Near Galax in Grayson County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Riverhill Baptist Church
Riverhill Baptist Church, 2.5 miles northwest, is among the region's oldest African American congregations. Emancipated people founded Riverhill between 1868 and 1873, aided by the missionary efforts of local White Baptists who had supported the Union during the Civil war. In 1873 Riverhill became a charter member of the New Covenant Baptist Association, an organization of African American churches in northwestern NC and southwestern VA. The church's first-known sanctuary, built ca. 1879, was replaced in 1949. A school and a branch of the Independent Order of St. Luke, a fraternal order that promoted Black economic independence, opened near Riverhill, creating a hub for the Black community.
Erected 2024 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number UE-12.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
Location. 36° 37.312′ N, 80° 59.954′ W.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia and in the Blue Ridge Highlands. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fries (approx. 2.8 miles away); Old County Seat (approx. 3.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.6 miles away); An Early Water System Before Electricity Was Available (approx. 4.6 miles away); Galax (approx. 4.9 miles away);
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
