About our County:


Washington Co. - For thousands of years, indigenous peoples of varying cultures lived in the area. At the time of European encounter, the Chiska had a chief village at what is now Saltville. The county was formed by European Americans in 1776 from Fincastle County. It was named for George Washington, who was then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Washington County is among the first geographical regions to be named after the president of the United States. As with many other frontier counties, the boundaries and territory changed over the years. In 1786 the northwestern part of Washington County became Russell County. In 1814 the western part of what remained of Washington County was combined with parts of Lee and Russell counties to form Scott County. In 1832 the northeastern part of Washington was combined with part of Wythe County to form Smyth County. Finally, with the incorporation of the town of Goodson as the independent city of Bristol in 1890, Washington County assumed its present size.

Washington County is located in Southwest Virginia. Interstate 81 runs through the county's central valley and intersects with Interstate 77 approximately 55 miles northeast of the Town of Abingdon.  The county also includes two other towns:  Damascus and Glade Spring and many area localities such as Meadowview, Emory, Mendota, Hayter's Gap to name a few. 

Interesting Facts about the Highlands Region:

Adjacent counties are:

Smyth County, Virginia - northeast
Grayson County, Virginia - east-southeast
Johnson County, Tennessee - south-southeast
Sullivan County, Tennessee - southwest
Bristol(City), Virginia - southwest
Scott County, Virginia - west
Russell County, Virginia - northwest

Average Temperature, January:
Average Temperature, July:
Average Annual Rainfall:
Average Annual Snowfall:
Heating Degree Days:
Cooling Degree Days:

30°F
73°F
45"
15"
4,400
1,100

Elevation:

1,698' - 5,520'

Average elevation: 2,000'

Highest mountain in VA is Mt. Rogers at over 6,000'

 

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