- Welcome To Dickenson County Virginia
Dickenson County:
Dickenson County, formed in 1880 from parts of Buchanan County, Russell County,
and Wise County, is Virginia's youngest county. It was named for William J.
Dickenson, delegate to the Virginia General Assembly from Russell County. Daniel
Boone was one of the first people the enter the county somewhere around 1767.
The county is divided into five supervisor districts: Clintwood, Ervinton,
Kenady, Sand Lick, and Willis. Dickenson County is located in the Heart of
Appalachia region of Virginia in the far southwestern part of state and is
bordered on the northwest by the Kentucky state line. Dickenson county was the
first community in Virginia to offer wireless, digital communications service to
businesses and residences. The school system is comprised of 9 schools,
Dickenson Career Center, Clintwood High School, Clintwood Elem.School, Ervinton
High School, Ervinton Elem. School, Haysi High School, Sandlick Elem. School,
Clinchco Elem. School, and Longs Fork Elem. School. There are several Historical
Markers throughout the county, detailing events, people, and places of historic
significance.
Attractions:
The 4,500-acre Breaks Interstate Park offers camping, boating, fishing, hiking,
swimming, horseback riding, geological and coal mining exhibits as well as an
amphitheater where bluegrass music is performed every weekend throughout the
spring, summer and fall months. The John W. Flannagan Reservoir is a
multi-purpose dam open to the public and offers boat ramps, campsites, hiking
trails and other outdoor activities. The Russell Fork River , the deepest in the
eastern United States, draws thousands of whitewater rafters from all over the
world. The Pine Mountain Trail located on the border between Kentucky and
Virginia, is open to non-motorized traffic, and is currently under construction
with approximately 28 miles already on the ground. Ultimately, the trail will be
nearly 120 miles long and will run from the Breaks Interstate Park to the
Cumberland Gap National Park.
There are several museums and monuments to visit while in Dickenson County. The
Dennis E. Reedy Railroad and Coal mining Museum contains an excellent collection
of railroad and coal mining tools and memorabilia. The Ralph Stanley Museum and
Traditional Mountain Music Center is located in Clintwood, as well as the
Dickinson County Arts Center and Gallery and the Mountain Art Works MAWs
Mountain Music is played every Thursday night. The annual Ralph Stanley Music
Festival takes place at Dr. Ralph's home site every May. Displayed on the
courthouse lawn, Dickenson County has setup monuments to honor those who have
served in the military. Currently, the Military Veterans Memorials recognizes
soldiers from the Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War,
and Vietnam. There is also a memorial outside Clintwood Virginia to honor the
soldiers from the Civil War that fought at the Battle of Cranesnest. A Coal
Miner's Memorial was erected beside the Clinchco post office to honor the 309
men and women killed in our coal mines.
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