Russell County

Nestled in the Appalachian mountains of Southwest Virginia, Russell County is rich with natural beauty, history and rapidly growing economy. Founded on January 2, 1786, Russell County was formed from a section of Washington County, Virginia. L. P. Summers, a Washington County historian later wrote, “Washington County lost a great extent of country and many valuable citizens when Russell County was formed.” Lee, Tazewell, Wise, Buchanan, Dickenson and Scott Counties were formed from parts of Russell County. Our citizens take great pride in the history of the community and are passionate about its future. The county was named for Colonel William Russell who participated in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, and has been home to such public servants as Daniel Boone, Governor H. C. Stuart, and State Senator M. M. Long and State Senator Phillip Puckett. Russell County is rapidly growing economically, with a very promising future for continued growth.

www.russellcountyva.us

Sites

Old Fincastle Turnpike

Dungannon and Duffield, Virginia

CVO-float
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The Cumberland Gap Road (known as the Fincastle Turnpike), authorized in 1831, was designed to give local farmers access to distant markets. Fincastle Church on Longhollow Road was originally constructed in Dungannon near the turnpike in 1876 by Samuel and Martha Blackwell. Rye Cove Brick Church was built in 1858 near Duffield. The rock retaining walls along the road in Rye Cove are said to have been built by enslaved African-American workers as part of the Fincastle Turnpike.Old Fincastle Turnpike Dungannon and Duffield, Virginia
The Cumberland Gap Road (known as the Fincastle Turnpike), authorized in 1831, was designed to give local farmers access to distant markets. Fincastle Church on Longhollow Road was originally constructed in Dungannon near the turnpike in 1876 by Samuel and Martha Blackwell. Rye Cove Brick Church was built in 1858 near Duffield. The rock retaining walls along the road in Rye Cove are said to have been built by enslaved African-American workers as part of the Fincastle Turnpike.

Wise County Historical Society Room

250 of the Wise County Courthouse, Wise, Virginia

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The Wise County Historical Society maintains an office and bookstore open daily to assist family history researchers. They have an extensive collection of research materials.

Breaks Interstate Park

627 Commission Circle, Breaks, Virginia

Breaks
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180 million years ago, the Russell Fork River began cutting a deep gorge through Pine Mountain between Virginia and Kentucky. Daniel Boone, his brother Squire, and Daniel Hill traveled through the Sandy Basin searching for a route to Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley in 1767. They found the gorge and named it “the Breaks”—the only passage through a 125-mile long stretch of impassable mountains. The gorge is home to rare plants such as fractal ferns, galax, colts foot, tea berries, and a profusion of fungi and moss species. The park, which caters to bikers, rafters, and horseback riders, spans the boundaries of Virginia and Kentucky.

Old Russell County Courthouse

North side of Alt. Rt. 58, .8 miles west of Rt. 665, Dickensonville, Virginia

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This remarkable stone courthouse was built in 1799 by Henry Dickenson. It replaced a log courthouse that was burned during the Revolutionary War. A brick wing was added to the stone structure by the Robert Dickenson family between 1830 and 1850.