Locust Grove in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Orange County
⎯⎯⎯
Spotsylvania County
Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007
1. East Facing Side
Orange County. Formed from Spotsylvania County in 1734, Orange County, a pastoral Piedmont county, was probably named in honor of William IV, the Dutch prince of Orange, who married Anne, the Princess Royal, daughter of George II of England, earlier that year. President James Madison lived here at Montpelier and President Zachary Taylor was born here. Some fifty square miles of the county comprise the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District, and area rich in historic resources including the ruins of Barboursville, the home of Gov. James Barbour designed about 1814 by his friend Thomas Jefferson.
Spotsylvania County. Straddling the fall line, Spotsylvania County was formed from Essex, King William, and King and Queen Counties in 1720. It was named for Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1710 to 1722. The battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, partly, and Spotsylvania were fought in this county. The County seat is Spotsylvania Court House.
Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Z-167.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers
this page online
Location. 38° 19.731′ N, 77° 43.902′ W. Marker is in Locust Grove, Virginia, in Orange County. It is on Germanna Highway (State Highway 3) 0.3 miles west of Constitution Highway (State Highway 20), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Locust Grove VA 22508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Virginia and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Campaign of 1781 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Grants Headquarters (approx. half a mile away); An Uneasy Partnership (approx. half a mile away); Grant Comes to Virginia (approx. half a mile away); Landmark in the Wilderness (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Wilderness Tavern (approx. 0.6 miles away); Jacksons Amputation
Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007
2. West Facing Side
More about this marker. Around 2010, the marker was moved 0.4 miles west of its original position near Wilderness Run (GPS 38.32595, -77.72725).
Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007
3. Orange County / Spotsylvania County Marker
Photographed by PaulwC3, September 20, 2014
4. Montpelier (1764)
The home of President James Madison is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Montpelier Station, it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966
Photographed by Craig Swain, April 17, 2010
5. Barboursville (1822)
Designed by Thomas Jefferson and destroyed by fire in 1884, it is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Barboursville, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
Photographed by PaulwC3, April 20, 2013
6. Frascati (1823)
The home is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Somerset, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Photographed by PaulwC3, April 20, 2013
7. Rocklands (1851)
Built in 1851 and enlarged in 1905 it is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Gordonsville, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer
8. Orange County / Spotsylvania County Marker
The marker has been in this location (shown using Street View from October 2024 for safety) since at least 2012.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2007. This page has been viewed 1,540 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on October 4, 2025. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 20, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on September 22, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 5. submitted on April 27, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on April 20, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 8. submitted on October 4, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
