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Marlinton
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Hot Springs
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Highland County
In 1847, 416 square miles were carved out of Bath and Pendleton counties and formed into Highland County. The county has one of the highest mean elevations east of the Mississippi River. Highland County is also known as "Virginia's Switzerland" due to its magestic mountians.
The Civil War reached into this remote mountain area in the Battle of McDowell, an important battle in Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign. Today, the McDowell Heritage Days are held every other year in May to commerate these events. This event was declared a Local Legacy by the Library of Congress in 1999.
The county govenment is located in the town of Monterey. Monterey was established in 1848 under the name of Highland, but was renamed in honor of the Mexican town where General Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican Army during the Spanish-American War. |
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Highland County had an estimated 2,500 residents in 1999, making it the least populated of Virginia's 135 counties and cities. It is also the most sparsely populated area of the state, and only five counties east of the Mississippi River have more land per person. Agriculture is still an important aspect of life in Highland County. Wool production is one of Highland's major agricultural commodities, making the county one of the largest wool-producers in Virginia. In 1990, the county ranked third in the state in the number of sheep. Agri-tourism is a growing source of income in the county, with several farms offering lodging to visitors.
Highland County is also known for the yearly Highland Maple Festival, held two weekends each March since 1958. Several sugar camps make their home here, and offer tours and demostrations of the syrup-making process during maple festival. Demonstrations range from old-fashioned methods to the latest modern techniques. The Festival is attended by thousands of tourists and is a major source of income for the county. The Highland Maple Festival has been designated a Local Legacy by the Library of Congress.
The Highland Center was incorporated as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization in January 1998. The Highland Center's goals can be divided into two broad categories: those related to restoring and utilizing the old school building and those related to building the cultural, economic, educational, and recreational capacity of the community. The Center is home to several incubator businesses and local organizations. The facilities are also used for community events.
The Highland County Public School System educates approximately 300 students in grades K-12 in one building. The system is one of 30 counties in Virginia that is fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning, and one of 18 divisions in Virginia that has achieved Acceptable Yearly Progress (AYP) under the No Child Left Behind legislation. The public school system has an expenditure of $10,272 per pupil and a staff of 70.
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ARTSHighland County Arts Council
P. O. Box 175
Monterey, VA 24465
highland-arts.orgThe Highland Historical Society
Post Office Box 63
McDowell VA 24458
http://www.highlandhistoricalsociety.com/
phone # 540-396-4478 BUSINESSHighland County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 223 Monterey, VA 24465 540-468-2550 info@highlandcounty.orgwww.highlandcounty.org
The Highland Center P.O. Box 556 Monterey, VA 24465 (540) 468-1922 highlandcenter@htcnet.orghttp://www.thehighlandcenter.org/EDUCATIONHighland County Schools P.O. Box 250 Monterey, VA 24465 http://www.highland.k12.va.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
540-468-2240 EMERGENCY AND MEDICALFor emergencies, dial 9-1-1 Highland County Sheriff's Office P.O. Box 485 Monterey, VA 24465 540-468-2210
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