the flatter areas have been cleared for farming. High ridges run along the northwest and southeast edges of the county.
The highest point in the county is Rocky Mountain. It is about 4,072 feet (1,241 meters) above sea level. This mountain is on the border with Amherst County.
Rockbridge County covers about 601 square miles (1,557 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. It's part of a larger area called "Greater Appalachia."
Neighboring Counties
- Bath County – to the northwest
- Augusta County – to the northeast
- Nelson County – to the east
- Amherst County – to the southeast
- Bedford County – to the south
- Botetourt County – to the southwest
- Alleghany County – to the west
Protected Natural Areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (a scenic road)
- George Washington National Forest (a large forest)
- Jefferson National Forest (another large forest)
- United States National Radio Quiet Zone (an area where radio signals are limited)
Main Roads
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People and Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 6,548 | — | |
| 1800 | 8,945 | 36.6% | |
| 1810 | 10,318 | 15.3% | |
| 1820 | 11,945 | 15.8% | |
| 1830 | 14,244 | 19.2% | |
| 1840 | 14,284 | 0.3% | |
| 1850 | 16,045 | 12.3% | |
| 1860 | 17,248 | 7.5% | |
| 1870 | 16,058 | −6.9% | |
| 1880 | 20,003 | 24.6% | |
| 1890 | 23,062 | 15.3% | |
| 1900 | 21,799 | −5.5% | |
| 1910 | 21,171 | −2.9% | |
| 1920 | 20,626 | −2.6% | |
| 1930 | 20,902 | 1.3% | |
| 1940 | 22,384 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 23,359 | 4.4% | |
| 1960 | 24,039 | 2.9% | |
| 1970 | 16,637 | −30.8% | |
| 1980 | 17,911 | 7.7% | |
| 1990 | 18,350 | 2.5% | |
| 2000 | 20,808 | 13.4% | |
| 2010 | 22,307 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 22,650 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, the population of Rockbridge County was 22,650 people. Most residents were White (89.88%). Other groups included Black or African American (2.49%), Asian (0.80%), and people of mixed races (3.80%). About 2.26% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Local Media
- The Rockbridge Advocate (a monthly magazine)
- The News-Gazette (a weekly newspaper)
- The Rockbridge Report (a weekly broadcast and website run by journalism students from Washington & Lee University)
- EyeOnVirginia.com (videos and interviews about local news)
- Radio stations: 96.7 3WZ and 100.3 The Big Dawg
Communities in Rockbridge County
The cities of Buena Vista and Lexington are independent. This means they are not part of Rockbridge County, even though they are surrounded by it. Lexington is the county seat, which is where the main county government offices are. It shares some important officials with Rockbridge County, like the Sheriff.
Towns in the County
Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
- East Lexington
- Fairfield
Other Communities
These are smaller, unincorporated areas within the county.
- Brownsburg
- Collierstown
- Gilmore Mills
- Marlbrook
- Mechanicsville
- Natural Bridge
- Natural Bridge Station
- Raphine
- Rockbridge Baths
- Steeles Tavern
- Vesuvius
Famous People from Rockbridge County
- Robert H. Adams (1792–1832), a U.S. Senator from Mississippi.
- Archibald Alexander (1772–1851), a famous religious leader and founder of Princeton Theological Seminary.
- Samuel Dale (1772–1841), an American frontiersman known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama."
- Jessie Benton Frémont (1824–1902), an American writer and political activist.
- William C. Friday (1920–2012), a well-known educator and president of the University of North Carolina.
- Sam Houston (1793–1863), a key figure in Texas history, governor of two states, and President of the Republic of Texas.
- Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863), a famous General during the U.S. Civil War.
- Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), a Confederate Army commander who later became president of Washington and Lee University.
- Sally Mann (born 1951), a celebrated American photographer.
- Charlie Manuel (born 1944), a baseball player and World Series champion manager.
- Cyrus McCormick (1809–1884), the inventor of the mechanical reaper.
- Miles Poindexter (1868-1946), a U.S. Senator and Ambassador to Peru.
- Pat Robertson (1930–2023), a well-known American minister and media figure.
- Cy Twombly (1928–2011), an American painter.
Images for kids
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Church Hill in Lexington, Virginia
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The official seal of Rockbridge County, Virginia
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Rockbridge para niños
