Saltville, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saltville
Town
Seal
Saltville Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Saltville Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Counties	Smyth, Washington
Area
• Total	8.13 sq mi (21.06 km2)
• Land	8.02 sq mi (20.76 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)  1.40%
Elevation	1,726 ft (526 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,824
• Density	227.5/sq mi (87.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24370
Area code(s)	276
FIPS code	51-70096
GNIS feature ID	1486913
Website	http://www.saltville.org/

Saltville is a small town located in Smyth and Washington counties in the state of Virginia, United States. In 2020, about 1,824 people lived there. Saltville is part of a larger area known as the "Tri-Cities" region, which includes cities in both Tennessee and Virginia.

Discovering Saltville's Past

Saltville got its name from the salty marshes found in the area. Long ago, these marshes attracted many animals. This made the area a great hunting spot for early people.

Ancient History and Early Settlers

Archaeologists have found very old animal bones here. Some of these bones are from animals that lived during the last ice age. Different groups of Native Americans hunted at these marshes. One historic group was the Chisca people.

In 1992, experts thought there might have been a powerful Native American village nearby. They found special artifacts like "Saltville style gorgets" (necklaces) and metal items.

Spanish Explorers Arrive

In 1567, a Spanish explorer named Hernando Moyano de Morales led soldiers north. They attacked a Chisca village called Maniatique. This village might have been located right where Saltville is today.

Salt's Importance During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Saltville was very important. It was one of the main places where the Confederacy got its salt. Salt was needed to preserve meat for soldiers and families.

Because salt was so important, Union forces tried to destroy the saltworks.

First Battle of Saltville

On October 2, 1864, the First Battle of Saltville took place. Union soldiers attacked the town. But Confederate troops successfully defended it.

After this battle, a sad event happened. Some wounded African American Union soldiers were killed. This became known as the "Saltville Massacre." Later, a man named Champ Ferguson was put on trial and punished for these killings.

Second Battle of Saltville

Two months later, in December 1864, Union General George Stoneman led another attack. This time, the Union forces won. They destroyed the saltworks. Losing Saltville's salt was a big problem for the Confederacy.

Historic Places in Saltville

Several old buildings and areas in Saltville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include Preston House, the Saltville Battlefields Historic District, the Saltville Historic District, and the Scott-Walker House. These places help us remember the town's past.

The View from Battle at Cedar Branch marker above Saltville.

Saltville's Role in Space Exploration

Did you know Saltville played a part in space history? A company here made Hydrazine rocket fuel. This fuel was used in the rocket that took the first humans to the moon during the Apollo 11 mission!

The Muck Dam Incident

On December 24, 1924, a "Muck Dam" broke in Saltville. This dam held liquid chemical waste from a company called Mathieson Alkali. When it broke, a large amount of waste flowed into the Holston River. Sadly, nineteen people living along the river lost their lives. The river was polluted for many years after this event.

Exploring Saltville's Geography

Saltville covers about 8.1 square miles (21.0 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Natural Gas Storage

Saltville has special underground salt caverns. These caverns are used to store natural gas. They are the only ones of their kind serving the Mid-Atlantic states. These salt caverns are great for storing gas because it can be put in and taken out quickly. This helps meet energy needs when they change fast.

Saltville's Climate

The weather in Saltville is generally mild. It has gentle changes between high and low temperatures. There is also enough rain throughout the year. The climate here is known as an "Oceanic climate."

Saltville's Population and People

In 2010, Saltville had 2,077 people living in 879 households. About 24% of these households had children under 18. Most people in Saltville are White (98.5%).

The average age of people in Saltville in 2010 was 43.4 years old. About 24.5% of the population was under 19 years old.

Arts and Culture in Saltville

The Museum of the Middle Appalachians is located in downtown Saltville. This museum teaches visitors about the area's history. You can learn about its geology, the Civil War, and the time when companies ran the town. It also has exhibits about the Woodland Indians.

Famous People from Saltville

Saltville has been home to several talented people:

• Georgia Blizzard - A ceramics artist whose work is in major museums.
• Clay Davidson - A country music singer.
• Texas Gladden - A successful musician.
• Robert Porterfield - The person who started the Barter Theater.
• Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell - The sister of Patrick Henry. She helped bring Methodism to Southwest Virginia. A church and cemetery in Saltville are named after her.
• Hobart Smith - A famous old-time music artist.

See also

In Spanish: Saltville (Virginia) para niños