Near Austinville in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fincastle County

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 28, 2011

1. Fincastle County Marker

Inscription. Fincastle County, established in 1772, was formed from Botetourt County. The Fincastle County seat was located opposite the lead mines on the north side of the New River in the western end of present day Austinville. In 1775, the Fincastle County Committee of Safety filed its resolutions with the Continental Congress supporting other American colonies’ efforts for self-determination. The resolutions suggested the citizens were supportive of King George III, but they were not willing to be subjected to the possible loss of liberty and property. The county became extinct in 1776 when it was split into Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KD-5.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1772.

Location. 36° 53.128′ N, 80° 54.175′ W. Marker is near Austinville, Virginia, in Wythe County. It is on Fort Chiswell Road (U.S. 520) just south of Austinville Road (County Route 619), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Austinville VA 24312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: New River (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named The New River (approx. 1.7 miles away); Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower (approx. 2 miles away); Shot Tower Historical State Park (approx. 2.1 miles away); Shot Tower at Jackson's Ferry (approx. 2.1 miles away); History of the Shot Tower (approx. 2.1 miles away); Jackson's Ferry (approx. 2.1 miles away); River Crossing Old & New (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austinville.

More about this marker. This marker replaces a 1932 marker with the same number titled “Seat of Fincastle County” that read “Three miles southwest, on New River, was the seat of Fincastle County, which from 1772 to 1776 embraced Southwestern Virginia, including Kentucky. There are the ancient lead mines, visited and described by Thomas Jefferson.”

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry for Fincastle County, Virginia. “Fincastle County was created in 1772 from Botetourt County, whose boundaries extended all the way to the Mississippi River. Fincastle County was abolished in 1776, and divided into three new counties - Montgomery Country, Washington County, and Kentucky County (which later became the Commonwealth of Kentucky).

“The name remains on Virginia maps with the town of Fincastle,

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 28, 2011

2. Fincastle County Marker

the county seat of the original Botetourt County. The town was possibly named after the English home of Governor Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt. Lord Botetourt was a very popular governor of the Virginia colony, and died just before the tensions of the impending American Revolution made the job much more difficult.

“John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore and Viscount of Fincastle, succeeded Lord Botetourt. Fincastle County may have been named in his honor, or for his son Lord Fincastle. If so, the decision to change the name in 1776 is very logical. At that time, Lord Dunmore was leading the military opposition to the "rebels" in Virginia, and had already issued the Emancipation Proclamation offering to free any slave who fled their Virginia masters and joined the royal British forces.” (Submitted on June 12, 2011.)

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 3, 2023

3. Fincastle County Marker

Marker has been replaced. There is no longer a hole through it.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 3, 2023

4. Fincastle County Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,767 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on June 16, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.